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Herzl Magic Bracket: Final Four!
02 September '10 by admin, under Herzl Magic Bracket.
At long last, the blog post you have all waited for. And by “you all” I think I am referring to Neiman, who has been more than patient waiting for me. But I digress. This is the FINAL FOUR.
Months ago, we started with 64 traditions that make Herzl Camp magical to decide which are the most magical. I think any of the original 64 would be good enough to make the final four at the average camp. But at Herzl, we’re talking about the best of the best at the best camp.
There were hard fought battles along the way, but in the end, only four teams could emerge:
Representing the Yama Region:
#2 Bikkurim
In a suprisingly not so close matchup with 12 Gates, Bikkurim advanced. While 12 Gates is relatively new (been around for just over a third of Herzl’s existence) and not universally understood, Bikkurim combines everything good about camp. You have sports, ruach, creativity, and did I say ruach, all wrapped into one event. It is truly the highlight of the summer for many campers, and that is tough to argue with. Bikkurim will face…
…Representing the Vekedma Region:
#1 Shabbos Caravan
The selection committee really blew this one by having Shabbos Caravan and Flag Songs in the same region. One might argue that they really are the same event. In the end, Caravan outed Flag Songs handily. Flag songs are great, but there are other opportunities to ruin an original songwriter’s lyrics with our nonsense throughout the summer. Caravan really is what starts the seperation of Shabbat from the rest of the week. It is magical in every way. While other camps celebrate Shabbat, I cannot imagine many do the queen as much justice as we do.
Picking between these two wonderful traditions will be tough. Can you really picture Herzl without either? I can. It would look like a certain summer camp in SW Missouri. I kid. I kid… In the other matchup we pair the Tzafona Region with the Vanegba Region.
Representing Tzafona:
#3 Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
This was a hard fought battle with World League, but in the end the sheer happiness that everyone feels when dipping their sandwich into soup exceeds the excitement of World League. Perhaps if our Bikkurim weren’t so special, World League would have advanced, but people may get their “competitive fill” elsewhere. I am surprised that Grilled Cheese went this far, but this camp *is* in Wisconsin.
And finally, representing the Vanegba Region:
#1 Friday Night Song Session
Well, Cindarella’s glass slipper proved not to fit for the South Haks. But just because the slipper didn’t fit, I’d highly recommend wearing shoes, because it is pretty disgusting in there. Friday Night Song Session takes the tranquility that was started at the caravan and continues it through the night. Amy Shapiro put it best: “There is nothing quite like watching the transformation from crying camper with their head down on their first Shabbat because they miss their parents to crying camper or ozo on their last shabbat because they never want to go home!” So true. When I think of all the things I miss about camp, and there are MANY, the Friday Night Song Session is always on the short list.
So there you have it. Classic matchups of a #1 vs #2 seed and a #1 vs #3 seed. I eagerly look forward to your comments and perspective, because this is not how I thought the tournament would play out. So, please comment, vote, argue. Next month we crown a champion!
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Alumni Blog New and Improved!
31 August '10 by admin, under General Posts.
By Mike Neiman
Hey Herzl Camp Alumni! You may have seen the Herzl Alumni Blog go down for a short while today. And you may be looking at the layout today and think to yourself, “hmm, it looks the same but something’s different…”
… Something is different! We have recently migrated our Blog hosting away from Quick Blogbress and into WordPress. WordPress is one of the best and easiest to use sites and will make it much easier for us to post stories for you, as well as integrate more new and exciting functionality (like streaming of YouTube videos, podcasts, and more).
To the average reader, this will not change anything. But to those of us writing in weekly to entertain and reminsce, this will be much easier and an improvement in our functionality ability. So, happy reading, and get ready for a great year as we ramp up with all new blog writers and categories for 2010-2011!
p.s. Can anyone see which image was added to the banner at the top? Bonus points for identifying the Alumni captured…
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“Saturdays are Boring at Home!”
