Everything I Learned in Life, I Learned at Herzl Camp
April 29, 2010 by Herzl Camp Admin, under What I Learned from Camp.
By The Brothers Puchtel
Part 5
“On the Caravan”
So there we were; me, the guy with the guitar, the girl with the guitar, 20 Herzl guests, Steve Mintz, Minced Meat, Anne Hope, Hope Floats, Bruce Golob, Anna Simon, Jesse Simon, Josh Simon, Simon says, Simon & Garfunkel, Simon Cowell, Nina Simone, Timone and Pumba, Rosemary, Jesse Zimmerman, Robert Zimmerman, Brandon Tagg, Mark “the Dink” Dinken, Bender’s tongue, Zach Freeman, Morgan Freeman, Morgan Fairchild, Mogane David, David and Goliath, Salt & Pepper, TLC, the Torah, and Bryan Grone. (#81, it was an awesome caravan.) Only 1 minute until launch, and Max hadn’t even gotten out of the shower yet. (#82, caravans always form last minute) I shouted towards Max’s room in the new Chadar, “Max, we’re leaving, afo ata?” (#83, Herzl builds Hebrew vocabulary) He shouted back, “Don’t wait for me, I’ll be there, trust me!” (#84 I’ve learned over time to trust this phrase, though it usually means Max is up to something)
We had no choice but to start. I knew the caravan rules, if you hadn’t joined by Tzrif 1, you couldn’t join at all! (#85, if you don’t join the caravan by Tzrif 1, you can’t join at all!) I looked back at the Chadar and out of the corner of my eye saw Max crawling out of his window, and onto the roof. Dressed in whites, and running full speed in Birkenstocks, he took off. (#86, Max has a knack for dramatic rooftop entrances (see Buzzards circa 2000)) (#87, for most this would equal death) A quick kick off of a tree then the climbing wall, and Max was in line a solid 10 feet before we hit Tzrif 1.
“Nice of you to join us Max,” I said casually. “You know me, never missed a caravan, not about to start.” I had to admit, it was a really impressive jump, but now he really smelled just awful. (#88, when you sweat before the caravan, you smell for the rest of the night) With that, Max administered a loving bear hug in hopes that some of my cologne would rub off. (#89, share and share alike) Because I love him, I allowed him to rub under my armpit, and we were on our way…
Passing Tzrif 1 fully entangled and in harmonic unison, I looked around the sea of white and was reminded why I love camp so much. (#90, I love camp so much) From Bim Bom to Shabbat Shalom to Kumbaya to One Tin Soldier, the songs emitted never-ending love as the caravan continued to grow. It seemed as though time, for a moment, was actually suspended within this tiny wooded clearing in Webster Wisconsin. (#91, scientists have concluded that the Herzl Shabbos Caravan does indeed affect the space-time continuum) Now a giant white entourage, we scooped up the last cabins, catching smiles and laughs as we approached the flag circle.
At last, it was time to unveil the flag songs which we had all worked on so vigorously for the half hour before we showered. (#92, all great flag songs are concocted in 1 hour or less) A beautiful creature emerged from the crowd, guitar in hand, harmonica in mouth. (#93, Aaron Gelperin cleans ups well) Goosebumps were stapled to my body as each group eternally solidified their camp experiences of the past week with love, music and humor. (#94, I still have all of my song sheets) (#95, Special shout out to Flip and Melanie Muscoplat, I loved when you guys would sing at camp, seriously, it made my experience, thank you)
Trying to hold back the emotion stemming from recalling Melanie’s version of the Sh’ma (#96, if you never heard this, you never really went to camp), I wrote onward…wow, does anyone have a tissue? Whew, deep breathe, ok I’m fine…(#95, sweet camp memories tend to make me ferklempted (#97, spell check had no suggestions for this word, but you get it, Yiddish, Mike Myers, etc…))
But I digress…where were we now? Ah yes, the caravan. The songs are done, the flags are down, and food awaits us all in the Chadar, where fancy dining tables are dressed to their best. The caravan now evolves from line to wave, as it rolls towards Shabbos dinner. There will be many more caravans before the night is through, some consisting of 4, 3 or as little as 2. No event at camp quite matches the mystique and allure of the caravan; let this be a lesson for all time. (#98, THE SHABBAS QUEEN, SHE LIKES IT CLEAN … and white.)
