Top 4 Kadimah Plays That Haven’t Happened

March 20, 2011 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Top 10 Lists.

By: Zander Abrams

Kadimah is the longest running program at Camp. It has many long-standing traditions, such as the Wall and the Canoe Trip. Kadimah is also my favorite program. I was a Kadimah camper in 2002, a counselor and play director in 2007, and the program director in 2008. Unlike other programs, Kadimah displays most of its traditions for all of Camp to see. Every summer, Camp looks forward to seeing Kadimah do the play. From my experience, picking the play is not easy. There are many competing factors that need to be satisfied, such as cost, roles, and overall difficulty. Here are my top 4 Kadimah plays that have yet to be performed.

4. Phantom of the Opera

Singing, dancing, drama, and comedy. This production would be both challenging and rewarding. I could imagine Joey Jaffe headlining as the mysterious and charming Phantom, with Madeline Rudin starring opposite as Christine. We’d have to keep the mask under lock and key in Drea Lear’s office. The only problem with Phantom would be that the younger kids may have trouble falling asleep after, but their counselors aren’t sleeping anyway!
3. The Lion King

One of the greatest Disney films of all time, and one of their most successful musicals too. This would give campers a chance to break from the mold of real people and embrace their inner animals. This would appeal to all ages, but the ending would have to be changed. I don’t think that Anne Hope would approve the part of killing Scar at the end.

Editor’s note: Rory Zamansky played a mean “Rory King” in the 1995 Ozo Play.
2. Wicked

This is a musical that both campers and staff would love. In 2006, my then camper Jonathan Edelman used to sleep with a copy of Wicked under his pillow. There are a great deal of different speaking, singing, and dancing parts. Amanute would have to put in overtime with putting costumes together. Luckily in Wicked, the witch is not evil, so we don’t need to worry about young campers getting scared.
1. The Producers

Is there anything more Jewish, more American, and more shticky than Mel Brooks? I grew up on Brooks’ films. My parents made sure my brother and I had a healthy ratio between him and Disney. I could see the Herzl production now, Yossi Kakou starring as Max and Brad Serber as Leo. Not only would Camp enjoy watching, but Kadimah would have fun at every play practice. There are some obvious reasons why The Producers is not currently a viable option, but with some careful editing and rewriting it could hit the Ulam as soon as 2014!

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Fermish me I’m Jewish!

March 17, 2011 by Herzl Camp Admin, under General Posts.

By Mike Neiman

It has pained me for years that my favorite gentile holiday cannot be combined with my favorite Judaic institution.  Sure, as Herzl staff, we were able to uberprogram around such awesome holidays like Tisha B’av and the occasional Shavuot … but we have missed out on a grand opportunity since Jewish Camp’s earliest establishment.

Summer camp is … well, during the summer.  Ok, so maybe Herzl rents out its facility to youth groups on the occasional weekend during the year, and that weekend may occasionally overlap on a secular or Christian holiday.  I’m no mathematician but, it doesn’t take a former 6th grade math teacher like Yamit Tarragon to know the odds are low that one of these holidays would occur on a Saturday so as to enjoy the whole day’s festivities during a Shabbaton.  I guess St. Patrick’s Day was just never meant to be celebrated in true Herzl Camp style.

…UNTIL NOW!

I have started the preparations early because I was bored at work today and DID do the math.  Actually, the math was pretty simple:  this year St. Pats is on Thursday and next year is a leap year.  Therefore, I would like to invite all my fellow Alumni to join me next spring up at Herzl for a Shabbat weekend where we can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in true Herzl fashion on Saturday March 17th, 2012.

The planning committee is still working out the details, but below is a tentative schedule.

Friday:

Planning in progress by Mark Warren, please email all suggestions to him.

Saturday:
9:00am        Aruchat Boker:  Brandon Tagg to toast up delicious Green Bagels from Brueggers

09:30am     Shabbat Services led by visiting Rabbi Zalman Shimon Lent of the Duplin Hebrew Congregation

11:00pm    Morning Rotations:  Learn Gaelic with Alan Garelick, Foreign Cussing with Asaf Bitton, Limericks and Laughs with Rachel Javitch.  On the waterfront – Loch Ness Monster Watching with Loren Mintz and Tye-Dying Devil’s Lake Green with Jessica Treinish.