26 August '10 by admin, under Letters from Alumni.
By Zoe Stern
The day that camp ended for the summer I became Facebook friends with David Hope (Camp Director Anne Hope’s son.) His statuses in the days following were standard. “I miss camp: “Saturdays are boring at home.” Some assorted “inside joke” types of comments. Basically what you would expect from a 13 year old boy who has just returned to the real world after seven wonderful weeks at Machaneh Fun.
Fast forward a few days to the day before Family Camp. David’s status reads: “Tomorrow I have to go to Family Camp.” I comment back: “GET to go to Family Camp.” Other people comment. David comments:”Family Camp isn’t that fun. It’s just a bunch of kids and grown-ups.” After this someone comments: “So which one are you?” Comments end.
David never did answer this question, no one pushed him or expected him to, and I don’t think an answer was necessary. It’s just another one off those incredible things about camp. You can be whatever you want to be. Go ahead, be the kid. Be the grownup. Be somewhere in between or be both at the same time. Change from moment to moment depending on whether you’re in the chadar or in the lake.
I have known camp longer than I have known David and longer than David’s known camp, but through his status and the comments that followed I was reminded of one of the countless reasons why camp truly is the magical place it is.
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Here’s to Dear Old Family Camp
19 August '10 by admin, under Summer 2010 Updates.
[Editor's note: Recently, Herzl Camp held Family Camp for parents, children, and families of the Herzl Community. Even though this program has been around at Herzl for 6 years, it seems many people are still unclear how amazing an opportunity it is! Well, this year we want you to see what it was like to be there first hand, so we asked one of our favorite Alumni to share with us her story and experience. Enjoy the reading and we'll see you in Webster with your family in 2011!]
By Debbie Berman Wolfe
Here’s to dear old Herzl – driving into Herzl Camp for the first time with my children, me singing the Herzl song as loud as I can, my husband (sadly not alum) and my kids looking at me like I am a crazy person – was the beginning of an AMAZING family camp weekend!!
We checked in at the beautiful new Chadar and were greeted with such excitement from all of the staff. Seeing the new cabins for the first time was truly awesome! Beautiful wood floors, extremely spacious,great windows, built in bunks with HUGE cubbies, counselor quarters with tons of storage, with even a hanging rod built into it, best of all though are the great big screened in porches! Each K’far (village)of cabins has its own fire pit and everything just looks so new and beautiful, yet “Herzl Camp familiar”. Then there are the new Hawks! WOW – so lean and also spacious! Being a long time camper, it was so much fun to come back and get to see and experience this all firsthand.
The staff’s love and excitement of Herzl was contagious and everyone who was not alum, or was alum from many moons ago, were excited to learn some of the secrets and traditions of such a beloved camp. We were lucky enough to experience many different weather types while at Herzl. The old saying “it never rains at Macheneh Herzl, it only heavy dews” was tested on Thursday night with a thunder storm to outdo any thunder storm! Through out the night I was sure camp might float away! Believe it or not though, we woke up the next morning to sunshine! Perfect waterfront weather. We were able to spend the morning playing in the water, taking the different boats out and seeing the newly re-developed waterfront – with enough sand to really play at the“beach!z
When Friday night started to sneak in, everyone showed up in their Shabbat whites, singing our newly created welcoming of Shabbat songs and ushered in just the right atmosphere for Shabbat to begin. Services were led by staff that were their all summer, and we were lucky enough to have the Rosh Shira (head of singing) with us for the weekend. He played his guitar a few times throughout the services and led a great song session with familiar “campy” tunes Friday night after our traditional Shabbat dinner.
Throughout the weekend our three and five year old boys felt incredibly independent, able to run around , they felt right at home at Herzl Camp. Activity rotations were set up for all age groups; Sand castle building for three to five year old, and at the same time GAGA games for the pre-teens. All run by the amazing Herzl Camp staff. The parents could even separate and choose their own rotation if they wanted too. Amanut (arts and crafts) were always available and learning the latest Israeli and American dance moves were a treat as well!
The highlight of the weekend was the Saturday night program – a talent show. With tons of shouting and cheering! Present and future Herzl Campers were able to show off their talents and have a blast on stage without any hesitation. Singing, dancing, comic bits and good old family fun was had by all.
