Rabbi's Message

Rabbi Elyse Wechterman
Read about the Rabbi
July/August 2003

I'm writing this on July 3 - three days before I head to Ingleside, Illinois, as faculty for the third and final week of Camp JRF. Two weeks earlier, I had the pleasure of flying with seven of our congregant students to drop them at camp as they started their summer experience.

And from all reports - it has been quite an experience. Two of our campers, Micah Levine and Ariel Brothman, were returning for their second summer. Last year, they were among a group of 38 kids from Reconstructionist congregations across North America to pioneer the Camp JRF experience. This year, Arielle Cohen, Aaron Rudnick, Vanessa Lubiner, Val Glassman and Rachel Ammerman accompanied them helping to bring the total number of campers to 98!

If you have ever been away to summer camp, you remember the intensity of the experience and the wonderful memories that follow you into adulthood.

If you have ever been away to summer camp, you remember the intensity of the experience and the wonderful memories that follow you into adulthood. For these students, the excitement is even more intense as they build the foundation of traditions and culture for this new camp. As the first Reconstructonist camp of its kind, CAMP JRF provides one of few truly organic Jewish Reconstructionist living communities around. From their sports activities to swimming, learning programs and services, work and play, these campers are living in a 100% Reconstructionist Jewish environment 24 hours per day.

What does that mean? As in most Jewish camps, prayer tefilah is a regular part of the daily program. But rather than follow the lead of the camp rabbi (of which there are many in this case) and pray according to a set plan, these campers are using the same prayer books they use at home and are actively involved in shaping and creating their worship experiences. This is true for morning and evening tefilah, the prayers said after meals or on Shabbat.

As in most camps, Arts & Crafts is a regular part of the program. But at Camp JRF, where students learn about the Jewish value of hiddur mitzvah - beautifying the practice - they have a chance to make their own tallitot (prayershawls) for services and next week I will be sharing my pottery skills with the kids as we design and create our own mezuzot.

Why do I push camp so much and want to talk about it, even with people who do not have camp-age children to send? Yes - it's true that according to national surveys Jewish camp experience is the number one correlating factor in Jewish affiliation and identity later in life. And it's true that Camp JRF is close to my own heart as an institution David and I help to develop. But it is also true that the values, life-experiences and enthusiasm for Jewish exploration our kids will bring back from camp will be infectious and spread throughout our community, enriching all of us as we continue to seek Jewishly meaningful ways to live our own lives. My hope is that someday, these campers will be teaching us songs and music, leading us in prayer and learning, helping us create beautiful art and showing us the way to meaningful Jewish life. So far - from the letters I have received, we are off on a good start.

Enjoy your summer!
Rabbi Elyse

Letters from Campers

Here are some excerpts from letters Rabbi Elyse has received from some of our campers. For photo diary reports, go to www.campjrf.org where you will see pictures of some of our campers.

Dear Rabbi Elyse:

Camp is fun! It started out rough, but I am quickly pulling out of it. My bunk is great. Arie, Val and Micah are in mine. The bathrooms are iffy, but I'll survive them......
I like the lake and the pool. The food is great, but my mom's is better. I really like it here - I can't wait for more fun.

I've bonded with some counselors - Jeff, Matt and Ben. I also have a new good friend, Sandy. She is so nice! See you in two weeks!

Ari
(Arielle Cohen)

Dear Rabbi Elyse:

I am having so much fun, I don't think I can tell it all to you in one page! On the first and second days I was just getting to know people, like sandy, Rebecca, Sammie, Mandy, Susan and Marissa. After a while, we all became really good friends along with Ariel, Arielle and Micah.

The activities here are really cool. We have been doing things like soccer, volleyball or nukem, swimming in the pool or lake, and going boating. I think I forgot something....the FOOD! We also get to eat a lot of food.

Something sad happened today. Marcie [a counselor] has to leave to go to her grandpa's funeral. He was on life support and eventually her family decided to turn it off. Marcie will be back on Tuesday, and we all feel bad for her.

On Sunday it will be Micah's birthday and we all signed a big card for her. I hope no one ruins the surprise.

Earlier today we got dressed up and had a huge service under a huge tent. Why? Because it's Saturday. We got to sleep late and eat food. We also danced and sang and ate more food....

Val
(Valerie Glassman)

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