Tarbut Part Two - Performing Arts

Ben Phillipson (Radio Staff): In the radio we try and teach the campers a number of things, but the overall goal is to teach them how to perform a broadcast that sounds and looks and feels professional, and to make them feel comfortable doing that. That involves teaching the campers Hebrew and helping them to feel comfortable speaking Hebrew on the air. As time progresses, we teach them more complicated phrases to say about the songs or sports or weather. It also involves teaching them how to use the equipment properly, such as the music board, the electronic music recorder, and the computers. We blend that together with song selection and what they're going to say about the songs. The goal is to teach every class and then outside of class the campers have opportunities to put on different shows. The shows that they can do are Rockimah, which is in the morning to wake up everyone, Sha'at Menucha, which is during rest time after lunch and involves relaxing music, and also Perek Zayin shows, which are before dinner. The older campers also have the opportunity to do a Yishun show to help put everyone to bed at night.

It's important to have a radio station at camp because it's a fun way of learning Hebrew. You just do it and then before you know it, you know a lot of Hebrew. It's also important to give campers a little background in electronics even though they're out in the middle of the woods. Radio has always been a big part of camp ever since the radio station was founded in 1965 and it's important to continue with the idea that camp has a message to send and we can do that through the radio waves. We can teach campers how to do that through Hebrew and appropriate music and working together.


Avital Hirsch (Dance Staff): I have three classes that I teach each day, a salsa class for Machon, a modern dance class for Shoafim, and a kikar dancing class for Solelim. We start each class with warm-ups and exercises and then we learn the steps for the dances, and I try to use Israeli or Hebrew music for all the dances. I also try to do simple instructions in Hebrew, such as when I count out the beat. Every Friday the whole camp comes together and we do kikar dancing. We put on Israeli music and everyone dances together.

Dance is important at camp because it seems like everyone here really loves to dance, both the boys and the girls. It lets them get out all their energy and helps them to learn coordination and technique and brings them a lot of happiness and joy.

Sarah Cohen (Drama Staff): We do different activities based on the different age-groups. There is lots and lots of drama going on at camp all day long, which is awesome. In the mornings, I teach a text-drama class for Garinim. Each group learns about a different story from the Torah and then will make a play out of it and have a final performance for their eidah at the end of the summer. I also teach Shoafim and they have a brand new curriculum, called "The Dream Project." They all get dream journals, so they can write down their dreams when they wake up in the morning, and then we will be making a piece of theatre based on their dreams. I also teach Machon, which is another text-drama class. With them we're learning the weekly parsha and then we make our own interpretation of it and perform it for their eidah on Shabbat afternoons.
There's a ton of drama going on here, which is really cool. It's important to have drama at camp because it gets every eidah excited and it's definitely a community-building activity. For the musicals, campers practice the dances and songs in the cabin. It gives everyone something to look forward to. Also, the activities you do in drama classes are all about teamwork and ensemble building and basically having fun while doing that. It gets you moving and gets the creative ideas going.


Maury (Moshe) Epstein (Rosh Music): Thinking back in my experience, I went to a Jewish camp for two summers when I was twelve and thirteen and it was meaningful for me to have an exposure to Jewish music. My connection to Judaism is through music and so I think that's true for a lot of people, that they come to Judaism through the music. It can give them a connection that they might not find anywhere else. Music is a safe way to express feelings and express spirituality. I think when people are singing together there's a bonding that happens and that brings a lot to making a positive camp experience.