Jewish Life Update, Week 2: Respect

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IMG_1728-2This summer, our Chalutzim campers are learning about different Jewish values, or middot. This Hebrew term connotes having a balanced amount of each trait. Each day we discuss different scenarios and how much of each value to apply. Together, we’ve explored honesty, loyalty, humility, patience and respect. We learned about each of these values in different ways and places around camp. For example, we discussed honesty in the cabins and humility through drama. We planted seeds and talked about patience.

IMG_1741For the value of respect, campers competed to see which group could come up with the greatest number of ways we could show respect, including using titles, using appropriate language, and being kind to one another. Campers heard from different people who showed respect around camp—one who respected insects as living creatures, one who showed respect by dressing up for and participating in T’filah, one who deferred to their counselors, and one who respected the environment by picking up litter. Then each camper received a sticker and voted for the individual they thought showed the most respect by placing the sticker on that person. They considered how hard and how long the person worked to show respect and the impact of their demonstration of respect. It was a close competition, but the person who showed respect to the environment was our winner!

Throughout the summer, we will continue to learn about different values, assessing how much of each value we exemplify as well as which ones we want to improve.

This week, Bonim and Tzofim will lead our community in Shabbat T’filot. Here is a reading that Tzofim will share on Shabbat morning with our camp community from Bean, Liv, Hanny, and Emma:JWE_0105

Today’s parasha is about Korach, a man looking for leadership with bad intentions such as using power for evil. Korach challenged Moses’ authority and questioned God. Although we are told asking questions is good, the reasons Korach asked questions was not for the good of the community, but because he wanted the power for himself. Belonging to the Eisner community means making decisions that not only benefit ourselves but others around us as well. We choose to pick up the trash on the ground or to walk by it. We can choose to invite the person sitting by themselves to join you, or to ignore them. In these scenarios, one of the options involves doing something for the greater good. Throughout our service we will demonstrate how ones actions can make the Eisner bubble a more positive place.