HaMirpeset Shelanu - Issue 5: from Rabbi David Soloff

There was a lot of camp recruitment activity this week! Camp Ramah is such a diverse place - campers come from so many different communities and backgrounds. Rabbi Sykes visited Kansas City and I traveled to Des Moines. Synagogue ambassadors shared our new promotional DVD. Recruitment staff Sarah Gold and Emilie Botbol visited schools across Chicago. Parent Liason Robin Rubenstein and Twin Cities Coordinator Elyse Less are busy speaking with first time family inquiries.

The week began with an amazingly gorgeous Sunday.

On Sunday morning at 6:10 a.m. I met a friend from shul and we drove a short distance to a park by Lake Michigan, a few miles south of Northwestern University.

My friend has been running regularly since college (quite a few years ago). I have discovered running over these past few years. My friend has his regular early morning route. I recruited him to alter this routine to experience the sunrise over Lake Michigan. So now we meet on Sunday mornings, run our 5k and watch the sun rise over the lake. (At home the sun rises over the lake - at camp the sun sets over the lake!)

The Sunday morning minyan is not until 8 a.m. so there is still time to shower, change and bike over to shul.

Our siddur preserves the tradition of davening a special psalm for each day of the week.

The psalm reserved to say on Sunday is Psalm 24. Some say this psalm at the beginning of the davening and others wait until after the Aleinu at the end. It is followed by the mourners rising and reciting the Kaddish.

The first verses - "the earth and its grandeur belong to Adonai; the world and its inhabitants. God founded it upon the seas and set it firm upon flowing waters."

The poet recalls the creation story from the beginning of Genesis.

I ran along the lake at sunrise, watched the sun rise and did not listen to the news on the radio - just ran and watched the day begin.

The psalm continues: "Who may ascend the mountain of Adonai? Who may rise in God's sanctuary? One who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not used God's name in false oaths and not sworn deceitfully.'

Sometimes davening in the morning minyan I close my eyes and listen to the mumble of people reciting Hebrew words as fast as they can. Sometimes, especially after a wonderful run each word stands out filled with meaning and challenge.

During recruitment season, we are asked by many families, "why should I send my child to Camp Ramah?" Our first answer is about a summer filled with fun, friends and independent living. Slowly, parent to parent, we then discuss how running at sunrise (or activities like boating or basketball, painting or singing) can connect to love of God, Israel and Torah. We discuss how Ramah strengthens the Jewish self-esteem of our campers and staff. We share how Ramah teaches Jewish values.

For now enjoy the run and listen carefully to the words.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Soloff