Everything I’ve learned about Life, I learned at Herzl Camp
May 16, 2010 by Herzl Camp Admin, under What I Learned from Camp.
By Max and Zach Puchtel
Part 6 – In the Old Chadar (1 of 2)
So there we were, Zach and I, about to enter the old chadar during a common Herzl rite of passage: Shabbat afternoon lunch!
We entered, beaming from a fresh victory in Ozo Park where the Ultimate had resembled something more like Calvinball (100. We didn’t know all of the rules back then). The tables were set into four long white rows, and campers and staff were beginning to enter in a mad frenzy to take seats. We had foolishly entered on the North side of the chadar, near the boating side stairs. (101. Doh! 102. Beehives get excited around shabbas) Zach and I always sat near the kitchen on Shabbat afternoon lunch in order to participate in the EVENT, and we had to make it there before the seats were filled. (103. Reasons for sitting next to the kitchen, and the EVENT, shall be explained next time). Now stood an important question: which aisle should we attempt to run down in order to make it there in time?
I asked Zach about aisle #1, to which we looked and he responded, “That won’t do, because we’ll get caught behind that group of female Deevers oodling over a pre-pubescent Charley Rivkin and Reuben Rischall.” (104. They were better pre-testosterone) “Ok, what about aisle #2?” “That won’t work either, Max. Alex Locke, Debra Fiterman, and Natalie Fursetzer have assembled a group of campers to continue working on a flag song that will be sung three weeks from now.” We both looked down aisle #3 and realized immediately that there was some sort of emergency that would block our path.
This was proving to be difficult.
“Max, I think there is a clear path down aisle #4!” “Don’t be fooled, Zach. Aaron Gelperin is standing there, scouting the aisle for small, weak campers which have been separated from the herd.” And aisle #5 was also impossible, as David Bender, years before the discovery of his enormous tongue, was practicing his “quaking”, which sent waves of vibration emanating in all directions, causing people to flee before him. (105. DO IT!)
“Zach, we’re doomed! The seats are filling near the kitchen! We’ll never make it in time!” Zach entered into a state of deep contemplation. With his eyes closed, head tilled down, and fists clenched, he had to solve the riddle. (106. The stakes are always high at Herzl). Emerging from his state of enlightenment, he exclaimed, “I’VE GOT IT, FOLLOW ME!” Back out the door we ran around the outside of the chadar! In what seemed like 3 seconds later, we were sitting at a table adjacent to the kitchen, ready for what lay in store for us.
With us at the table were the masters of the EVENT, Marc Warren, Jesse Simon, David Jurisz, Joey Jaffe, and any other large Herzl people of the 90’s that you can think of. The EVENT was about to begin. There were a lot of big people at our table, but also a lot of necessary little people at the table. For some reason we had stolen 4 extra trays from neighboring tables, and the little people were tightening their shoelaces. This was going to be an EVENT to remember.
To be continued……
(107. If you think you know the identity of the EVENT based on the clues, submit your guess in a comment to this blog post!)
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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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Capital Campaign Reveals Inside of Ozo Mo
April 2, 2010 by Herzl Camp Admin, under General Posts.
By Mike Neiman
had the pleasure of sitting in on a meeting earlier this week with Herzl Camp’s Capital Campaign, Fundraising and Program Committees to discuss a new donor contribution to the Master Plan. Although the donor wishes to remain anonymous, they requested that the funds go towards enhancing the Ozo program with larger Ozo cabins and a new Ozo Mo (to allow 30-40 total Ozrim) in Herzl’s Master Plan. Since they were not selected for the Ozo program, the donor wants to make the opportunity available to more bright young minds for the future. However, with this large donation, there was one stipulation –everyone gets to see what was inside the original Mo.
Now, normally the inside of the Ozo Mo is something saved only for current Ozrim (even a past Ozo can not enter without permission from the current Mama and Papa). However, with the large contribution on the table, and the ability to finally build a new Mo for everyone, Herzl Camp is happy to oblige and finally open the doors to Tzrif 13 once and for all. Past camp photographer, Ari Witkin, was given a roll of film and a one day pass to the Mo this morning and I am happy to share it with you now. Things have changed slightly since I was last there in 2005, but given the addition to Herzl’s campaign efforts, even I have to admit it’s better to finally let the cat out of the bag. Ladies and Gentlemen … the Ozo Mo…
Lining the Northern wall of the Ozo Mo, a modernized Tiki Bar provides the Ozrim with a much needed break from luggage. Since 1974, on the first day of each session, Mama and Papa don the grass skirts and serve up cool refreshments to their Ozrim.
In 2006, the Ozrim pooled their leftover funds and purchased a used 150″ plasma television to line the southern wall. If you sit in Ozo Park late at night, you can sometimes see Rosemary watchting “Wet Hot American Summer” through the chipped paint on the Mo’s windows.
Rumors have surfaced about a pool below the Ozo Mo. Yep, its true. But did you know it is an underground, heated, olympic size pool? Steps near the back door take you to a lower-basement of the Mo where the pool lies under Ozo Park.
Sometime in the 1980s, an addition was made to the sub-basement, where an indoor Go-Kart track was added. This exists under what today knows as Teva Land and the Ropes Course.
In 1998, Ozo David Bender spent countless weeks on the phone, sending letters, and gathering legal advice on franchising of fast food chains. His efforts did not go in vain. By the summer of 1999, the Ozo Mo had added a fully functional food court in the sub-basement with a prized Burger King that is staffed 24/7 during the summer.
The last couple years, campers and staff may have noticed increased cell phone strength around Webster. Although the intentions were good, to provide emergency phone usage if necessary, I think we can all agree that the 2001 addition of an underground cell phone tower has done more harm than good.
