CBI Blogs

Last week, Sarah Avner shared about her time at Greene Family Camp as a member of the faculty. This week (plus a few more days next week), I too have the privilege of serving on the GFC faculty. I grew up coming to Greene each summer, first as a camper, then a counselor, followed by admin (unit head), and now as faculty. In fact, this is my 18^th summer at Greene Family Camp. And, to make it even sweeter, I have the special joy of bringing my daughters with me to experience the fun and excitement camp has to offer.

This summer, I am working with the Niviim Unit, those campers entering 4^th and 5^th grade. Many of the campers attended camp in the past in Bonim, those who stay for a shortened, yet action-packed filled 10 days. Niviim is an awesome group of kids. They are new enough to camp that they still see the magic without being too jaded. And, when they have education hour with the faculty, they don’t immediately roll their eyes and assume the position of sulky, unhappy teenager. Even better, they often participate, too!

The Niviim unit’s education is primarily focused on prayer this year. They have the opportunity to explore different prayers and blessings from our t’filah and dig into the meaning of those prayers. This week, we spent some time talking about Shema and why it matters. We started with a brief t’filah yesterday with our musician-in-residence, Rabbi Noam Katz. He told the campers a story:

There once was a camp director who was trying to understand how children connect to God. This director thought some of the campers might have some insight to offer. She went to the first camper she saw and asked how they connect with God. The camper said, “I connect with God when everything is most quiet, when I can really hear the sound ‘shhhhh.’”

She then went to the second camper and asked the same question. This camper thought for a moment and responded, “I connect with God when I’m in a moment that really makes me think, when I’m able to say, ‘mmmmm.’” Finally, she found a third camper and asked the question once more. The camper quickly responded, “I connect with God when I walk out into nature, see the beauty and amazing scene, and I hear myself say, ‘ahh!’”

So, the director realized that children, and really, all people, connect with God in different moments. Sometimes those moments are quiet, shhhh. Sometimes they come while deep in thought, mmmm. And, for so many, it’s when you realize that we live in this incredible world, filled with awe, ahhhh. And when you put all of those different moments together, you find shhhhmmmmmaahhhhh, Shema.

And so, you see, the magic of camp continues, both for the campers, for the staff, and especially this particular faculty member. I connect with God when I’m in this place, this holy and joyful and special place, my second home. I’ve had many moments of shhh, several times in which I vocalized a mmmmmm, and plenty of moments of ahhhh. God is in this place. God is in these children. God is everywhere we look. How do you connect with God?