It's a Big Day....and I'm Going!

 

I am *right now* seeing this movie. 

Yes, I know I didn't stay up for the midnight show.

But here I am today.

So excited!!!!!

P.S. isn't that a cool pic of Hermione? While I love Harry, she is a totally rockin' wizard and my favorite.

Making a Rainbow Connection

A little backyard fun...

See more Wordless Wednesday posts at the original WW home and at 5 Minutes for Mom.

High-Flying Experience

We had a swinging good time at camp.
Now home to the piles of laundry...I always think we need a vacation after camp to recuperate!

See more great photography:
Summer Stock by Robin's place
and
Best Shot Monday over at Tracey's...

Overheard in the Dining Room at Camp

Camper: you know what, camp is like a more-fun orphanage. Except at the end we go home. Oh, and we get mail from our parents. So I guess it's not really an orphanage.

Oy!

And A Hush Fell Over the Camp....

 Today is Friday. Hayom yom shishi....you can feel the very air of the camp begin to change.

As Friday (Yom Shishi) begins, there is an excitement, an electricity in the air. The campers know it, the faculty know it, the counselors know it...it's all around us.

Shabbat is coming.

Shabbat is coming!

As the afternoon comes, the camp begins to clean up, to prepare, to take showers and put on pretty dresses and shiny clean polo shirts. Hair is combed and fingernails are cleaned...sometimes.

The strumming of guitars begins to fill the air as Shabbat Walks begin, welcoming Shabbat all around camp. The sound of "Shabbat Shalom!" fills the air and friends who saw each other only moments before greet each other with kisses and hugs, their world transformed by the change over into Shabbat.

Together as a unit we pray, welcoming the Sabbath Queen, and then the whole camp, all the units, gather together for dinner. There is an overwhelming din and then a hush falls over the camp as the candles are lit and the blessings said over wine and challah.

The evening truly culminates in singing - Shabbat Shira, the Shabbat song session - is both rowdy and controlled, celebratory and exhilirating, full of passion and spirit and love and joy. Music fills the camp, fills the air, fills our souls. We drink it in, knowing that we can only have this experience, this moment for 8 Shabbats of the year (and for some of us only 2...), knowing that this community only comes together just like this for just this week. Last week, next week, we'll be different. But today, here, now, we are together just like this.

We ARE Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom from OSRUI!

The Rabbi's Kid

This morning got off to a bit of a rocky start in the Lodge where I stay with my family. Let's just say that sometimes the rabbi's kids are the most unwilling to attend services (which happen twice a day at OSRUI).

David: Are we going to breakfast first or services first.
Me (hurrying because it was my morning to lead the service): Services, like every morning.
David: Argh, I hate services.
Me: sorry, kiddo, too bad, let's go.

Grumpy child heads into the service. As I'm putting on my tallit and the kids are all settling in, I notice that the counselor sitting next to David is laughing. After the service she tells me he said:

"No one should stop talking because then they'll have to listen to my MOM."

And a few minutes into the service, he totally called one of my lines: "She's gonna say it's a rhetorical question." And lo and behold I did... (by the way, the counselor also thought this was hilarious.)

This is the same kid who was once eco-unfriendly to get back at me.

I think it's hard to be the rabbi's kid.

What I've Done at Summer Camp So Far

Now that I've got things working again (certificates, blogger?!) here is a quick update of all the fun we're having at summer camp...

We welcomed Rick Recht to a concert on Wednesday night. He was great and the whole camp had a fabulous time.

My husband (on the right) and our friend (and colleague) Rabbi Eric Siroka of South Bend, Indiana, at the Rick Recht concert.

Ahem, um, you know you're a blogger when you ask someone to take their picture with you so you can post it on your blog. That's ME with Rick Recht and his son Koby.

My own little camper, deep in contemplation of a blade of grass.

My middle guy, on a horse. This was a huge highlight for him, and he keeps asking when we can go back.

In preparation for Shabbat, our campers created a mural of words of praise and thanks to God. It came out really cool. Eventually I'll get to pictures of the finished product.

Celebrating Shabbat, a hug from Ima.

Our all-camp Shira, song session. We are usually indoors but this year experimented with an outdoor song session. The bugs were bad but there was so much more fresh air! Videos coming soon....

And my littlest camper, dressed up for Shabbat.

Whew! A quick recap as I run to teach my Hebrew group. Today's lesson: opposites.

What are you up to this summer?
P.S. I haven't had time to read it but I hear Haveil Havalim is up over here.