Written by Dani Katowitz
My favorite place to celebrate Shabbat has always been at camp. Similar to many other Jewish camps, at URJ Camp Harlam the entire community dresses in white and prays together. The Shabbat experience at camp is always magical. However, celebrating Shabbat in Israel is a close runner up. Our first Shabbat together as a Nachshon Cohort was amazing. Yet the real magic came during Oneg Shabbat.
Our Oneg began with a play of that week's Midrash acted out by the children of Rabbi Cohen, Rabbi Zeff as well as some Fellows. After a great performance, the night moved on to being even more powerful through an activity led by two other Fellows Jesse and Peter and me. The cohort sat in a circle with the Rabbis and discussed the powerful impact that our summers at our camps have had on our lives.
Each story was unique and gave us a better insight into each other's lives and why we decided to become a Nachshon Fellow. The stories were emotional, humorous and powerful. Some Fellows shared memories of a counselor helping them through their homesickness their first summer at camp and if it were not for those counselors they would not be on the path to becoming a Jewish professional. Other told stories of how they have made an impact on their own campers' lives and how such impact has enabled them to realize the significance camp has on them.
Every story was not only different, but it allowed us to get to know each other a little bit better. Our first Shabbat fell only 24 hours after our arrival in Israel. However, even in such a short time Nachshon Fellows feel a special bond. A special bond that not everyone understands but is a common understanding of camp. Even though we each grew up and work at different camps our common language and passion for camp quickly became clear. If it were not for camp, we would not be in Israel living, learning and working together.
