The Camp Gilboa Blog

We’ve had an amazingly busy week at Gilboa! The day after visitor’s day, the Madatz kvutsa decided they were tired of being left out of tzevet (staff) planning, so they staged a revolution and kicked the madrichim out of camp! The chanichim walked into breakfast to find that they had been transported to the Garden of Eden. The trees were in bloom and the water was crisp and fresh as the chanichim enjoyed a meal of fresh fruit, yogurt, pancakes, and froot loops. The chanichim remained in paradise until lunch, when they ate from the Tree of Knowledge. After expulsion from the garden, the chanichim learned to survive in a barren wasteland by playing games and building up the community. In their kvutsot, the chanichim explored ideas of ignorance versus knowledge, as well as the difference between competitive and shared learning; ultimately, they came to the conclusion that sharing knowledge is more synergetic and positive. The revolution ended with a machaneh-wide game of huma...

This weekend brought with it the first Shabbat of second session. Shabbat is always one of the most special parts of the week. Our schedule is completely revamped for Shabbat in order to create an atmosphere of relaxation and study. We start each Shabbat morning with a guided meditation, a discussion of the Parasha (weekly torah portion) and a series of chugim (clubs) on various topics that lend themselves to engaged, intellectual conversation. Shabbat peaks with Havdallah – a spiritual experience in which the whole camp looks at the stars while listening to music and reflecting on their week. We sing and enjoy each other’s company before returning to the rest of the week. This week, the rest of the week started with visitors' day. Parents, family and friends came to Gilboa to share the camp experience (and plenty of food from home). The day was filled with singing, conversation, swimming and fun. For the camp-wide performance the chanichim sang Yachad for the visitors....

Shabbat Rikudei Am (Israeli Dancing)

Amelim (4th and 5th grade) on the bridge Gilboa's Avoda (work) groups Kishutim L'Shabbat (decorations for Shabbat) Nagarut (Carpentry) Knitting Water Bottle Straps

By the Tzrif (cabin) Bonim (9th grade) and madatz by the pool A lovely welcome for Shomrim (8th graders)

Last night we commemorated the holiday T'sha B'av. Traditionally a day of mourning and sadness, we used this holiday as an opportunity to show the chanichim that we can give meaning to holidays in different ways. For the first half of the Tochnit Erev (Evening Program), we did a round robin of tableaus (frozen scenes) depicting tragic events in Jewish history that are traditionally remembered on this holiday. Then we went through the round robin again, but this time the scenes had changed into acts of resistance and hope that came out of those events. Each tableau had a madrich explaining the scene. For instance, Christallnacht became the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, while the Spanish Inquisition became the secret practice of Judaism in Catholic Spain. After this Double Round Robin, we divided into groups and talked about different events that one might choose to add to the commemoration and how each event could change the meaning of the holiday. Some groups said they would include ...

Gilboa's first session came to a climactic close over the weekend. After a week that included World Cup celebrations, a late night Aliyah simulation, and Yom Israel, we said goodbye to half our campers. Thursday night was "Gilboa Idol" in which Gilboa's finest performed for each other and tried to gain the admiration of three off-kilter judges. A relaxing Shabbat followed before our final messiba (party) on Saturday night – a celebration of the session with dancing, a moon bounce, and a screening of Free Willy . Sunday morning, we said goodbye to our first session friends and the thirty remaining chanichim embarked on intersession – a spy themed 2 day adventure with the madatz (junior counselors). The kids played a soap hockey match in the chader ochel, watched a couple of movies, and launched a massive game of capture the flag. Monday night, the madatz led a Tisha B'Av tekes (ceremony), singing and lighting candles with chanichim.Tuesday morning they greeted thei...

At the Pool Great Israeli Food A visit from Ben Gurion Our Moroccan Group in the Immigration Round Robin

Tuesday was a regular day at Gilboa ending in a vigorous evening of "Zapping Hood" – a Robin Hood themed obstacle course where the chanchim had to sneak by flashlight-wielding Merry Men in the dark. After thwarting the efforts of the Sheriff of Nottingham and learning a little something about privatization, the chanichim headed to sleep. A couple hours later, Aliyah Bet broke loose on the sleeping machaneh. In the continuation of GIlboa's annual tradition, madrichim woke the machaneh with tea and the news that they were immigrating Jews on their way to Israel. Each Tsrif (cabin) was a different country of origin – Yemen, Morocco, Iraq, Hungary, Germany, and Ukraine. The chanichim then toured the machaneh, getting an experience in 1940's aliyah, learning about the Palmach, and hearing Mizrahi folktales. The night ended with David Ben Gurion's Declaration of Independence and fresh pita off a fire. After a sleep-in to make up for the late night revelry, the chanichim...

Gilboa celebrated our first Shabbat of the summer! On Friday afternoon, all the chanichim showered, dressed up for Shabbat, and cleaned their tzrifim (the two cleanest tzrifim were awarded the Matate haZahav (The Golden Broom), and Matate Hakesef (The Silver Broom) awards. During Kabbalat Shabbat, the Bogrim sang "Seasons of Love" before heading up to a matzo-ball soup and chicken - or tofu - dinner. After dinner, the chanichim enjoyed a spirited Shabbat shira (singing), an oneg Shabbat (a short performance) performed by the Madatz, and hours of rikudei am (Israeli folk dancing). On Saturday, Gilboa has a late kima (wake up). However, many chanichim woke up early to play gaga. After some meditation and innovative torah study, the chanichim began a day of relaxing activities, including musicale (a low-key time for music and poetry), havdallah, and medura (songs, dances, or skits in front of the campfire). Sunday started as a regular day, but at lunch the day broke into World C...

As part of their community, chanichim take responsibility, and participate in Avoda (chores). Kishutim Le'Shabbat (decorations for Shabbat). Gan (Garden) Nagarut (Carpentry)

Labane making followed a dicussion about food, cultures, and their interconnectivity.

The past few days have been a blur of kef (fun) and ruach (spirit). Every day, the chanichim (campers) cheer their loudest during both flag raising and lowering for a chance to sing one of the songs that their shichvah (group) have written. The chugim (clubs) that the chanichim got to choose from are some of the most creative yet, and everyone is having a blast. While there are classic chugim like DIY (Do it yourself), where chanichim learn useful skills, there are also new chugim like Jewish Ethics (a discussion group), Creative Biting (a drama group), and Dirty Fun (a group of merry-hearted kids who like to get dirty, and of course, clean up afterward). Last night we had an incredible time with a Tochnit Erev (Evening Program) based on the tower of Babel story. The chanichim were introduced to the leader of "the Cause". They learned to dress alike, dance alike and look alike (imagine fake black moustaches and glasses). Whenever anybody asked what the cause was they we...

Shalom Machaneh Gilboa families, from the beautiful campsite at Tata Pochon. The first day of Kayitz (summer) 2010 was fun-filled for all. New and old campers alike arrived around 1pm to the campsite where we had a delicious meal of burritos and quesadillas. After getting to know the other chanichim (campers) in their shichvah (age group), the chanichim toured different areas of machaneh to learn about the rules and ropes. From safety and emergency procedures to important songs to know, they did it all. After learning what their options were for the session's chugim (clubs) and anafim (chore groups), through fun skits, the chanichim sang songs that their madrichim had written especially for them. Afterward, there was another healthy and delicious meal of vegetable and chicken stir-fry with rice and salad bar. The highlight of the day was the Tochnit Erev (evening program), which was the first ever "Meet the Madrichim Safari". The chanichim started out by creating their ow...