A Herzl Hanukkah … in Israel!
December 12, 2010 by Herzl Camp Admin, under General Posts.
By Tracy Altman
The Herzl community does not compare to any other! Herzl alumni are spread across the world and with all the traveling I do, I’m certain to see someone from camp on each of my trips. The best thing about this community is how inclusive everyone is and how people see the importance of inviting others to share holidays and Shabbat meals together. After 13 years at camp, hundreds of campers later and best friends across the globe, there’s almost no way to explain how great it is to sit down with camp friends for any kind of event.
Living in Chicago I am surrounded by Herzl people. Whether it’s Jared Rosenbloom, Danny Pesis and Brad Benenson who live directly across the street or Jessica Treinish who is about a 20 minute walk, there’s always someone to talk about camp and share a meal or holiday with. Recently I hosted a Shabbat dinner and eight of the ten people there went to camp. The other two did well to hold their own but inevitably had to participate in some camp talk during the evening. I applaud the non-Herzl folk, they have heard so many stories overtime and am glad they can feel comfortable and even add to Herzl stories that they’ve heard.
One of my favorite camp gatherings that sticks out during this time of the year was when I was visiting my brother in Israel a few years ago during Chanukah. Brian and Craig Basman were in their second year of medical school, Carly Alexander was in her first, Yamit Taragan was working and living there, Dan Usem was studying abroad and Laurel Herold was on a post-college program. Brian was insistent that we have latkes at the Chanukah party and that I make them! I’m not a latke-maker so I picked up the box version from Target and schlepped them to Israel to make for the party. I learned three things that night: 1) Cooking latkes is NOT my thing but making them with Yamit clearly makes it better and messier! 2) The art of getting pomegranate seeds out of the shell is whacking it with a large spoon until they all drop in the bowl (it actually works!!) 3) Getting together with camp people in Israel is incredible! There’s something so exciting about seeing each other there and celebrating Jewish holidays together.
Another great memory of gathering with Herzl alumni was when Herzl asked people to host Sukkah parties in various cities. I was living in Washington DC at the time and the Cukiers were our hosts for the night. I think 10 of us went to their apartment and walked in to see handmade signs/drawings outside the apartment and Herzl garb spread out on the couch and chairs. It was such a fun night getting to relive great memories, reconnect with my Papa Ozo (Aaron Cukier) and laugh a lot at ridiculous camp stories. The following year when we had another sukkah party, it was hosted by Daniel Chait and Evan Jacobson. I think everyone would agree that the highlight of that night was when the boys showed off some dance moves that Jenny taught them at camp.
Clearly with Herzl alumni spread around the country, there has to be someone who wants to light the menorah with you, go to services together or share a Shabbat dinner. Take some time to think about people you haven’t seen lately from camp and how you guys can get together to share a holiday with. All you need is one camp memory to get you started and the night goes on from there.
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The Greatest College Prep Course You Will Ever Take
September 23, 2010 by Herzl Camp Admin, under General Posts, Herzl, Beyond Webster.
By Aiden Pink
It’s currently 3:17 AM, about a month into my freshman year at American University in Washington DC. I’ve had quite a busy night: I’ve spent the past two and a half hours writing a paper advocating for the abolition of the Electoral College, and two hours before that writing another paper examining the use of foreshadowing in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, and an hour and a half before that studying for a quiz on the realist perspective of international relations. My roommate is fast asleep and has been for quite some time. My next-door neighbor, who often jams out on his guitar until sunrise, isn’t making a sound. It feels like I’m the only person in the District who’s still awake (or at least, the only person who isn’t wiretapping phone calls or analyzing satellite photos of North Korean missile silos or something). And I’m 100% wide-awake and totally alert. I have been hard at work for six hours straight, and I feel like I can go on for six hours more. My roommate often asks me how I do it. How am I able to stay focused for so long and stay up so late? How am I so prepared for an experience that many of my new friends are struggling with? What’s my secret?
I was a counselor at Herzl Camp.
More than any other experience in my life, Machaneh Herzl has prepared me for the challenges that come with being a college student. Without Herzl Camp, I wouldn’t have acquired the skills that every college student needs. In fact, I can still name many of the madrichim, Ozrim, and campers who helped me acquire these skills.
As a younger camper, I learned skills that now seem second-nature, but have proven to be incredibly helpful living on my own for the first time. In Haatid Aleph, I learned how to make my bed (thanks, Danny Pesis!) and how to have good table manners – it really helps to know not to put your elbows on the table when you’re eating lunch with your professor. I also learned that it was okay, and even fun, to try new experiences. As a camper, I was encouraged by my counselors to take risks when choosing my chugim, and I was rewarded with some great memories, from Amanut to World League to Comedy Sports to “Skol Vikings”. Now I have just as disparate tastes when joining clubs – I’m a member of Hillel, the AU Film Society, the local Quidditch Team [Editor's Note: Did the Harry Potter Chug not help you for that one too?], and the South Asian Student Association (it’s a long story [Editor's Note: Tell us on your next post!]). All of these clubs have proven to be a great way to meet new people and expand my horizons.
Being an older camper also has given me important college-student skills. I became comfortable at public speaking thanks to “good and welfare” in Kadimah, and I realized the importance of perseverance when I chugged spoiled milk during a particularly ill-fated Bikkurim marathon [Editor's Note: Yikes ... that's ruach!].
Of course, the most helpful lessons were the ones I learned as an Ozo and Madrich. During the last few weeks of Ozo summer, I was busy with so many different tasks – planning an evening program, learning a Torah reading for Ozo Shabbat and a new chord progression for Friday Night Song Session, writing and rehearsing the Ozo Play, finding the perfect candle-sharing gift, attempting not to burn down the flag circle during Havdalah, and oh yeah, dealing with having fun with campers. It was in this trial by fire that I learned time management skills, as well as how to stay up until ungodly hours of the morning, both of which have proven to be very helpful at college. And this past summer, as a first-year staff with more responsibilities, I needed to be able to prioritize. When it comes down to a choice between taking a nap during your free time the night after shmiring Teva Trek or planning an amazing Tochnit Erev, you have to find a compromise between the thing you are supposed to do and the thing your body is begging you to do.
I can safely say that I would not be as comfortable or as on top of things as I am now in my new surroundings without my experiences at Machaneh Herzl. Even beyond the increased independence and self-reliance that comes with being a camper and counselor, my summers in Webster have given me practical skills that have and will come in handy during my time at American University. And of course, thanks to Herzl Camp I now know the most important thing you need to know in college – how to throw a Frisbee [Editor's Note: When you play pickup Ultimate in front of the Lincoln Memorial, how do you explain the value of being able to throw it "over the Mo"?]. Shabbat Shalom!