The Separation of Shabbat and Week Days

Check in...

Though the blog has not been posted on Shabbat for the past two weeks, due to a Madatz

Revolution, a day-long internet malfunction, and less than 24 hours before visitors day, we owe you an update.

First of all, for those of you coming to see us tomorrow, here is a list of which tzevet (staff)

members work with each shicvah (age group) so you know who to keep an eye out for.

Amelim (Post 3-4th Grade)

Josh R

Erez
Shaun
Molly B

Yuval

Tal

Chotrim (Post 5th Grade)

Elie
H Pot

Shira PN

Shira L

Lois

Sayarim (Post 6th Grade)
Louis

Dan
Shula

Leora
Talia

Tzofim (Post 7th Grade)

Max

Adiv

Yaron
Allie

Jodi

Nuri

Bonim (Post 8th Grade)
Pele

Eli

Amit K

Shuli
Elissa

Danielle

Bogrim (Post 9th Grade)

Nate

Mikey

Levi

Anna

Nitzan

Sara

Matatz (Post 11th Grade CIT Program)

Amit Bob

Kali

Melechet Yad (Art Room Staff)

Shira S

Carla

Matzilim (Life Guards)

Jacob

Julie

Gan (Garden Specialist)

Jocelyn

Driver

Zack A-S

Melavim (X-Factor/Supervision Liaisons)

Shiah
Zac LG

Tzevet Mitbach
Naomi "Bubbis" - Rosh Mitbach (Head of Kitchen)

Phil

Chef Nick

Lev

Dustin

Gili "G Unit"

Hillary

Mazkirut (Directors)

Dave - Rosh Machaneh (Director)

Josh - Merakez Techni (Technical Director)

Molly - Merakezet Chinuch (Educational Director)

Ronit - Shilicha (Israel Programs Director)

And now down to business.

We use shabbat as a time in the week to relax, check in within ourselves, and with one another. Because of this, we have an entirely different schedule to separate ourselves from the rest of the week. We don't do our daily avodah (job), where the chanichim (campers) and tzevet (staff) each are responsible for maintaining a certain part of machaneh (camp) throughout the week. So in addition to the elimination of the work aspect of the week, we operate a very low maintenance and "chill", as the chanichim call it, day.

A really nice example of this is the way that we do Saturday lunch. Throughout the years, lunch on shabbat has always remained the same in menu: cheese, tuna, egg salad, bean salad, and chips but it's content used to move around a lot. There were years where people would eat by

their machaneh-designated mishpachot (families), or by region where all of the chanichim from Cheltenham would eat in one location, the chanichim from New York and Connecticut would eat in another, etc..., but the version we have settled on has been the most successful is having the chanichim just eat lefi shicvah (with their age group). This way they get an opportunity to be with one another in a structured, yet informal way.

One new addition to Saturday lunches is that the Amelim have started to eat with the Bogrim in groups called "AmBo Buddies." In the beginning of the session, each chanich/a in Amelim is paired with 1-2 chanichim in Bogrim to be a friend

and mentor to them throughout the summer. So as lunch was served today, the AmBo's could be found sitting in front of the Chadar Ochel (Dining Hall) and chatting some quietly and some loudly with their AmBo Buddies. One interaction seemed better than the next!

And for tomorrow:

Visitors Day starts at 12PM and ends at 4PM. There will be some time in the beginning to eat lunch and shmooze to your heart's desire, then a short program featuring Machaneh Galil 20TEN and some of our camp committee members, and then time to see your chanichim in motion during a peulah (program) planned by their madrichim (counselors) specially for all of you!

We will be selling some food and drinks to keep you cool, because tomorrow in Ottsville will be hot! And we will also be selling some of our new merchandise in addition to the t-shirts we sell to benefit the Camper Scholarship Fund.

Can't wait to see you all here!

...Check out

M.C. SHMOLLY