“Kesher has become something we love!” three Olim campers told me at the end of first session. Kesher are the electives taught by our faculty—the rabbis, cantors, and educators who spend a week or two with us at camp and help to make Judaism come alive for our campers. Once a camper reaches upper camp in Chaverim and Olim, they get to choose the topics they study.

This year, more than ever, our Kesher courses have been fantastic! Each week, campers get to choose their course and each week they are different. This week, the Kesher choices include “Get Your Game On” with Rabbi Paul Jacobson. Campers are exploring Jewish history like never before with game shows and prizes.

Cantor Brad Hyman is leading a course, “And the Band Played On: The Music and Art of the Camps.” For the people who were lucky enough to be chosen to live, the spirit of creativity and expression proved to be stronger than the need to give up. Campers are exploring the production of music and art that kept them alive before and after the Holocaust.

Rabbi Marci Bellows is exploring the comics that fight today’s most important social action issues through “Up, Up and Oy Vey! Jews, Comic Books, and Saving the World.” Campers are looking at the Jewish people behind some of our most famous comic books and have the opportunity to create their own superhero. Rabbi

Jeff Clopper (aka Rabs) is using improv games with our campers to solve all the problems in the Middle East (or at least find creative ways to explain them). His course, “Whose Line Is It Anyway? Middle East Edition” is getting our kids up, acting thinking, and sharing!

“The Promised Land: The Rise of Modern Israel” is exploring the concept of Zionism and the events that led up to the founding of the modern State of Israel. Rick Abrams is using videos, music, and role-playing to learn about how the modern state came into being.

Through his course, “Body, Mind and Soul in that Order”, Rabbi Todd Chizner is introducing campers to the concept that caring for the body is the first step to being a healthy person. Campers are realizing that Judaism has more to say about caring for the mind and soul rather than the body. They are illuminating the rare examples of nurturing the body by tasting coconut water, practicing breathing, healthy eating and core exercises.

Keren, an Olim counselor and member of our Mishlachat, and Lisa Tenenbaum are introducing camp vocabulary, simple phrases, words and more in “Ivrit, Ivrit, Daber Ivrit.” Campers are learning a little Hebrew to help them bargain in the shuk or buy a falafel the next time they visit Israel.

Some of our Chav campers are spending a few days helping to repair our camp community in a course led by Cory Hermann called “Tikkun Crane Lake.” The campers did an evaluation on what they felt could be fixed around camp. After discussion and feasibility all of our sheds will get a face-lift and a new coat of paint!

We know Kesher will continue to engage our oldest campers as we go through second session. We are so grateful to our faculty for joining us and teaching and learning together!

By Lauren Chizner, Limud Director