A Whirlwind of Highlights – Tikvah 2018
by Jared Skoff, Rosh Tikvah
This past week has been a whirlwind of highlight moments for Tikvah, on both an eidah (division)-wide and a camp-wide scale.
Last Friday night was Tikvah Shabbat, and members of our Tikvah and Atzmayim (Tikvah Vocational) programs led Kabbalat Shabbat for the entire camp. Tal chanted the fifth chapter of Shir Hashirim (Song of Songs), Talia led candlelighting, Adam led Kabbalat Shabbat, and Jonah led the Maariv service. It was a wonderful moment for both eidot to take pride in their accomplishments and showcase their hard work in front of camp. Throughout the Shabbat, Tikvah and Atzmayim shared combined tefilot and programming focused on different elements of community- including leadership, boundaries, and the importance of compromise.
Last Sunday and Monday were also Visitors Days, and on this occasion, the Tikvah and Atzmayim programs appreciated the opportunity to say Todah Rabah and Mazel Tov to Dr. Margaret Silberman. In additional to being a dedicated leader and consultant, representing Tikvah on the Camp Ramah in Wisconsin Committee for 20 years, Margaret has been a loving, steadfast, and supportive trailblazer for the Tikvah and Atzmayim programs, helping our program and our participants to gain more opportunities both in and out of camp. Margaret’s role goes beyond a job description; as so many of us said during the weekend, she has become “Bubbe” to all of the staff members, campers, and participants – feeding us, caring for us, advising us, holding us to the highest standard, and pushing us to achieve greater potential. We all appreciated being able to celebrate Margaret and tell her how much she means to us.
This past Monday, Tikvah celebrated another important member of our eidah – Lily. Lily has been tirelessly learning and practicing for her bat mitzvah, and on Monday she finally achieved her goal. In front of the Tikvah, Machon, and Atzmayim eidot, along with Lily’s family and several additional guests from other eidot in camp, Lily did an incredible job leading the full Shacharit service, Torah service, receiving an aliyah, reading from the Torah, and delivering a very meaningful d’var Torah. On the occasion of her Bat Mitzvah, Lily wore her grandfather’s tallit, and has continued to wear it during our tefilot every day since her Bat Mitzvah. Lily worked so hard to prepare for this day, and when it was time for her big moment, she did it all flawlessly. We wish Lily a mazel tov, and we are so grateful to have shared in her simcha.
We are so enthused by Tikvah/Atzmayim Shabbat, Margaret’s recognition, and Lily’s Bat Mitzvah – incredible and meaningful moments where our campers have seen their hard work pay off and have celebrated Tikvah’s accomplishments with the rest of camp. And now- it’s time to have some fun. As a few individuals from our eidah depart on the Machon trip, the rest of our eidah heads into Shavua Tik-baba, a week of special programming just for Tikvah. We will be doing cooking classes in the new Mitbachon (teaching kitchen), fused glass projects, boating, exploring the lakefront water obstacle course, radio schlep (an eidah favorite), an overnight camping trip, and a field trip to Eagle River. Our campers and counselors can’t wait for the next adventure!
