This week Chaverim led Shabbat Services. On Friday night, Lower Chaverim led the service and on Saturday morning Upper Chaverim led the service. The themes celebrated were yetzirah, meaning creativity, and standing up and being counted. The campers read beautiful speeches, sang breathtaking songs and created wonderful art projects that we would like to share with you.
Friday Evening Shabbat Services
The opening song for this service was a “Shiru l’Adonai” and “Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls mash up.
Noa, Sima, Amber – Bunk 9
N: Shabbat is a time where we can focus and reflect on others and ourselves. On Shabbat we leave our busy schedules and rejuvenate.
S: This week’s theme is y’tzira or creativity. In our Crane Lake community we welcome Shabbat in creative and traditional ways.
N: On Friday (night) we dress up to welcome Shabbat as a special day. We find creative ways to make ourselves look and feel nice in order to separate Shabbat from the nights where we dress normally.
S: On Shabbat we sing and dance together in the Chadar Ochel. This is one way we can creatively come together as a community. We sing and dance in celebration only in the night of Shabbat, and by doing this together it only makes the night more special.
A: A special Crane Lake tradition is Shabbat-o-grams. As you know these are special notes only used on Shabbat. These are like small creative packages. Getting one can brighten your day and connects us together as a community.
A: We invite you to think about these ideas and your own traditions about Shabbat here and at home, as we [begin] the service.
Carly, Lillian, Mielle – Bunk 10
C: We sing Hashkiveynu every night, but as a community we don’t completely understand the true meaning of Hashkiveinu.
M: Although it is a peaceful way to reflect on the day it has a deeper meaning behind it.
L: By singing the Hashkiveinu together, the bonds we create not only bring us together as a community, but together as a family.
C: At the end of the day, the family we create in the Crane Lake bubble helps us form memories that will last a lifetime.
Niso, Koby, Andrew – Bunk 22
K: The next prayer we will sing is V’shamru.
A: This prayer talks about guarding the holiness of the Sabbath.
N: But let’s think for a second about what it truly means to guard and protect Shabbat these days.
K: With our busy 21st century schedule, it can sometimes be a difficult challenge to keep Shabbat. Therefore, to keep Shabbat holy, we must use y’tzirah, or creativity. On Friday nights, I have soccer practice. Because my practice ends fairly late, it is hard for my family to have dinner with each other. However, we always make an effort to have our family Shabbat dinner.
N: In the winter I ski race and since my mountain is not in my NYC backyard, I have to drive up Friday nights. [My family stops at CVS and buys a challah and grape soda. Then halfway up we stop at a rest stop and make Kiddush and drink the grape soda, and say HaMotzi and eat the challah.]
A: The essence of V’shamru is for six days, G-d made heaven and Earth. Then, on the 7th day, G-d rested and was refreshed. Adonai wanted Shabbat to be different from all other days and there are many ways we can be creative in making Shabbat different from all other days.
N: At camp, some ways Shabbat is different are: For breakfast we have donuts and bagels.
A: In the morning and afternoon, we have breira or freeplay.
K: And best of all, we get late wakeup.
A: These are just 3 of the many ways we use y’tzirah on the Sabbath day at camp.
ALL: As we begin V’shamru, we want you all to think about some other ways we use creativity on Shabbat at camp.
Charlie G. and Benjamin O. – Bunk 22
C: Our next prayer is Shalom Rav or the prayer for peace. This includes peace for not only Jews but the world as a whole. At CLC we are in a bubble, a peaceful bubble. Unfortunately, this bubble doesn’t encompass the entire world. As soon as we step back into the world we are more vulnerable to the violence and hatred of human nature.
B: As we stand here and deliver this speech, a church in Charleston is still in mourning because of society’s inherent racism. Jews are still fearing for their lives in Paris, and France as a whole, after a deadly attack last January. When thinking about it, peace is not as beautifully simple as it is in our quiet bubble that is camp.
C: Problems don’t just go away. Unrest doesn’t magically change to peace. As we pray for peace, we invite you to think of creative and peaceful solutions to the problems we encounter on a day to day basis throughout the world.
For the closing song, Lower Chaverim sang “True Colors”.
Saturday Morning Shabbat Services
For this service, Upper Chaverim music group sang a “Get Up, Stand Up” and “Hine Ma Tov” mash up.
Jed, Ben, Caleb – Bunk 24?
J: Michael Jackson once said, “If you want to make this world a better place, just look at yourself and make a change.”
B: One way we made a change at camp was through fight song. All 3 of us are some of the leaders of our Chav. Boys Fight Song. This was a much harder job than we all expected. Writing is was fine, but teaching it was where it got a little tricky. But, all the Chav Boys got together, learned, and became one unit.
C: In the prayer Elohai Neshama, we are thanking God for giving us our soul. We thank God by taking the soul God gave us and becoming strong leaders who make change.
Mia and Annie – Bunk 14
A: Right now is the oldest you’ve ever been and the youngest you will ever be again.
M: Look around you. There are so many opportunities that you’ll miss if you don’t take the time.
A: The rock on the ground in front of you could be so many things.
M: It could be a ball that you throw with your friends or the base of your inland rock castle.
A: The next prayer, yotzer or, is about when God created this whole world that is in front of us, filled with endless opportunities.
M: Try something new that you’ve never done before. Conquer your fear of the zip line.
A: Try water skiing instead of tubing.
M: Make those opportunities into realities and never have regrets.
A: As we join in together, think about everything you can do today to live your life to the fullest.
Mia and Esme bunk 16
E: Today’s theme is stand up and be counted. The prayer we’re reciting next is Mi Chamocha. It helps us celebrate how God freed us from Egypt
M: At that time Moses stood up for what he believed in by helping the Israelites cross the Red Sea. This is a demonstration of how standing up for what you believe is the right thing to do and may be rewarded.
E: In our life, we are taught to stand up for ourselves, our friends and anyone in need of help. Whether this is a small act of kindness or a large one, any support can make a huge difference.
M: Sometimes the reward doesn’t directly affect us but benefits those we care about or even an important cause and if the deed doesn’t affect us in any one way, the feeling you get from helping others is enough.
“Count on Me” was beautifully sung for the closing song.
Chaverim did a great job at leading Shabbat Service!
By Lindsey Blackman, Communications Specialist