(#99, the best caravans are the ones that take place after dinner. Drunk with life from the song session, there are few feelings on earth that match being arm in arm, yad b’yad, singing about peace, unison, and love. If it were possible to capture this feeling and deliver it across the world, there would be no war).
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Alumni Camp Flag Song
August 28, 2009 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Letters from Alumni.
By Danny Soshnik
To the tune of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel
Harry & Rose Rosenthal, they’re the ones to start it all,
Herzl camp at White Bear Lake, livin’ Theo’s dream.
Then the move to Devil’s Lake, cabins covered in orange paint,
60 years of history, about which we’ll sing.
Dylan Bob, Maba, Bikkurim, Bruce Golob,
Roof Ball, The new Beit Chai, Rosemary will never die.
Chartreuse Buzzards, Kuntzing, Schwartzy stacked his World League Team,
Bryan Greenberg, Golda Meir, Peanut butter on Eskimo Pies
CHORUS:
Living the dream with Theo,
We are always yearning, hoping we’re returning.
Living the dream with Theo,
It’s been such a pleasure, memories we treasure.
Kadimahniks, N’divim, Bogrim and K’shishim
Brandon’s kitchen, Swimmers itching, turning back the clocks.
Schmutz Busters, Chanut, Puddle Jumping, Forkman
Drive In, Bakfar, Pooping in South Haks.
Mercaz, Ner Howie, Deavers passing LGT,
Butt Olympics, Airport Van, Klugman’s Forty, Caravan
Bakfar, Anouncements, Drama Games, Buddy Checks,
12 Gates, Ozo Plays, Heavy dew it never rains.
CHORUS:
Living the dream with Theo,
We are always yearning, hoping we’re returning.
Living the dream with Theo,
It’s been such a pleasure, memories we treasure.
Swim the Lake, Rick Recht, Shower buckets, Teva Trek
Anne Hope, Starry nights, Don’t forget your Shabbos Whites
Hack n Sack, Kundra, Who took down the tetherball?
Avodah, Shabbas Queen, Speed letters we always read
Chugim Follies, Flip Frisch, Intersession, Ultimate
Bikkurim, Staff Mo, CSRs are no-nos
Ga Ga, Ha’Atid, Overnights, and T’Filim
Barry Golob, Ozo Zoe, Steve Mintz plays the bongo.
CHORUS:
Living the dream with Theo,
We are always yearning, hoping we’re returning
Living the dream with Theo,
It’s been such a pleasure, memories we treasure.
Rate a Room, Tzrif Time, Tasters in the Beit Tarbut,
Aaron, Gelprin’s, Cheese Song is amazing.
Grilled cheese and tomato soup, Courtesy flush when you poop,
Shabbat, Sichot, I’m going to that one.
Schmear Snacks, Buddy Tags, Torans use the dirty rags,
Visitor’s Day, Oy Vey, Ozos still do not get paid.
CHORUS:
Living the dream with Theo,
We are always yearning, hoping we’re returning
Living the dream with Theo,
It’s been such a pleasure, memories we treasure.
Alumni Camp, Herzl camp, good to be back again,
Been too long, We’re 50 strong, Reliving, Theo’s Dream
Old friends, new friends, dressed in white, reminiscing funny times
Walking through the Caravan, Singing laughing hand in hand.
Shabbat Shalom, Herzl Style, Matzo Balls, Candle light
Singing songs, B’yachad, swaying, Yad B’Yad
Lots of good times are in store, Only two days, wished for more
Us and Theo, what a team, If you will it it is no dream.