1:00pm    Aruchat Tzohoraym:  Flip Frisch is joined by Saints and Tzadiks to lead a ruach song session complete with “Danny Boy Leonard”, “Whiskey You’re the Devil’s Lake”, “Rocky Road to Kadimahland”, and “Theodore I Hardly Knew Ye”

2:30pm        Minucha … need our rest for the night’s festivities

3:30pm    Afternoon Rotations:  Beer Tasting with Zander Abrams … oh let’s be honest, we are all going to that one.

5:00pm    Sadnah with Roni Kornblum Falk

6:00pm    Aruchat Erev:  Corned Beef and Cabbage, with a Chinuch lesson from Sam Usem on the Judaic-American influence to switch from Bacon to Corned Beef for this traditional Irish meal.  (p.s. It’s true).

7:00pm    Evening Program:  Riverdance with Andrew Zidel

9:00pm    Laila Tov and Staff Meeting

Sunday:

Planning in progress by Nicole Rabinowitz, please email all suggestions to her.

Thank you and have a safe and enjoyable St. Patrick’s Day.

Hag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom!

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The Camp Cycle

January 23, 2011 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Top 10 Lists.

By Zander Abrams

Camp is a community. Most Herzl alumni have taken a similar path from start to finish. We began as campers and ended as staff. We had some type of Herzl connection coming into camp (e.g. an older sibling, cousin, or friend), and we left behind some type of legacy. There are different stages that we have gone through, and here is my best of what I have personally experienced and seen others experience.

1.  I’m New Around Here
This is the first time camper. Coming in, you don’t know what to expect. Maybe you’ve heard things from your siblings, but everything seems bigger, louder, and more exciting. Camp may as well be its own state with its massive population and campground. “I’m scared of getting lost.” “Which one is the Beitan and Beitan Chadash?”

2.  The Veteran Camper
At around your fourth or fifth year, you really have a hang of this whole Herzl thing. You know most of the kids in your session and you know a good amount of the staff. You’re becoming a Herzl historian. Maybe you remember every Havdallah since your first summer, or Ozo song, or 12 Gates plot. You may even start dreaming about doing Gates when you’re on staff.

By this time, you’ve already seen a generation of staff come and go. Someone who was in B’yachad when you were starting out is now your B’yachad director. “I remember when Papa Danny Soshnik, was my counselor, now he’s in charge of all the Ozrim!” “Zoe was an Ozo for my program, and now she’s my program director?”

As a veteran, you’re also starting to become known. The younger kids know who you are and talk about you like you were a professional athlete. I had the same group of kids for most of my time as a counselor, and it was surreal when I heard younger campers talk about them the way they used to talk about the Yachers.

3.  Welcome to the Other Side
This is when the fun really begins. I was a camper for 8 years and on staff (including OZO) for 5 years. The way that I viewed camp in 2005 versus 2010 was night and day. As a new member of staff, you’re first overwhelmed by how many staff there are. How on earth will be you able to learn all their names? You remember some of them from when you were a camper, but to an Ozo/First year Staff, a 3rd year counselor seems like they’re 35.

As a Veteran Camper, you were a star. You got to go up and talk on the microphone that one time, you got to lead a service, all the other kids knew who you were and even staff that wasn’t in your program talked to you. But now, you’re in the trenches. You’re with younger kids in a program of 90+.

It’s exciting to have a cabin of your own. You want your kids to remember every moment of every day for the rest of their lives. You’ve lost your voice by week 2 with all the cheers you got your cabin to do. And you’ve finally understood why you counselor would get upset if you were making noise during Minucha.

You probably have some type of idea of what you want to do with your Herzl career. Maybe you want to work on the Waterfront, in Amanut, as Rosh Sport.  Maybe you want to follow your kids through until they’re Ozrim. If you play by the book, maybe- just maybe you’ll be a Program Director, or Mama/Pappa Ozo!

4.  You’re still working at Camp?
Welcome to your 3rd/4th year on staff. Congratulations, you finally get to talk to Gary Kibort! If you play your cards right, you may get to know Dale too! The staff seems so small. You know all of them, and have had some of them in Chugim you led as an Ozo. You had this year’s Ozo group in your cabin back in your first year. The size of Camp seems small too. You can walk from north to south in just four minutes! How on earth did you ever think this place was as big as a city?

From my experience, people come back to work at this stage for the following reasons: (1) the campers they’ve had forever are in B’yachad and they want to see them through, (2) they were offered a PD position and couldn’t pass it up, (3) Working on the Waterfront is the dream, and (4) “This is all I know for summers and I love it.”