Our boys are already asking when we will be going back to Herzl – and I for one can’t wait till family camp 2K11!
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Herzl Camp’s “D’vrei Missions” in 2010
15 August '10 by admin, under Summer 2010 Updates.
By Mike Neiman
As part of this summer’s training, the Herzl Camp provided D’vrei Missions to the staff during staff meetings. Below is one of those D’vrei Missions, which helps to exemplify the Mission of Herzl Camp. Thanks to Drea Lear and Jamie Diamond who provided this entry for us to use for our Alumni Blog!
Herzl Camp is a welcoming, independent camp where young people become self-reliant, create lasting Jewish friendships, and develop commitment and love for Judaism and Israel. Herzl Camp creates a vibrant Jewish community of future leaders.The self-reliance which we pride ourselves on instilling to campers allows them to be a certain type of person. You know that type of person… “a camp person” There are certain qualities which “camp people” possess as they grow up: independence, self advocacy, interpersonal skills and leadership. These qualities develop over time and are not only helpful at this point in campers’ lives but also helps to foster a certain type of leader as they grow up,go on to college, and become adults. John F. Kennedy Jr. said, “The Jewish people, ever since David slew Goliath, have never considered youth as a barrier to leadership.” This quote is especially true for “camp people.” we push our campers to be leaders and dugmaot every day and for me this is a huge part of what camp is about.
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Call for Content
12 August '10 by admin, under General Posts.
By Mike Neiman
Hey Herzl Alumni (hey what), Hey Herzl Alumni (hey what)…!
You. Yeah you. Don’t turn around and look at that guy behind you, I’m talking to you. You know, you, the one who has a daily reminder on Fridays and Mondays to see what crazy story was posted to this blog. You love it, right? You enjoy reading this blog? The funny quips and stories that give you a much needed 3 minute break in your work day? The reminiscing trips down memory lane that make you feel reconnected to the Herzl Camp you once cherished attending? Yeah, that’s right, THAT you.
We need your help! The Herzl Camp Alumni Blog is looking for new writers to help share their new stories and traditions to the camp alumni universe. As we gear up for a new year, we want to keep our writing fresh, unique, and fun. And that’s where you come in!
If you have enjoyed what the past year has given you, help us out and join the team to submit stories and articles to be published. The commitment is as big or little as you want it to be. Considering a monthly column? Great! Want to write once or twice during the year? Love it!
Herzl Camp is looking for more creative writers from all generations. Parents, Alumni, Campers, Staff … everyone! If you are interested send an email to info@herzlcamp.org or leave a comment on this post. We hope you are interested because we love reading what new crazy stories our alumni come up with. Shabbat Shalom and Im Tirzu!
p.s. a HUGE thank you to all of our 2009-2010 writers, we hope you want to stay on and write again too, it was an incredible year!!
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Everything I need to know I learned at Herzl Camp
09 August '10 by admin, under Letters from Alumni.
By Zoe Stern
Everything I need to know I learned at Herzl Camp…
- I learned to be yourself and always go for it!
- I learned to love thunder
- I learned you can “dance” by writing your name with your butt
- I learned who I wanted to marry
- I learned how to tolerate and accept various personalities
- I learned when you find something you love, never leave it, no matter how much people make fun of you
- I learned what the bathrooms were called
- I learned I had enough relatives to fill an entire table!
- I learned what it feels like to love
- I learned that friends made at camp last a lifetime
- I learned that camp is truly remarkable
- I learned not to put my elbows on the table and that you don’t need eyeliner at camp
- I learned what it feels like to belong somewhere
- I learned how to swim!
- I learned that “cool” is just a creation of society. In the Herzl society- the counselors create whats cool
- I learned patience
- I learned how not to be afraid of the dark
- I learned how to observe the sabbath and keep it holy
***Thank you to Joe Wolf, Jaclyn Grossfield, Papa Danny Soshnik, Yossi Kakou, Alyson Silver, Rachel Rosen, Anne Hope, Evan Stern, Johanna Stein, Flip, Josh Awend, Peter Shanedling and Benji Kaplan for their input!
