Machane Herzl, you are so full of Shtick!
May 27, 2010 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Letters from Alumni.
By Mike Neiman
What are Herzl staff known for, greater than any other camp staff? I know what you are thinking, “Mike, obviously Herzl is about the grilled cheese and tomato soup!” … well yes, Alan Garelick would agree with that, but its not where I’m going here. Herzl Camp staff have thrived (thriven?) for over 60 years on one very special quality … Shtick.
You can’t really define “shtick”. It basically is EVERYTHING we do at camp. From our breakfast routines, to programming events, to story-telling, to flag songs, to event introductions, staff games, cheers, chugs, programs, bus rides, waving goodbye to bus rides … everything Herzl does is laced with that wonderful little sweetener … Shtick.
I never realized how big a part of our camp life it is until I spent a summer working on the east coast at a camp that “thought” they had the most creative program in the country. Oh really? You guys have color wars? And you think it would be creative to announce it with a boring son at flag raising? Wooooooooow. Those staff thought they were the greatest creative minds on the planet. And although my summer of ’04 was a fun time, it doesn’t hold a candle to one Shabbat at Herzl. Just think of all the creative uniquities (yep, its a word) along that encompass 24 short hours in Webster. From Aaron Rischall’s 2000 Ozrim “I love Shabbas” introduction at Friday lunch to the 2005 Ozrim tribal drum-beat Havdallah performance, one thing stands out every single summer… Shtick.
I love it. Literally everything Herzl does is enhanced by our creative staff and love for shtick. You can actually find it in every part of the daily schedule. And don’t think that’s a bad thing! Shtick is the heart and soul of Herzl Camp. Its our identify, its our memories, its the tradition and passion that keeps us coming back year after year. Think about it, every part of the day is full of … Shtick.
(i can’t remember the actual schedule, but work with me here!)
7:30: Creative shtick-induced wake-up from your Ozrim
7:50: Flag raising, with (since 2005) … cabin led “shtick”
8:00: “Hey Kadimah, today for t’fillot, we’re doing the whole service backwards!”
8:30: Hot Ceral for breakfast? Someone get Jesse Simon a mic…
9:20: “For today’s Nikayon, the Rate-a-room theme is Saved by the Bell”
10:00: Chug Aleph. Other camps have Aerobics … Psh, Herzl has “Navy Seal Training”
11:00: Chug Bet: Harry Potter Chug is actually playing real-life Quiddich? I’m going to that one!
12:30: Lunch, this can’t possibly have shtick? What’s that Aaron Gelperin? “Cheese is great, I really love it, its’ yellow and orange and green…”
1:30: Minucha. No shtick here. WRONG! Tzrif 11 is reading the blueprints and working out the strategy for tonight’s kitchen raid.
2:00: Chug Gimel. World League of Herzl Sports, need I say more?
3:00: Taste of Herzl is finalizing their dance moves to N’Sync’s Bye,Bye, Bye while B’yachad works on their Avodah ring
3:50: Nosh. Save your milk cartons, we want them for a lifesize statue of Theodore Herzl we are building in Ozo Park
4:00: Roni (Kornblum) Falk, what’s your favorite part of camp? Sadnaaaaaah!!!
5:00: “Hey Tzrif 5″, “Hey What”, “Roof Ball, Tzrif Time, be there” “We’ll School ya!”
5:50: Flag lowering, again with (since 2005) … cabin led “shtick”
6:00: “You spilled, you spilled, hug a pole, hug a pole”
7:00: Ha’atid staff are busy setting up Tochnit Erev, where Nate Wohl will finally get to “wed” his secret love, Rachel Javitch.
8:00: Tochnit Erev! Can you name a program without shtick?? And when its over, get in a big circle and cross your arms, right over left for “Rod Hayom, Shemesh Dom…”
9:00: Lights Out. Tzrif 11′s Black Ops plan to infiltrate the kitchen store room is ruined by a locked door, damn. But wait, Ozo Zander found a key someone must have left behind!
9:30: Laila Tov to David Bender’s rendition of “Go to Bed” (sang to the tune of Semisonic’s Closing Time)
And don’t get me started on specialty days…. (sigh) I love this camp. Shabbat Shalom!