You’ve been around for so long that campers start making old jokes to you (Camp is the only place that you get old jokes at age 22). Your ruach has started to die down. You’re not leading every cheer, but when you do you show those young punks what Dodi Li is really about. Strange enough, you don’t think of yourself as much older than the new staff, while when you were a 1st year staff you thought 3rd and 4th years were practically adults.

This stage is also when you become a ‘living legend.’ You’ve taught enough Chugim, had enough kids in your cabin, and gotten to know enough people that you are now a legend. There really couldn’t be any more pressure put on you doing a guest lights out program than having this tag. All the campers know who you are, even though you’ve never seen them before.

5.  End of the Line
The 5th or above year on staff. You have been at Herzl for a really long time. You’re on the administrative side, either as a Program Director, Coordinator, or the like. You’ve been on staff long enough to see two generations go through. Your campers are now on staff, in fact most of the staff were in Kadimah or younger when you were an Ozo; man, you’re as old as dirt. Gary Kibort definitely knows who you, still no guarantees about Dale.

Every other summer you knew there was a chance that you’d come back, but this summer is different. This is your last chance to make a difference. You definitely don’t have the ruach you used to. You actually spend more time on the microphone telling people to stop talking than you do leading cheers.

You’re definitely at living legend status. Every camper knows who you are, and you’ve known most of them since they were in Taste. You’re perspective on issues is really big picture, encompassing a half decade of experience. In fact, the younger staff thinks you’re out of touch with reality because you’re so far removed.

If you’re lucky, you’ve been able to leave Camp in a better place than when you came in.

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“Dear 2010 Herzl Staff”

June 17, 2010 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Summer Updates.

A parody letter By Anna Simon

Dear 2010 Herzl Staff,

Is there something wrong with your phones? Did you, perhaps, change your number? I have left several messages with Drea Lear over the past few weeks to see if I could find out the name of Z’s Taste counselor and have not heard a thing. You know, I was a Taste counselor once and I think that earns me the right to know who will be taking care of my son this week. I’m sure it’s not a big deal for you guys to tell me. I promise I won’t tell anyone else. I tried to ask Sarah Gruesner and Steven Kane at the buses but they would not spill the beans….Don’t they know who I am?

I didn’t really read through the Camper Information Packet, so I hope it’s ok that I packed a few extra things in Z’s metal trunk.  I threw in a large portable boom box, a few water balloons, candles and matches, a toaster, some silly string, fireworks, homemade cookies and laser pointers. I just think those items will really enhance camp for Z and his friends. I’m quite sure that the 2010 Ozrim had no problem carrying his trunk as they looked like a really strong and capable group. I just know that Z’s bunkmates are going to love having a toaster in their cabin so they can have a late night snack.

After the buses left on Monday, I raced home to check the web site and was disappointed that I didn’t see any pictures of the campers uploaded IMMEDIATELY. I check the web site every hour and think you need to take more pictures of Z in general. On that note, could you ask him to put on a different shirt and comb his hair when you take the next picture? He seems to always be wearing that same shirt and he’s not always looking directly at the camera. If you could just help him pose, that would be great. Speaking of the buses, what was up with the rain? Someone promised me that IT NEVER RAINS AT HERZL CAMP. I would expect that the director, Anne Hope, could do something about that. I plan on calling Lauren (Berman) Kaplan and Sue (Waldman) Roether next week to discuss the terrible weather.

I also left several messages for Dr. Hope Frisch in the Marp to find out if Z got any ticks or mosquito bites. Why hasn’t she returned my calls? I’m sure she has a moment to invite Z to the Marp and count his bug bites for me. I doubt she’s very busy this week.

I’d like to request that Z gets moved out of his cabin and into another one. I realize he only has a few days left but I think his experience will be better if gets to make some more new friends. Actually, maybe you could just have Z call me as I really miss hearing his voice. Plus, I’d like to let him know that I sent him a care package of his Uncle Jesse Simon’s Hot Cereal. 

I’m going to stop by camp on Shabbat because Flip Frisch and I will be in the neighborhood. I hope that’s ok. I’m sure it won’t disrupt camp at all and it won’t make other campers miss their families. While we’re there, I’d like to make sure Z gets a Shmutz Buster t-shirt. I promised him he’d get a shirt if he picked up garbage in front of Zander Abrams and I don’t want him to be disappointed.   

By the way, when we were at Family Camp last summer, Z lost a white sock. Could you please look for it? If you can’t find it, I’d like a credit to Z’s chanut account.

Shabbat Shalom Everyone! Oh, I forgot to mention that we didn’t pack anything white. He doesn’t really have to wear white, does he?