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The Not-So-Top 10 List
06 August '10 by admin, under Top 10 Lists.
By Alex Locke
I have been experiencing writers block lately, and that is not a good thing when you have a blog due for Herzl Camp. So I thought I would do a Top 10 list of something. But suddenly, this got harder than I thought…
Top 10 Famous People at Herzl Camp
1. Bob Dylan
2. Bryan Greenberg
3. …
Well, that did not get me too far. Okay… how about another topic…
Top 10 Colors to Wear on Shabbat
1. White
2. …
I think we have exhausted that list.
Top 10 Old Flag Songs
1. Oh Canada
2. …
Hmmm… bad idea. Next?
Top 10 Old Herzl Programs
1. N’Divim
2. Maba
3. …
Yes there are others… but there are certainly not 10. These were the two best programs no longer in existence.
Top 10 Herzl Words
1. Ozo
2. Koontz
3. …
And the list was over. No word is better than Koontz!
Top 10 Hot Tubs
1. Ozo Mo
2. …
You cannot come up with 10 when there only is only one in camp.
Top 10 Optional Breakfasts
1. Cinnamon Rolls
2. …
It used to rotate every other week between the cinnamon rolls and bagels, but alas, still not 10 to choose from.
Top 10 Herzl Stories
1. Rosemary
2. The Clown
3. Kundra
4. …
Okay… this is getting scary. I need to stop.
Top 10 Herzl Colors
1. Orange
2. Brown
3. …
That’s a pretty boring list.
Top 10 Herzl Sports Gone by the Wayside
1. Tetherball
2. …
I am still in shock that it is gone.
And then it hit me… a Top 10 List that could work…
Top 10 Places to Spend Your Summer
1. Herzl Camp
2. Machaneh Herzl
3. Herzl
4. Machaneh Paradise
5. Webster, Wisconsin
6. The shores of Devil’s Lake
7. The former Log Cabin Inn
8. The town next to Siren, Wisconsin
9. Theo’s Summer Shack
10. The greatest place on Earth!
Okay, it was a stretch, but you get the point. Dorothy says “There is no place like home.” But I say… There is no place like Herzl Camp!
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Discovering that “Herzl Magic”
28 July '10 by admin, under Letters from Parents.
By Pam Wilson
I am sitting in the dining hall on the Monday after Visitor’s Day at Herzl Camp. It is 8:15am and I am barely awake, not being able to find any decaf coffee to help me out. Because my daughter Jessie, husband Kenny and I are guests, we are sitting facing into the crowd of campers at the Director’s table.
It is LOUD.
Much louder than I ever imagined a camp dining hall could ever be. Much less at 8:15am. Zander Abrams is sitting across from me and over Fruit Loops he says, “We play loud, up-beat music in the morning to get the campers going.”
From where I sit, these campers do not need anything to get them going. There are campers dancing, campers singing in the aisles and some campers even eating breakfast. When I passed the Kadima table (my son Joe is a Kadimanick this summer), the boys were barely awake, grunting at one another.
I smile at Zander and simply watch. The RUACH is so loud there is simply no way a conversation can take place. But that’s okay. That’s not why we’re here at Herzl Camp. We’re here because I’ve never been to Herzl Camp (yes, believe it or not, there ARE people who have never been here), as well as to visit our son and show Jessie (a prospective camper) around.
Actually, I am getting ahead of myself. This story of Herzl Magic starts five years ago…
Five years ago, my son Joe came home from Herzl and announced, “I had the BEST summer ever and I am going back to Herzl every summer!” Since we encouraged meeting new people and having new experiences, this was okay in our house. What we didn’t expect, was the intensity of the friendships Joe was making. Each year after that first year, he came home starting the count-down until the next summer’s departure date.
After the summers of 2008 and 2009, we decided to visit Minneapolis and meet his Herzl friends and more importantly (for us), his friends parents. Which we did.