In 1994 the Chunnel was opened under the English Channel. What you may not know, is that those designs were purchased by Papa Jesse Simon in 1996 and construction completed in 1997 for a Webster chunnel connecting Herzl to Israel. Each year a select few Israeli staff are shuttled in across the Atlantic to the shores of Devil’s Lake.
The back room of the Ozo Mo has always been a mystery within a mystery. Most Ozrim prior to 1994 were not sure what the apparatus was that had been in the back of Tzrif 13 since it first became the Ozo Mo. By the mid 90′s though, it was Hollywood that provided the answer. This “Stargate” as featured in a Kurt Russell film, provided telewarping capabilities across the time and space. Finally unlocked, the magic of the Ozrim and their Program has been enhanced for over 15 years with learnings, experiences, and interstellar space travel to cultures of other solar systems and eras.
With the opening of the Ozo Mo doors, Herzl Camp is finally able to provide some new and exciting chugim for campers that Mamas and Papas have been pressing for years. It truly has been a magical and mystical place for generations, but with a new Ozo Mo comes new surprises as well as a chance to change camp for future generations. I asked a few past staff what they thought and was surprised to see what they had to say.
“We always say the best place for stargazing is the Mercaz, but every Ozo knows that the Stargate allows the best portal view up close of the 9-12 Geminorum Cluster,” Jason Shapiro explained. “Imagine if we could not only take kids stargazing, but actually transport them to a distant planet or time with all new stars?”
“Finally, we can teach B’yachad LGT in an underground pool!. We normally cancel half the program because of Heavy Dew!” Board Member Cassie Benowitz declared.
“It’s about time.” Said 1995 Ozo and 1999 Papa Danny Soshnick. “I’m sick of telling kids that the burning rubber smell is just my BO. Finally the truth can set me free.”
Not only does the promise of a new Ozo Mo add to the already impressive list of improvements in Herzl Camp’s future, but finally pulling the wool from the eyes of the campers and seeing why so many people cherish being an Ozo is understood. Though, you can’t blame Herzl Camp for keeping it hidden so long … you would want to keep it secret too if your clubhouse served Whoppers and onion rings. Happy April Fool Day’s and Shabbat Shalom!
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Everything I’ve learned about Life, I learned at Herzl Camp (An Ongoing Parenthetical List)
March 19, 2010 by Herzl Camp Admin, under What I Learned from Camp.
By Max and Zach Puchtel
Part 4 – On a Rain Day
So there we were, Zach and I, recapping the previous day in our bunks late at night. “Today was awesome”, I exclaimed, “In 15 hours I sang flag songs, cleaned up half of camp, played 5 sports, ate 24 tuna melts, sailed across the lake, slapped 21 mosquitoes, went star-gazing, and saw a bear!” (68. All of which are possible within a typical day at Herzl) “That’s nothing”, said Zach, “I led services, cleaned the other half of camp and the lake, won world league, ate 43 fish sticks, canoed the St. Croix, killed 2831 mosquitoes with my bug-zapper, saw a shooting star, and ATE a bear!”
It was obvious that we both had very packed days, (69. Even more than Calvin & Hobbes) But what do you expect? Herzl is full of activities. (70. Time flies when you’re having fun) I vowed to Zach that I would out-do him during the next day by running continually from chug to chug!
We awoke! “Hey Zach, why does it feel colder than usual?” It wasn’t too early, no, it was only 7:30am, just the right time to get up and make a trip to the haks before flag circle. (71. Why were the haks always wet?) I got Zach out of his bunk because I needed a buddy for the walk, but upon stepping out of Tzrif 11 (72. All great campers’ stories emerge from cabin 11) we realized that camp was under some serious HEAVY DEW!!! (73. Heavy Dew is the great euphemism in my life to which all others are compared). “Awh, man! Now I’ll never get to do all that fun stuff!”
Off to the Ulam where flag circle and services were combined into an amorphous mess. (74. Like most things on rain days!) During breakfast we are told that there will be a special schedule today due to the heavy dew: a rotation of indoor activities throughout the day. “Zach, the staff won’t know where we are today because they don’t even know where to go themselves.” “Max, that is excellent!!! We can cause chaos!” (75. Lack of supervision = mischief).
First rotation – Where should we go? Peeking our heads into Amanut (76. Do dooooo, da do do), we see that weaklings are doing arts and crafts. That won’t do. “Max, let’s try the old Chadar, I hear that is where all of the cool staff go.” After trudging through the many lakes that form among the paths in camp, we arrived in the old Chadar, where we see Alex Locke sitting on the small stage with the microphone in his hand (77. Herzl staff LOVE using the microphone) organizing board games. As he leaves, Danny Soshnik takes the microphone to play his breathing guessing game: nose or mouth, and then Bender and Kaminsky steal the microphone in order to play a game that challenges you to identify a woman named Beatrice (78. or not).
After quickly leaving that place we saw a hairy, dew-soaked creature lapping up water from leaves on a tree. (79. Aaron Gelperin knows many water-finding tricks). “Aaron”, we asked, “all of the activities on rain days are boring! What can we do?” “Come closer and listen, kids. The secret to rain days is finding the magical traveling game of ga-ga.” “Ga-ga? What is that?” No sooner after questioning the origin of this game we were shuffled into the Ulam by Aaron. But it was no longer the Ulam! The benches were stacked 3 rows high into an enormous gladiator-style arena. Campers and staff stood in the stands and stage cheering for bloodshed. (80. Another opportunity to use the microphone) Bodies of defeated campers lay strung about the arena floor, while the last remaining competitor held the ga-ga ball above his head and let out a triumphant roar.
Zach and I looked at each other and smiled. “He’s going down!” Now we knew what rain days were all about.
To be continued…
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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!