 Anna

 P.S. To anyone reading this who thinks I am serious…you must be a first-time Herzl parent! Your children are in excellent hands because the Herzl Camp staff members are incredibly capable, energetic, creative, hard working, caring and responsible. I am envious of any kid who gets to go to camp with these Herzl staff members. Herzl is the one place on earth where kids can be themselves, connect with others, try something new, step outside their comfort zone and celebrate every little thing they do. Yes, I cried when the buses pulled out of the parking lot (good thing it was heavy dewing so it wasn’t so obvious) but not because I was sad to see Z go. I cried because I was completely overcome with emotion just knowing what Z was about to experience. His life will be forever changed BECAUSE OF CAMP. Thank you, Anne Hope and the Herzl Staff, for taking care of my kid this week (yep, I’m crying again).

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First Day Update

June 14, 2010 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Summer Updates.

By Zander Abrams

 

Live from Herzl Camp, an update on what happened on thefirst day. Despite dark weather, camp was bright with smiling faces and kids running around on freshly cut grass. Noar boys were walking hand-in-hand on their way to get swim tested, while one taste girl said to her counselor, Jenna Basman, “this is the best day of my life…so far”.  While walking around cabins at night, one counselor heard a Noar boy ask his cabin mates, “Raise your hand if you’re not Jewish.” That’s all from Camp for now, stay tuned for more updates!

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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!

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Herzl Magic Bracket: Round 2

May 23, 2010 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Uncategorized.

By Danny Soshnik

Five months ago, we introduced the 64 Tradition Herzl Magic Bracket.  Through my banter and your occasional vote, we’ve finally made it out of the first round.  Lots of lopsided wins, some close calls, and some epic upsets.  All #1 seeds remain intact, but you’d be surprised to learn that we do have some low seeded Cindarellas looking to make a run.  This month we’ll handle the entire 2nd round.  For those keeping track, that’s 32 matchups that need to be dissected.  My fingers are getting tired just thinking about it.  This time around I’m not going to offer as many predictions; I want this to be your tournament too. Without further delay…

Yama Region: We dissected the first round of this region a few months ago here:  This region has major star power, with a number 2 seed that is good enough to be a number 1.  And some might argue that the 3 seed and 4 seed are good enough to be 2 seeds.

#1 12 Gates
#8 Star Gazing

12 Gates had no problem poaching the Buzzards in its first round matchup.  What’s your favorite 12 gates memory?  Mine has to be “the cup”.  Anyone else remember when Ricky, the dumb guy, was hit with the cup in the final moment of silence before “Oh What a Beautiful City”?  Was funnier in my memory than it reads electronically.  On the other side is Star Gazing, which edged out Ultimate Frisbee in a classic #8 vs. #9 matchup.  One year on staff, I presented everyone with a lunar calendar to encourage people to schedule their star gazing on nights with the New Moon.  Light pollution is Star Gazing’s enemy.  Any first kisses under the stars at the Mercaz?  My prediction: This is the last time we’ll see the Waning Gibbous in the tournament.

12 Root Beer Floats for Rate-a-Room
4 Rosemary

Root Beer Floats had a tough matchup versus Buddy Checks.  So close, in fact, that it was a tie.  What was the tiebreaker, you ask?  It was Anna Simon’s hilarious comment that she prefers Root Beerfleem to Root Beer Floats.  Get it?  It only took me 4 months to get it.  Anyway, can the floats keep the dream alive?  Speaking of root beer, for the first 20 years of my life, I thought Barq’s was Barg’s.  Anyone else think that q looks like a g? http://www.barqs.com/downloads/barqs_dt1_sm.jpg.  My scariest Rosemary experience, aside from having the story told to me in the Ozo Mo, was when someone spotted her above Chaddar Bet.

6 Peanut Butter on Eskimo Pies
3 Schmutz Busters

This is a classic matchup.  Anyone remember when Josh Meyer pointed out to all of camp that the consecutive ingredients in Eskimo Pies read “non-fat milk, milk fat”?  Amazing discovery.  Does anyone eat Eskimo pies with peanut butter at home?  I can’t say I do, but I do like a scoop of almond butter with dark chocolate chips in it to be eaten like ice cream.  I never earned a Schmutz Buster shirt, although I picked up a lot of schmutz over the years.  In the most absurd awarding of a schmutz buster shirt I ever saw, Aaron Vickar got one for simply looking like a staff member as an eighth grader.  In 1989, Aaron helped round up us airport kids because we all thought he looked old enough to be staff.  They awarded him the first shirt of the session.  Mitzvahesque?  Yes.  Schmutz Buster worthy?  Give it up Aaron.  Furthermore, if you get a shirt for rounding up schmutz, and he rounded me and others up in the airport, what does this say about Herzl’s opinion of us?