The Tarshish, Spencer, Friedman, Rosenstein and Greenstein families have welcomed not only my son, but our entire family into their lives. As I’ve had the privilege of getting to know everyone, they have tried to enlighten me about Herzl. They are Herzl families, some of them like Amy Friedman, even attending Herzl as a kid. In fact, Amy e-mailed me that “Herzl is one of my most favorite places on earth.”
I had to find out more. If there was some sort of magic happening, I wanted in.
Last November, during our visit to Minneapolis when we saw Anne Hope, she invited Joe’s younger sister Jessie to not only visit on Visitor’s Day, but to stay overnight!!!
As we began telling people that Jessie was invited to stay overnight, I slowly began realizing how special this invite really was. Nobody had ever stayed overnight. Nobody had seen behind the curtain. Nobody had seen camp in action from the coveted spot of inside. This was something pretty special and I intended to find out about Herzl Magic myself.
Visitor’s Day finds us in Minneapolis with our new friends. We are all driving up and after spending Saturday night at a picnic at Lake Harriet, we greet each other on Sunday as old friends.
Visitor’s Day was nothing like I envisioned. And it was everything that I expected. (My entire knowledge of sleep-away camp, in fact, are the movies Indian Summer and The Parent Trap. In fact, as Jessie and I were walking around Herzl, she even said to me, “This looks like the camp from The Parent Trap!!!”)
As we drove in, there were so many more people than I expected. License plates from all-over the country. Parents, grandparents, siblings, friends. I couldn’t tell who was more excited: those visiting or those being visited!
The campers were waiting on the hill and as we walked closer, our son, who is 14 and rarely talks to me in front of his friends, launched himself into first his dad’s arms and then mine. Hugging us and laughing and hugging some more.
As we walked back toward the new cabins (could those cabins be any nicer?!!), Joe gave us a mini-tour. Herzl is much bigger than I thought. Lots of space for Ultimate Frisbee. Now I when I look at the pictures on-line I can recognize where the campers are.
Soon after all the hugging, Joe’s cabin-mates and their parents are congregating in Joe’s cabin and gradually we all pull our cameras out, snapping away. Trying somehow to capture the Herzl Magic that is evident in front of us. The kids are patient, laughing and joking and posing for pictures and then just as suddenly they want us out. They have been given instructions: bring your parents to the Ulam for a short presentation. As we begin to get ourselves organized the skies open and we have a downpour. Eventually we all make it to the Ulam, soggy and wet and happy to be here. Then the show begins.
My son is singing and dancing. My son is having a great time singing, dancing and being on-stage with his friends. Who is this kid and what have they done with mine? At home, you would never catch Joe singing or dancing, much less on a stage. It’s Herzl magic once again. The show is cute and then we are once more set free. The kids disperse and eventually Joe continues his tour.
Jessie also meets up with friends whom she has met in Minneapolis (Haley and Elana Warren) and before they take off running around the camp, we get more of a tour from Ruthie (Anne’s daughter), who is a wealth of information and a great tour guide.
Having never been to Herzl or Visitor’s Day and not knowing what to expect, (or an end-time), I am surprised as parents start saying good-bye too soon. If I had to leave then, I would have been sad. It was too quick, too fast.
Luckily, Kenny and I are staying with Jessie as over-night guests. Joe hugs us good-bye and is gone. After we move our car and say goodbye to as many friends as we can, Kenny and I walk out into camp and it is…
Empty.
Completely quiet empty.
It is like a horror movie: Where have all the children gone?
Apparently, and unseen by the naked eye, the counselors and kids have been briefed: there are afternoon activities to involve the kids once more and quickly as parents leave. I understand why. We have disrupted their schedules. It is literally like someone snapped their fingers and everything falls back into place.
As I witness this, I am beginning to see behind the curtain just a little bit. I didn’t hear any directions, yet, the entire camp, within about 20 minutes is back to humming along.
We leave Jessie with Ruthie to throw water balloons and we retreat upstairs where we realize how exhausted we really are. How do these kids keep up the pace?
There are two activities for the campers Sunday afternoon and after that we are invited to go to flag lowering and the dining hall for dinner.
