Summer 2015

My name is Daniel Gul and this is my first year as an advisor on Camp Sports. This summer has been unbelievable so far, especially the learning programs. In my learning group, I’m learning with Ranan Goffman, Jonah Rosenbloom, and Shmueli Witkes, all from Cleveland, Ohio.

Together, we are learning together the Sefer Chovos Hatalmidim, written by the Piaseczna  Rebbe. We are learning about unlocking our true potential as Jews. The Sefer opens our hearts with a clear method on how to serve Hashem with our best foot forward. So far we’ve discussed how spectacular the Torah really is and how to attain it. We are looking forward to growing from this Sefer together.

Today was our first time this summer we went on a field trip on consecutive days. After a wonderful day at Hershey Park,we went on a field trip not involving as much chocolate. First, we concluded our learning portion on Netilas Yadayim. Following lunch on campus, we went to an indoor rollerskating facility, in which we had a fun time bonding with four wheels on our feet. It was a very relaxing activity, but we weren’t finished just yet.

If rollerskating wasn’t enough for us, our trip to the mall to the famous Dave & Busters sealed the deal. Many of us got to enjoy shooting hoops, played many types of arcade games, and won thousands of tickets in which we exchanged them for prizes at the end. For those who wanted to relax a bit more and unwind, many of us decided to go on a shopping trip around the mall.

When we arrived back on campus, we had open sports and a last minute laundry run for those who wanted to get their last load of laundry in before the start of the nine days. We then went to Ma’ariv, and then heard from our learning director, Rabbi Weiner, who introduced our learning project for the whole camp to finish a Seder of Mishnayos to start to learn tomorrow for the next nine days. Tomorrow, we will be back to our regular sports leagues, and can’t wait to show you what else we have in store for the evening!

After another great competitive day of sports on Monday, the NCSYers were informed that evening that we were gonna be going to Hershey Park on Tuesday! In the morning, learning groups had a twist to it. We are currently learning the Halachos of Netilas Yadayim (washing your hands) for the morning wash, and for eating bread. The NCSYers participated in our first ever ping pong challenge in which each Chaburah teamed up to try to fill up their washing cup, run over to the bucket with the ping pong ball in it, and wash their hands as if they were washing in the morning and for bread alternating each trip back to the bucket. The first team to have their ping pong ball overflow off the bucket was declared the winner.

Following lunch, we all boarded our coach bus and drove to Hershey, PA to the famous Hershey Park. We enjoyed our time riding the roller coasters, playing arcade games, and attended the famous Hershey Chocolate Factory tour. Many of us spent ample time in the Chocolate World gift shop as well, ensuring that we won’t want to see chocolate again until we leave camp. Stay tuned to find out about our back-to-back field trip days in our next blog post!

Camp sports wasted no time trying to build upon our exciting previous week. After a later Shachris to give the NCSYers a bit more time to recharge for the week, Rabbi Dinovitzer of Baltimore NCSY, spoke to the NCSYers about the power of Davening. Following that, the NCSYers continued in their Chaburah learning groups, and then ran to the dining room for a quick lunch, because we had a lot to do that day. Camp sports was going to go to a SOLD OUT Baltimore Orioles vs. Washington Nationals game at Camden Yards.

Decked out in Orange and Black, the NCSYers got to watch Adam Jones hit two Solo Home Runs for the home O’s in an exciting 3-2 ballgame, which ended with the visiting Washington Nationals on top. The Rosenthal twins won home plate seats to sit with Rabbi Zucker during the game (check out all the pics on Facebook). Following the game, we all walked over to the inner harbor to chill with our friends and advisors, and have our annual scavenger hunt. From human pyramids, to public dancing, the NCSYers had a blast. Nothing concludes a great day in camp sports without another camp BBQ, grilled up by our Chef – Sammy Hecker! Looking forward to continuing the momentum of what promises to be another amazing week at Camp Sports!

On Friday, the NCSYers started off the day by hearing from Rabbi Holland from the Star-K Kashrus agency. He talked about industrial Kashrus with the NCSYers, as we wrapped up our second packet about Kashrus. We then had 1 league game, followed by a Walmart run and floor hockey with Rabbi Fried.

On Shabbos, we were fortunate to have a handful of guests. The NCSYers were privileged to host director of summer programs- David Cutler for Shabbos, as well as Rabbi Granofsky (Founder and Rosh Yeshiva of Ohr Dovid), and Jeremy Lavitt as well. Before we had our Oneg (with deli roll, cholent, and poppers) led by Shmuel Lesher and words of Torah from Rabbi Granofsky, Benny Sragow said over a beautiful Dvar Torah at our Shabbos meal. During the day, right before the end of Davening, we were privileged to hear words of Torah from Rabbi Frand. At lunch, Joseph Fink and Aaron Saxon said over beautiful Divrei Torah, and the NCSYers got a chance to relax from the long week, play board games in the dorms, or learn in the Bais Medrash. Later in the afternoon, Rabbi Fried gave over his popularly attended “Parsha Highlights” shiur, while Rabbi Granofksy gave a special Shiur to the juniors/seniors. After Mincha, Jeremy Lavitt spoke to the NCSYers about comparative religions. Rabbi Green “Ebbed” Shabbos away and told us why the Wright Brothers (first flight) are one of his biggest personal inspirations to him.

After Shabbos, we all boarded the buses for two hours of unlimited bowling. Some of us got as many as 5 games over the course of the night. No camp sports Motzei Shabbos could be complete without going back to campus for a pizza melave malka to follow. Be sure to follow up on all that we are doing this coming week! You could follow us here on our website, or our Facebook/Twitter/Instagram pages!