7 K’shishim
2 Bikkurim

The Kishers live to see another day.  I know, I know, I’m a bad person.  What else can you say about them, other than I hope to be one someday.  When I was a camper, I was told that each event in the big team relay is worth the same amount of points.  So, despite the fact that I was usually one of the better athletes on my team and could have been useful on our Ultimate team, I would enter, EVERY YEAR, the softball throwing contest.  I knew that nobody good would participate in that event (though I will say that Bobby Warren gave me a good run for my money in 1993), and I’d bring home the gold for my team.  Who needs fun when you can win, right?  That’s what Bikkurim is all about.

Vakedma Region:  First round was done here.   Probably the most predictable of the regions.  The number 1 seed is a prohibitive favorite.  2 and 3 are strong contenders, but the bottom half of this region doesn’t have the legs for a final four run.

1 Shabbos Caravan
9 Fish Stick/Chicken Nugget Eating Contest

I always thought a funny koontz on camp would be to do the caravan in reverse, counter clockwise.  Maybe when I’m a Kisher I’ll lead the charge.  As far as the eating contests, I want answers.  Who is the current record holder?  If someone pukes, does that preclude them from continuing eating?  Do they have to eat their own puke before continuing?

12 Hazak V’almatz
13 Rhythmic Clapping Between Lists of Peoples’ Names

You guys didn’t exactly bring out the vote in the Vakedma region.  The only person who voted was a “Jamie”, so if you don’t like the fact that we have a 12 and 13 upsetting a 4 and 5, it is your own fault for not voting.  I was always fond of the Hazak V’almatz that were two thoughts that, strung together, made no sense.  For example:  “Hazak you can pick your friends.  V’almatz you can pick your friends. V’almatz but what good is a tetherball to a dead fish.  V’hazak but what good is a tetherball to a dead fish.”  We used that one in 1993 – feel free to recycle it this summer, young madrichim.  What else can I say about rhythmic clapping?  I pretty much said everything there is to say last round, assuming it was going to get bounced from the tournament.

6 Knock Knock
3 Ozo Play

“Hey Blog Readers!”
“Hey What!”
“Knock Knock!”
“Who’s there?”
“Sind!”
“Sind who?”
“Cindarella’s glass slipper doesn’t fit in this matchup!”
“OKAY!”

What was your favorite ozo play moment?  Partial, of course, to my Ozo groups, I loved the “Deep Thoughts from the Haks” scene in 1999.  Of course the Chaddar scenes are memorable and easy, but have you ever really given thought to what your staff is thinking in their down time in the Haks?  The 99 Ozo group did.

10 Mega Lunch
2 Flag Songs

Mega lunch pulled off the upset over Morning Music, and I couldn’t be happier.  My favorite mega lunch tradition was the reading of the airport bus.  “Brian Nogg.  Jeff Nogg.  Egg Nogg.”  Never gets old.  I also was a big fan of the disgusting lost and found.  And the top 10 countdown of ruach songs was epic. “Try Siv’s chicken, it’s so wonderful.”

Tzafona Region:  First round was done here:  This region has some major star power.  It’s filled with the “best of”.  Best Chug, best landmark, best song, best meal.

1 World League
9 Overnights

One of my favorite World League memories is from my Ozo Summer.  One of my top athletes on my team, Mike Savitt, refused to play volleyball in a crucial contest.  He thought we should play Ultimate Frisbee and only Ultimate Frisbee.  Mike, that’s why they call the Chug “World League” and not “Ultimate Frisbee.”  What’s your favorite overnight meal?  I was always a big fan of tin foil dinner, but I have to give the nod to Rocky Mountain Toast.  No matter what you’re eating, somehow the food always tastes just a little bit better cooked over an open fire in the middle of the woods.

5 Puddle Jumping
4 Kadimah Canoe Trip

The current staff has taken puddle jumping to a whole new level.  They not only use the sports field, which I mentioned to be the best spot in camp to jump.  But they use a Frisbee and practice catching the disc while diving head first.  What a great way to combine two of Herzl’s favorite pastimes. But the Kadimah Canoe Trip used to be the most intense (and in tents) outdoor experience Herzl had to offer, before Teva Trek came along.  On my canoe trip in 1992, I fed a deer from my hand.  Gave that poor buck two Lays chips.  At least I should have given him some Doritos.

