We had a fantastic time at Camp Ramah last shabbat.  JLC fourth through sixth grade students are just amazing!  We began with a spirited Kabbalat Shabbat complete with singing, dancing and lots of ruach.  Then we had dinner, it was delicious as usual.  After dinner we spent time running around the basketball courts discussing the idea of "patience" as it applies to our lives.

Saturday began with chocolate muffins and hard boiled eggs - a most delicious shabbat breakfast at camp.  Then the 6th graders were in charge of leading us in two pieces of tefillah before we set off on either a hike or meditation.  I was near the dining hall when I heard the hikers chanting the Shema with all of their might from the top of the hill!  We came back together for a Torah service where everyone in the room had an aliyah!  Many of the students decided to wear tallitot that morning.  Then we spent time learning about the Israelites and the Golden Calf from the Chumash before a yummy lunch.

After lunch we had some free time.  We went swimming or played sports or rested in the cabins (in some cases all three!).  Then we set off on an important mission - we put Aaron on trial.  Using the text of the biblical story (and some commentary by Rashi) the students thought critically about who should be blamed for the building of the Golden Calf.  It was amazing!  Ask them about it - we were so engaged that we had to continue after dinner!

We had Havdallah at the observatory and looked at the "super moon".  Then we had a camp fire and went back to the cabins for the night.

Sunday morning was pretty quick!  We woke up, ate breakfast and then made cards to send soldiers over seas for Rosh Hashannah (I know, it is early but we wanted to be sure to make lots of cards for them!) before a closing circle where we sang a few songs and reflected a little bit on what we learned.  Then we hopped on the bus.

It was fantastic!