Eitan Blumstein is learning the Torah Treasury (on the Parsha) with Gav Gichtin, Ben Mizrachi, Akiva Motechin, and Eli Schloss. The group ranges from Vancouver, to Bergenfield, New Jersey, to Ranana, Israel.

Eitan’s group learned about Parshat Pinchas this week. The group discussed questions in regard to the morality of Pinchas’ act, as to why the Torah mentioned Aharon’s name when introducing Pinchas’, as to why Hashem blessed Pinchas with and covenant of peace, and the question of why did Moshe stand on the sidelines throughout the ordeal.

The goal of Eitan’s Chaburah is to continue to understand the Torah in a way that is deeper than the actual P’shat (simple explanation). We want to ask the questions that we may be afraid from asking. When they ask these questions, it allows for deeper meaning of the Parsha and for certain life lessons to be learned and put into action in the daily pursuit in being the best ‘Eved Hashem’ one can be.

Camp Sports is continuing our first full week of camp with a bang. After a very fun day of paintball and ropes course, the camp continued learning about meat and milk in our first learning groups, followed by two more games on Wednesday. One game of soccer went past overtime into a shootout, and Rabbi Fried’s team has proven themselves to be a contender down the stretch for the playoffs as the last undefeated team in the league (6-0). After a long day of sports, select raffle winners were treated to their own private pool party, while others took the time to either relax, play some basketball and frisbee, or learn in the Bais Medrash prior to “Super Seder” (optional learning with an advisor on Mondays & Wednesdays from 9:15-10).

Today, the NCSYers are going to take what they have been learning all week and see it in reality as Rabbi Loike (from the OU National Kashrus Department) is giving a special presentation during learning groups to all of us in the Bais Medrash, concluding with a Q and A session with the NCSYers about the laws of Kashrus. After this special learning program, we are going on a scenic hike at Patapasco State Park followed by a massive BBQ with chicken, steak, hot dogs and hamburgers!

When we get back from our amazing hike and BBQ, the NCSYers who are participating in “Super Seder” will be learning from 9-945, and then we will have our weekly Thursday night Mishmar, followed by our weekly and mishmar raffles. After all of that, Samy is going to fire up another BBQ on campus, so the NCSYers can enjoy our first midnight BBQ of the summer as well!

Shmuel Lesher is learning the Second Perek of Maseches Ta’anis with Akiva Finkelstein, Yisrael Wiener and Shmuel Pearl I.E. “The Memphis Boys” (even though Shmuel Pearl moved to Philadelphia recently, he is still one of the boys).

The first Mishna in the Perek discusses the Jewish prayers and rituals done during a drought. One interesting point is that the one appointed to lead the prayers must be someone who has children. A couple of the guys offered their own explanations. One explanation offered (which is also offered by Rashi’s) was that since the person has children, he will be more concerned with the famine caused by the drought because his own family is suffering.

Our goal for the summer is to understand the purpose of fasting and praying as part of the Jewish response to tragedy. When we turn to G-d in difficult times, we draw strength from our faith that the challenges G-d sends us are only opportunities for growth.

After a meaningful fast on Sunday, we began our first full week of sports. Monday was the first day of our 2 leagues a day. There were a lot of nice plays from all the games (including Ultimate Frisbee, Basketball, Softball, Soccer, and Football) and the rain held up to make sure we got the games in safely. Later that evening, the camp went swimming for the first time this summer, complimented with runs to 711 and Rita’s Ices. After swimming, we came back for Ma’ariv, and a lot of the teens decided to learn extra in the Bais Medrash, while others got a chance to wind back and relax with their advisors and friends.

On Tuesday morning, the camp continued the new topic that we are learning about in our first learning groups. This week, we have changed gears and began to learn about “Basar B’Cholov”, the Halachos of mixing meat and milk together. The NCSYers learned about terms such as “Kashering”, “Yad Soledes Bo”, “Kli Rishon”, and more. Now we have a better grasp as to why we use different pots/pans, and silverware for meat and dairy. After a falafel lunch, we loaded on both buses to go to a paintball and ropes course facility. However, no workout is complete without a big BBQ afterwards. The camp enjoyed our first (of many more) BBQs this summer, and then came back to campus for Ma’ariv and late night slurpees. Can’t wait to share with you what we have in store for the rest of the week!

By Advisor: Alex Selesny

After an uplifting first Shabbos together, we began the week with a fast, the 17^th of Tammuz, aiming to make it as easy and meaningful as possible. We began with trying to find out if the names of the campers and staff impacted their characters and attitudes. We then moved on to watching a compacted version of “The Lion King,” highlighting the messages and ideas it contains. Most significantly, we discussed its relevance to the time period in which we find ourselves, “the three weeks,” and the common denominator it shares with creating a moving, dramatic story plot.

We took the afternoon off for everyone to relax, whether it meant catching up on sleep, learning in the Bais midrash, or spending time with friends. Later in the day, we watched “Beneath the Helmet,” a film on the lives of teens in Israel as they went through basic training to become paratroopers which emphasized the significance of our connection to one another as the Jewish nation. Following that, we attempted to relate to our history through watching a brief video about the liberation of the survivors in Germany after WWII. As the end of the fast neared, we worked in groups to clarify and reveal the priorities and values we share with one another as well as where we differed. We finished off the night with hot bagels, donuts, and, of course, some ball.