by: Lisa Isen Baumal, Principal of Youth Education and Family Engagement

The laundry is all done, and my camp linens are already packed up and ready to go for next year.  I have returned from another amazing week on Maple Lake, at URJ Camp George – a home away from home for many in our congregation!

Spending a week in nature, watching campers and staff of all ages smiling and laughing, singing and dancing, trying things for the first time, making new friendships, and learning and growing as a community, is always a highlight of my summer.

Although it is easy to forget what day it is when you are at camp, when Shabbat comes, it’s hard to miss.  The energy in the Chadar Ochel (dining hall) is different at lunch on Friday, and camp flips into an excited preparation for the Shabbat that is about to start.  As I prepare for Shabbat back home this week, I can hear the songs and sounds of Shabbat up at camp – singing and praying in the Beit T’fillah, cheering in the Chadar, the chaos of super spesh song sesh, and so much more.

wishing you a Shabbat shalom, wherever you are!