Something for everyone - every kid shines through Reform Jewish camping

Reform Jewish summer camping has something for everyone: from Judaica and sports to aquatics and hiking to nature and the arts – the programs offered at the URJ camps provide the opportunity for every one of our children to be enriched and flourish in a safe, nurturing, inclusive environment in which they can expand and express their Jewish identity.
I am privileged once again to serve on faculty for Tiferet at OSRUI. Tiferet, the arts unit, is one of the unique programs offered by camp (along with Chalutzim – the Hebrew immersion session and Tour L’Agam – a biking tour around Lake Michigan, both for entering 10th – 12th graders). For twenty years now, Tiferet has enabled artistic Jewish youngsters to engage such creative areas as music, dance, drama, media and visual arts to explore topics and texts from our sacred tradition; as the campers use their talents to breathe innovative and improvisational life into their work, so too do these young Jews draw rich, long-lasting meaning from the experiences they share.
This session, our theme is Midrash Rabbah – for which we are using the great Jewish process of midrash (interpretation and investigation) to address the stories from Genesis. In four studios – dance, drama, music and visual arts (which serve as the campers’ “major” for the session), we have tackled diverse and important ideas like the conflicts in Abraham’s life; the voices that are “missing” from the narratives; Jacob’s ladder and his subsequent wrestling match with God/angel/himself; and Joseph’s journey from young dreamer to dream interpreter whose wit saves all from treacherous famine (and these were just this week!). We have taken our texts and pulled them apart to search their meaning for the values they teach. More so, we have used these teaching to inspire acting, movement, lyrics, notes and design. Tiferet is blessed to be guided by absolutely gifted moomchim (specialists) whose professional talents are matched by their care for the students, along with fabulous staff of dedicated madrichim (counselors).
I have long believed that summer camp is the very best tool for Jewish living and learning that our Reform movement sponsors. I was fortunate to have the chance to grow up in the Reform camp community, which gave me the gifts of confidence in myself and passion for progressive Judaism. As a camper, staff member, and now faculty, I have witnessed the power of camp in cultivating caring, committed, knowledgeable Jews. More so, camp allows each child, each adult, the opportunity to live up to his or her promise as b’tzelem elohim – being fashioned in the Divine image. Each of our children deserves this opportunity, one that camping provides like nowhere else.
Like every worthy endeavor, Reform Jewish camping needs our ongoing support: send your children (and grandchildren) to our camps; ask your congregation how it participates in maintaining these programs; contribute to the camper scholarship fund at your synagogue or one of the URJ camps; be an advocate for camp by promoting its possibilities for every Jewish child.
Camp has something for everyone. I hope you will join me in continuing to sustain this vital cause.

A thought for Super Sammy, and his beloved family

As long as I can remember - camp has been monumentally important to me....my closest friends, my fondest memories, my greatest experiences (as a child and as an adult and Jewish professional) have developed as an extension of my involvement with URJ-sponsored Jewish camping.
And this week has been the greatest gift: though I don't go up to OSRUI for another 10 days to serve on faculty, our segel *family* has proven to be a most wonderful, sacred, tight-knit community as it has reached out to provide support for one of our youngest beloved member Sammy Sommer (son of my dear friends Phyllis and Michael) who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. 
We all have great expectations for his complete conquering of this situation; more so, this has been a very powerful opportunity not only to support the family, yet also to raise awareness of such disease within our greater Jewish community and beyond.
Strange as it may seem because of circumstance, I feel blessed to be part of this *kehillah kedosha* particularly at this time.

Super Sammy - I know you will kick the stuffing out of this disease...and continue being a blessing to all of us who know and love you!

The desert can be like dessert

Had a great weekend in Santa Fe for Alana and Joel's wedding. The entire time was spectacular - all the events were wonderful, the weather was perfect, the people great, gracious, loving and fun...and the "down time" wandering the shops and streets couldn't have been better. Man, I love the desert southwest.

Be your own thinktank

Recently my Tuesday afternoon "Ethics Exploration" class - adults committed to life-long learning and the value of being part of a Reform congregational community - engaged a new module published by the URJ. It's called Arba Kushiyot: Four Questions to Ponder about the Future of Reform Judaism. This project came out of the "Reform Jewish Think Tank", a joint effort of the URJ, CCAR, and HUC-JIR (and can be found at http://urj.org/learning/my/journeys/).
In four very well-scripted lessons, the participants address 1. What is the greatest contribution of Reform Judaism to Judaism? 2. Why are you a Reform Jew? 3. What is the greatest challenge of Reform Judaism? and 4. What will facilitate the growth of Reform Judaism? Accompanying each question/lesson is a brief video snippet showing responses to these items from a variety of people from across the movement, including congregational rabbis, academics, professional leaders (rabbinical, educational, cantorial), and lay personnel as well. The videos are absolutely fascinating and well-done; the only greater element of our use of these materials were the thoughtful, thought-provoking conversations that emerged within our group.
For us, a few key themes kept repeating themselves, no matter where we tried to steer our discussions. First, that the importance of Reform is that the (Jewish) world needs a place for the vibrant presence of progressive Jewish values to be active and thriving - such as our dedication to inclusion and inclusiveness, a broad and open-minded world-view, and upholding the common humanity of all people. Then we seemed to note the importance of an ongoing acceptance of change, evolution, and experimentation with Jewish practice, even as we hold onto the timeless aspects of our tradition. Finally, and overwhelmingly, our entire group expressed an understanding that Reform Judaism (and the entire human endeavor, for that matter) is about creating opportunities for enhancing our lives through meaningful relationships and connection...
I don't know who else has used this wonderful module so far, yet I'm DELIGHTED and PROUD that we did. Yasher koach (great job!) to its creators. May all of our communities be granted the strength and opening to ask, reflect, and respond in their own meaningful ways...