11 B’yachad Blindfold Walk
3 Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

In my first blindfold walk, Dave Hoffman demonstrated that he was not strong enough to break more than one stick at a time.  Somehow he tied it eloquently into the notion that if our Yachers united, they’d be stronger.  All I remember is him trying to break sticks.  Guess I was tired – it *was* 1 am after all.  Have any of you been to a wedding where during the cocktail hour, they offer little grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup shooters?  I have.  Twice.  Fancy wedding caterers could stand to take a cooking lesson from Brandon Tagg, if you ask me.

10 Mo Cheers
2 Ozo Mo

This matchup is all about the Mo’s.  My favorite Mo Cheer was to the tune of the Lone Ranger – “To the mo, to the mo to the mo we go…”  The Ozo Mo, for all its mysterious wonder, has been exposed.  My only complaint about the Ozo Mo in the increasing need Ozrim feel to “leave their mark”.  Its one thing to write your name on the wall.  However, I was very sad to see that Ozrim now are writing their names ON THE PLAQUES of old Ozo groups.  That is sacred, and if you’re a 2010 Ozo and reading this, I ask you to stop this terrible trend.  I’m off my soap box now.

Vanegba Region: Last, we have the Vanegba region.  Reviewed here:  this region has a clear favorite but some interesting contenders.  No votes were tallied here, so you’re at my mercy.

1 Friday Night Song Session
8 The Birthday Song

My all time favorite, I think, is Yad B’ Yad.  I’m a sucker for a good round, and this one, in all its cheesy goodness, tops them all.  “It can be you, it can be me, it can be all the people all over the world…”  Good stuff.  You know what I’m not a fan of?  The walking singers.  In theory, it should enhance the mood.  In practice, I find them to be distracting.  Focus on the candle in front of you, sing, and magic will happen.  As far as the birthday song goes, the most absurd addition has to be the Ole soccer cheer.  Do they still do it?

12 Chugim Follies and Policy Schtick
4 Slow Flag Songs on Final Shabbat

I told you that I called the upset in the 12 vs. 5 first round matchup.  Again, your fault for not voting.  Who donated that ridiculous bunny costume that was the perennial favorite in the policy schtick?  And who decided to sing Oompa Loompa, rather than just read the rules?  These are great examples of why Herzl is so much more special than another place, which I’m sure covers similar content in a much less interesting way.  What are your most memorable final flag songs?  I will always associate classics from Journey, Bob Seeger, and Eric Clapton with final Shabbats.  And P Diddy.  Again, thanks 1997 Ozrim.  If I had to point the finger, I’d have to say Matt Rinkey was the ringleader of the absurd coup.

6 Kadimah Play
3 Hot Cereal

In 1989, I remember my Chug Sign up.  I saw “Kadimah Play” blocked out for the entire morning.  I thought to myself, “Self, that’s not fair.  Kadimah gets to play all day long.  Us Machaneh kids have to go to Sichot and I have to have one ‘soft’ Chug between my 4 other ‘hard’ Chugim.”  (Anyone else remember this rule?  That’s why I was in the radio chug with Sabrina Eisenstadt.)   I had no idea that that meant Kadimah Play Practice.  Not very quick on the uptake.  I ate oatmeal this morning.  In silence.  How depressing?  Much like root beer floats, it is just better at camp.

7 I’m Going to That One
15 Pooping in South Haks

Well there you have it, our first MAJOR upset with pooping taking out #2 seed Friday afternoon songs.  Zander Abrams, in his infinite wisdom, likes pooping in South Haks as much as I do.  I’m going to post his comment from the previous round, in case you didn’t see it.
“I was staff of the week for my program in 2006 and got a pack of girlscout cookies for it. I consistently used the South Hawks for all the reasons you listed and so it made sense to bring Gabe with me and nosh on the cookies while pooping. A camper came in and you could tell in his eyes that he was scared and embarrassed. Before he ran out I offered him a cookie. He paused, took it, and then ran out. A classic South Hawk moment.”

Priceless.  Let’s see if the poop can keep the Cinderella run alive.  Zander, if we’re ever at camp together, we have a date on side by side toilets in the South Haks.  I’m going to that one!

And there it is.  Next stop, Sweet Sixteen.  Have at it, Machaneh Herzl!

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I’m going to that one! Top 5 Shabbat Activities

May 20, 2010 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Top 10 Lists.

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Top 5 Herzl Chugim of All Time

April 18, 2010 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Top 10 Lists.

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