Having no idea how this works, it takes us a little while to realize how to access dinner, as well as utensils. Even the youngest camper, however, knows the drill. Within about ten minutes the RUACH begins again and I watch, wide-eyed as campers sing, shout cheers, dance and have a glorious time at dinner. I even spot campers banging utensils on their table in a cheer (something Joe tried at home after his first summer and which I promptly put a stop to). Someone tries to let all the different groups of kids know where they are expected for their evening program and while I can’t decipher what she is saying, the campers are up and out, knowing exactly where to go, what to do and when.
Here’s the other thing I saw behind the curtain: everybody does their job. Every single person has their own job and responsibilities and everybody (from what I could tell) simply does it. There could be over-lap, which I bet there is, but from my vantage point, Herzl Camp runs like it does because the staff loves being there. This is their choice – Herzl Camp is a fun place to work; it’s a life style choice for the staff. I bear witness to camaraderie and laughter and magic…even BEHIND the curtain.
We decide to walk back through camp to our son’s cabin. There are kids EVERYWHERE – throwing Frisbees, balls, etc. There are kids hanging out in front of their cabins, talking, laughing. There are kids playing roofball near Joe’s cabin. I am trying to watch all the activity and all the kids and it occurs to me…Herzl Camp is a KID COMMUNE!!!!
There are kids everywhere. There are rules, which the kids obviously know, but these are camp rules, not parent’s rules and it’s something the kids can not only live with, but thrive within. Everything here at Herzl is for and about the kids. The grounds, the new cabins, the food (I asked Joe if he had had anything resembling a vegetable or fruit the entire summer and he grinned at me), the activities. Everything is planned with the kids in mind and how much fun can be had. What a magical place to be.
It is spectacular.
It is incredible to see and witness.
I get it.
I finally get the Herzl Magic.
It’s like Disney’s slogan…the most magical place on earth. I understand now why Joe lives and breathes Herzl Camp. If he could, he would live there all summer (in fact, he told me he wanted to one day own Herzl Camp).
After an evening program and a camp-fire, the kids head back to their respective cabins and Kenny, Jessie and I head up to our suite. I am so tired I can barely see straight. Jessie has had an incredible night and plans to spend the morning at the waterfront participating in camp activities. When asked she tells us she will go on her own.
Which brings us to back to where I started, at that lunch (which lasted ninety minutes). It was the LOUDEST, most spirited lunch I’ve ever been at. There was more dancing, more cheers and lots of laughter. I sat, observing, once more how much fun the kids were having, (which makes coming home such a tough time). My head hurt (really) and my ears were ringing. We had to say goodbye and make our way to the airport.
After hugging Joe three times, and his commenting, “enough already, mom, leave!” we did indeed leave Herzl.
The Magic, though, stayed with us.
All the way home.
And just like Disney (only with more dirt)…Herzl has the same kind of Magic. While I would love to explain it, I’m not sure I can … in words. It’s a feeling. Of belonging and bonding and trying new things, finding yourself and your independence and meeting new people. It’s just magic. And it’s very real.
Herzl Magic. Be a part of it! Shabbat Shalom.
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Power(s) Blogging
25 July '10 by admin, under Letters from Parents.
By Albie & Rachel Powers
Though the letter we got
Requesting the duct tape they lack
Makes us pray for their counselors
To please watch their back!
Top Ten Reasons Our Boys Are At Herzl:
10. Unlimited mosquito kisses
9. Making sand castles in the shape of challah
8. New cabins disguised as old cabins
7. Growing a Theodore Herzl-style beard
6. Saying “ga-ga” & not being called a baby for it
5. Continuously turning their shirts inside-out & coming home with clean clothes
4. Bug juice made with bugs in attendance
3. Practicing the Smores Pyramid of Nutrition
2. Week1: Shabbos Whites; Week 3: Shabbos Off Whites
1. Earning credits toward a sports scholarship to Rabbinical School
Herzl 1974 – MABA
Herzl 1983 – Ozo
Herzl 1984 – Staff
Herzl 2009 – Family Camp
Herzl 2010 – Parent
That’s the Vibe!!