by From the Crane Lake Blog | Aug 3, 2018 | Traditions, Values, Worship, Worship & Spirituality
More Than Benches by Jake Rudolph, Digital Media Director It is more than just a space for prayer; It is a place where goals are met and summers are realized. It is a place where minor key songs turn into uplifting soul music With heartfelt dance moves that act...
by From the Crane Lake Blog | Jul 24, 2018 | Caring Community, Values, Why Camp
by Louie Goldsmith, General Counselor Compassion is critical to a cohesive camp community. Though compassion commonly connotes passive comprehension of others’ condition, what characterizes Crane Lake compassion is that it consists of an active component. And when...
by From the Crane Lake Blog | Jul 22, 2018 | Camping and Youth Engagement, Camps & NFTY, Leadership, Shabbat, URJ Camps Spotlight Topics, URJ Communications Themes, Values, Why Camp, Worship & Spirituality
by Rabbi Marci Bellows, faculty “You are not obligated to complete the task, but neither are you free to ignore it.” (Pirke Avot, 2:21) No matter one’s particular viewpoints or political leanings, we are undoubtedly living through a time of national division, strife,...
by From the Crane Lake Blog | Jul 13, 2018 | Values
by Arnie Rotenberg, faculty In recent years, neuroscientists have discovered that feelings of generosity activate our neo-cortex, the front of the brain with our ‘higher thinking’ and more recently evolved capabilities. Therefore, feelings of being generous are done...
by From the Crane Lake Blog | Jul 11, 2018 | Leadership, Values, Why Camp
by Sarah Stein, Unit Head Team Leader This past week, I attended an evening program with Crane Lake’s Olim Girls, the rising 10th graders, our oldest campers. Many of them had been my very first campers when they were in Nitzanim, entering 4th grade, as our youngest...
by From the Crane Lake Blog | Jul 9, 2018 | Caring Community, Shabbat, Values
At the center of this week’s t’filah and shabbat services was last week’s Jewish value: Ometz Lev or Courage. Each day began with a different teaching about the importance of embracing challenges despite the limitations of fear. Campers from all...