A few years ago I commented on Stuart Brown's wonderful book Play and how we all have to remember how meaningful play, playfulness and fun can/need to be in our lives. Now I'm reading the recently published Lip Service by Marianne LaFrance, in which she explores the psychology, biology, and social intricacies of one of the most common of our human behaviors, the smile.

From the shy glance to the $#!t-eating grin, there is a great deal of science behind how, when, and why we smile. It's fascinating stuff - and ultimately, who cares! What I want to know is what makes YOU smile? Go on, make my day...

Riding the Underground Railroad to the Passover Seder

Today, April 6, 2012, is the 150^th anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh, the first “great and terrible” battle of the Civil War. (In his new book, Shiloh, 1862, author Winston Groom examines how this battle, which “solved nothing, gained nothing, proved nothing” was a turning point for how military and political leaders understood the gravity of the war, and the unfathomable casualties that would follow).

Tonight is also the beginning of Passover, the celebration of Israelite freedom from Egyptian slavery and the perpetual Jewish hope to bring redemption to all who are oppressed, wherever they may be. For this reason, we refer to this season as z’man chereteynu – the “time of our freedom.”

There have always been parallels drawn between the experience of the ancient Israelites at the hands of Pharaoh and that of the African slaves here in the U.S. This is poignantly shown at Passover, especially while sharing the narratives during the seder itself.

This Passover, the compelling analogies have taken on an even greater significance: during this past week while in Cincinnati, I visited the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (www.freedomcenter.org); this fascinating museum chronicles the history of the Underground Railroad and teaches once again how the effort to abolish slavery in this country was among the greatest accomplishments ever undertaken by our forebears, and yet its challenges still saddle our society today. This visit was so powerful as I went with my children – who have reached the point of being able to understand and appreciate the profound meaning of our past, as well as to personalize its questions. As the Haggadah demands: “in each generation a person must consider himself as if personally freed from Egypt.”

Driving home from the Queen City, we listened to an NPR interview with Winston Groom. During the conversation, I understood something clearly for the first time (a surprise to this rabid student of American history). It has long been evident that the Civil War remains the most vital episode in our nation’s development – as this period brought an end to slavery, further coalesced the country as a United States, and also brought to light key issues (racism, sexism, economic disparity, etc.) that plague us to this day. As Groom spoke, I finally “got” why this topic resonates so dearly with so many of us: the Civil War and its origins and outcome is certainly a most imperfect time in our history. Its lessons are best told through narratives, which just like those in the book of Genesis, allows us to relate to people in a different time and situation because of our common humanity. These accounts – mythical or historical – become real and important as they echo in our hearts and minds.

Bernard Malamud said that the purpose of freedom is to create it for others. In this season of renewal, may the stories of freedom’s struggle inspire us to bring emancipation to all, no matter what their chains.

"I'm Free!" Shabbat HaGadol 5772

If I told you what it takes to reach the highest high,
You'd laugh and say 'nothing's that simple'
But you've been told many times before Messiahs pointed to the door
And no one had the guts to leave the temple!

Shabbat HaGadol - the great Sabbath immediately prior to our Passover celebration of redemption - approaches. Once again, we look for inspiration in the story of the Exodus from Egypt. The ancient rabbis – as they often did – played with the Hebrew word for Egypt – mitzrayim – as if related to the word mitzarim – narrow places. They suggested that our people’s slavery in Egypt is played out in our lives as the “narrow places”, that is those things that hold us back in life, keeping us from freely being the men and women we are meant to be, in the fullest sense. To overcome, or outgrow these mitzarim, the “stuff” that constrains us in life, it is necessary to take risks, to become vulnerable, and to allow ourselves to undergo new experiences that might bring blessings to our lives that we never knew before (cue Daltrey singing “no one had the guts to leave the temple!”).

As we prepare for next week’s arrival of Passover, let us use this time to consider the mitzarim that plagues our own lives. Like ridding our homes of chametz, it takes concerted effort and planning to free ourselves from such burdens. Ask yourself: what is it you hope to accomplish in this spring season of renewal that will enhance your life? This year we are still bondsmen – next year, may all be free!