Shabbat at camp offers us a chance to reflect on the week that was and the week ahead. The particular Shabbat is a pivotal one, as we are one week away from wrapping up our 99th summer. The time has flown. For this session’s campers, we’re at the two-thirds mark with still so much in store. Regardless of how much camp is in the rearview mirror, everyone on this 2023 journey is gearing up a special final week.

Our middah this week has been integrity – a fitting value as we all aim to be a mensch. Integrity is doing things the right way, honestly, or “fair and square” to use a colloquialism. Camp does give us opportunities every day to practice and demonstrate integrity. Campers compete in a variety of ways – sports, card games, inspection scores and more. Our campers create teams or sides, agree to rules, and self-officiate. When you see basketball, spades or spikeball taking place during a rest period, seldom is there an assigned referee. Everyone is on the same page with how to play fairly.

Integrity is also about how we act when no one is watching. Our campers and staff take pride in the community. A recent visitor commented to me how clean camp looked. I know that people are constantly lending a hand by picking up trash or turning in lost and found. They return equipment and supplies to the right location. Integrity is also sometimes reminding ourselves or others to not take the easy way out, but instead to do the right thing which can be harder to do. We all help each other stay on track.

A highlight every Saturday is to recognize the campers and staff who were nominated by their peers as a mensch. Their picture accompanies this post. We’re excited for this weekend following the BIG rain that passed though on Friday night. Please keep up with all of our escapades with the unit leader and division head emails, the micro-posts in the Campanion app, and of course the bevy of daily photographs.

Shabbat Shalom!

Marty