CHORUS:
Living the dream with Theo,
But when we are gone, Theo’s dream lives on, and on, and on, and on…
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Soup Cheese and BUKKURIM
July 18, 2009 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Letters from Alumni.
By Marc Warren
So let’s set the stage, shall we? It’s the summer of 1992 and I was excited to plan a 10 day USY retreat called LTI. Then one day I received a phone call from Mitch Golob, Jesse Simon and Tommy Hoffman, telling me I should instead think about going to this place called “Herzl Camp” and apply to be something called an “Ozo”. Those guys told me a bit about the job, helped me write an application essay, and promised me that this experience would change my life forever. Well, I decided to take a chance and took their advice. Somehow I got the job, paid the then-$300 dollar fee, and began my first of many journeys up Wisconsin State Highway 35.
So there I was, in the middle of Wisconsin with 23 other young overly-spirited young adults, getting ready for what we were told would be the summer of our lives. And what a summer it was! Sure, 1992 had its share of ups and downs (Sorry Amy), but I look at my first summer ever at Herzl, with immeasurably high memories. I could not wait to tell all of my friends back home all the funny stories that took place, and felt the next summer could not get here soon enough.
Fast forward 12 months and there I am returning for the summer of 1993: Taste counselor (best program at camp), Maba, and one of my favorite cabins ever, Tzrif 3 Session 3. This is the infamous summer where I introduced color wars by screaming B-U-K-K-U-R-I-M over and over again, met Jeff Zoss and Jess Taran, and got to do the airport buses twice. Stories and memories were taking over my everyday conversation when I got home and once again, I could not wait to tell everyone about it and return for another summer
1994, man what a summer!!!!!! That summer everything was perfect. I was a part of a Kadimah staff that I would put up against any gathering of Herzl Alumni in history. That was the year we absentmindedly created a shtick with the “Hot Cereal” cheer, saw a Herzl legend return in Bruce Golob, I did Chiri Bim with Adam Chall … and Mitch Golob, Tommy Hoffman and E.J. Clyman stood on stage and performed the best 12 gates stories imaginable. It was the summer where my Tzrif 4 session 3 dominated everyone in sports (I mean I had Max “Tiny” Puchtel and David “The Putz” Bender, enough said). I look at that summer as the year everyone got along, everyone was there for the kids, and the year Herzl affected me the most.
The summers of 1995 & 1996 where different. 1995 I helped start a new program still in existence today, known as B’Yachad – and in 1996 I somehow was hired to direct another new program called Ha’atid. These are the summers where Herzl taught me that I can’t always be right, that you have to listen to your co-workers, and that someone may have a different opinion and to respect and listen to it. Sure, those words of wisdom may not have been realized until years later, but hey, that’s what being in your 20’s at Herzl is all about!
When I was asked to write this, I thought, what am I going to write about? I don’t have camper memories, and all of my stories come from the staff perspective of DO’s, PH, B&O, etc. But I am honored and proud to have made camper memories while being at camp. I didn’t love all of them, but I still keep in touch with many of my campers. And sometimes they will come up to me around town and remind me of the days I put a smile on their face and a joy in their voice. That feeling is one I hope you all are able to share with me.
When I went to the Herzl Staff of the 90’s retreat, I remember thinking is camp the same? Is the food the same? Does it smell the same? Then I remembered something Bruce Golob told me years ago. He said, “Herzl is such a hard place to change, it has so many traditions that once one stops, three more start.” Over the past 10 years camp has begun to transform itself for the future. The new chadar, a climbing wall, a new ropes course, these were just the beginning. Next summer we will tearfully say goodbye to the beloved orange cabins. I can’t believe in the 60 years of their existence, we haven’t painted them a better color! At this summer’s Alumni camp you and many others can have the opportunity to get one last look at the “old” place that made my memories so strong, before it is replaced by the “new” place that builds so many more for future generations. Thank you for reading my ramble and Shavua Tov!