Another amazing week at Camp Gan Israel has just ended....
The smiles, singing, joy, trips, swimming, sports and so much more are non stop, and the kids have been having a blast!
At 47 years old, I have been busy running around with one of the oldest groups of campers, playing Basketball, going Kayaking, Scavenger Hunts in the Mall and lots more, but it has also been an opportunity to stay young, create happy meaningful Jewish moments and memories for all of the campers, and to inspire the children with the beautiful values, messages and stories of Judaism.
Yesterday with one of the groups, we stopped by the home of a 90 year old Holocaust Survivor who spoke to them, uplifted them, and they in turn sung some joyous Hebrew songs for him.
At Camp Gan Israel of Sudbury, it is much more than just a fun summer, it is also a meaningful Jewish summer and a chance to really live and celebrate who we are.
In this week's Torah Reading, one of the stories is regarding the daughters of Tzelafchad, who felt left out and made a claim, to be able to have a piece of land in the Land of Israel, like so many other families.
It is a beautiful story of sincerity, healthy passion, and beautiful outcome, as thanks to them, G-d instructs Moshe to teach a new Mitzvah, so that they too, can inherit a piece of the Land.
It is a reminder that indeed each one of us have a deep spiritual and intrinsic connection to the Land of Israel, whether we live there or don't live there, whether we are a citizen or not.
The Tzemach Tzedek the third Rebbe of Chabad, used to tell his followers who wanted to move to Israel, but couldn't make it there (200 years ago), that their job should be to make wherever they live be like the Land of Israel. In other words, the Land of Israel, is not just a piece of dirt, instead it represents a vision, a meaningful way of life, a light to the nations, and so much more, and this he would say, is something that they can build in a mini way, wherever they live, so that their current residence and life, becomes one that brings light, meaning and joy to all those around them.
Watching the passion of our campers at Camp Gan Israel this week, I know that they are helping making our community, and indeed every field trip and the people they touch on these visits, into a positive place and experience and one that brings light and goodness to the world.
Good Shabbos & Shabbat Shalom
Yisroel