The Zimriyah

Most nights, each eidah has an evening activity of its own, whether it be "Make Your Counselor Laugh," a singdown, a sports night, or any number of creative ideas the cabin counselors can devise. But, every once in a while, the whole camp comes together for a campwide evening program that's truly amazing. The first of these campwide events each year is the Zimriyah, or music festival. The music staff works hard to put the program together, teaching each eidah its song, putting together an orchestra, and having lots of rehearsals. The campers love to show off what their eidah can do as each eidah performs its songs for the rest of camp.

Hannah Bubis (Music Staff): The Zimriyah is significant in camp because it is the first campwide event where each eidah can come together and show the rest of the camp who they are and how they've united. They each have a song that they sing and a color that they identify themselves with. It's a lot of fun and filled with ruach.
The theme for the songs this year is Eurovision. The Eurovision songs were used in a competition that was viewed worldwide on TV. The songs are really fun and perfect for the campers.
To prepare for the Zimriyah, each eidah has to have at least three rehearsal sessions to learn their song. The Mishlachat, the International Staff, and the staff as a whole all get songs to rehearse as well. We also choose the emcees from Nivonim and help them prepare for their role.

Jonathan Bubis (Rosh Drama): I think the Zimriyah is really special because it's the first campwide event in which all the eidot are able to shine and show who they really are and really unite as an eidah, by singing, by making beautiful music together and by having a lot of ruach. It's beautiful to see the eidot unite in that way for the first time.

Seth W. (Garinim): The Zimriyah was amazing.

Sophie C. (Garinim): The Zimriyah was really cool. I really liked how Nivonim came in. They were really cool.

Josh G. (Garinim): The Zimriyah was really fun. There was cool lighting and I liked hearing everyone sing different songs.

Zach B. (Garinim): I thought the Zimriyah was awesome.

Yuval S. (Garinim): The Zimriyah was awesome.

Sarit Horwitz (Rosh Solelim): For Solelim the Zimriyah is a really exciting time to be able to show the whole camp what you're all about. In Solelim, this is the first summer that the campers are here for the whole summer, so it's a time to say, we're really here.

Jamie P. (Solelim): The Zimriyah was really fun because everyone had lots of energy and everyone had good spirit and we really got to bond together.

Anni M. (Solelim): The Zimriyah was so much fun because every eidah got together and we were all rooting for each other and clapping and singing our eidah songs and it was really fun.

Mira P. (Solelim): The Zimriyah was really cool. It was really awesome that everyone was proud of each other and clapped for each other.

Jane R. (Solelim): The Zimriyah was full of spirit and loudness and fun.

Aviva Goldblatt (Senior Counselor, Shoafim): I always love the Zimriyah because there's so much eidah spirit and it really brings camp together. Our campers were awesome tonight.

Annie S. (Shoafim): I thought the Zimriyah was amazing because everyone was so hyped up and excited. The energy was awesome.

Eitan K. (Shoafim): I really liked the Zimriyah because it got everyone pumped up and it was really exciting. Each eidah got to sing their songs and I had never heard some of the songs before so it was fun to hear their songs and for everyone to hear our songs and to sing as loud as we could.

Hannah R. (Bogrim): The Zimriyah was so awesome. There's absolutely nothing that can compare to it. It was so much fun.

Breit K. (Bogrim): The Zimriyah was sababa because we became a mishpacha!

Eliana H. (Bogrim): The Zimriyah really brought our eidah together and we were all really excited about it.

Ella P. (Bogrim): The Zimriyah was amazing because we had the most ruach and our eidah was amazing.

Scott R. (Bogrim): The Zimriyah was fun. It was a blast.

Colin W. (Bogrim): The Zimriyah was awesome because we had a lot of ruach.

Ali K. (Bogrim): Ani ohevet Machane Ramah! (I love Camp Ramah!)

Emilie Botbol (Rosh Tikvah): The Zimriyah is the first time where Tikvah really gets to show off their eidah to the rest of camp and it's a great way to show everyone that Machon and Tikvah have a great partnership. We're excited to be here together and have a great time and sing some awesome songs.

Aliza S. (Machon): The Zimriyah is great because the whole camp can come together and share our ruach as one. It's a really special experience for everyone.

Erika S. (Machon): The Zimriyah is really special to Machon because we're role models for the other eidot. We get to show everyone in camp what the Zimriyah is really all about.

Gabriella M. (Machon): Not only is the Zimriyah special for showing our connection within the camp, but it's also special for showing our connection with Israel by singing Israeli songs.

John R. (Machon): The Zimriyah was really fun, this year especially because this was our second to last Zimriyah and our whole eidah really got into it and had a great time together.

Ilana L. (Machon): The Zimriyah is special because it's our first chance to come together as an eidah and show the camp who we really are and show our spirit to the entire camp.

Ben Davis (Rosh Nivonim): I think the Zimriyah is just such a special time for the Nivonim group because it's really their first opportunity to get up in front of the entire camp and be real leaders and set a wonderful tone for the whole camp.

Andrew W. (Nivonim): The Zimriyah was really fun. We bonded as an eidah really well and we all came together. We were so energized and jumping around. The whole camp came together and it was an amazing experience.

Benjamin/"Pickles" (Nivonim): This was the best Zimriyah ever because we're in Nivo and it's our last one. I helped to run the lights and I also got to sing, so I helped a lot. It was probably the best Zimriyah ever.

Maya Z. (Nivonim): Tonight was so amazing because we're in Nivo! It was unbelievable, incredible.

Dani W. (Nivonim): The Zimriyah was unbelievable tonight. It was nothing I could ever expect, walking in as Nivo with our hands up. It was amazing, such a good experience.

Amy R. (Nivonim): The Zimriyah was unreal. Everything about it was amazing, the music, the decorations. Everything was so in the mood and I had a great time.

Sammy S. (Nivonim): This Zimriyah was just so amazing. I remember watching all the other Nivonim when I was younger, and now we're in Nivonim. It just feels so great.

Shira O. (Nivonim): The Zimriyah was unbelievable. We sang our hearts out, as did all the other eidot. As Nivo, we got to be the leaders and we got to show the whole camp who Nivo 2008 really is.