Director's Corner - Friday, July 18, 2025
Friday, July 18, 2025
Beautiful Things
Please stay
I want you, I need you, oh God
Don't take
These beautiful things that I've got
Oh, ooh,
Please stay
I want you, I need you, oh God
I need
These beautiful things that I've got
Today was a fantastic day with even better vibes! I could really sense that everyone was eager for our first Shabbat of the session, and I was too. We had great weather all day, which only added to the positive excitement. Friday has finally arrived, and Shabbat is here!
Today was a special day for me as I was able to explore various hobbies before we dove into our Shabbat schedule. It was wonderful to truly take the time, visit different activities, and hear directly from campers and staff about what they've been up to.
My morning started at the musical rehearsal for "The Wizard of Oz." Outside, smaller groups were practicing lines. Inside, I was told it was a "must-see" to watch the kids rehearse the "Munchkinland" song. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them run through their lines, swaying to the music and nodding their heads. Not only were the performers into it, but looking into the audience, I could see other campers mouthing the words along with them—so cute! My favorite part was the three little camper boys singing "we represent the Lollipop Guild."
Next, I stopped by the recording studio. I spent a few minutes watching the magic as campers worked on a song they had recorded, playing as a band. One of our counselors, Max, asked the campers what the song needed, then suggested, "I think we need a wah." I wondered, "What's a wah?" Apparently, it's a type of effects pedal for electric guitars that creates a distinct "wah wah" sound, with tons of different options from various decades. How cool and impressive that Max and the kids knew how to use that!
Later in the day, I heard from a waterski staff member that they had a full boat of Junior Ramot kids who all managed to drop a ski for the first time AND stay up and slalom for at least 5 seconds! They were incredibly proud of their accomplishment.
Finally, I made my way to the ropes course. The Makor campers in their third hobby absolutely loved the challenge course, which offered options for both easy and harder challenges. I was so impressed with the challenge course team; they were all incredibly excited to be there, ensuring the kids had a fun and safe time. One girl was a bit scared of a higher challenge, and seeing the counselors take initiative to not only calm her down but re-excite her, giving her the confidence to finish the course, was incredible. It was a proud moment to witness how effortlessly the challenge course staff worked together to create the best hobby experience for these kids.
All in all, it was an extremely fun day for me to see all these hobbies in action. I'm so impressed with our staff; they're not only energetic and passionate about what they do, but they also consistently create the best possible experiences for our campers.
For breakfast, we enjoyed eggs and tater tots. Lunch was equally delicious, featuring pizza and Caesar salad. More details on dinner coming soon!
Friday afternoons at camp are special because we skip the second cabin activity for Shabbat preparation. Today's theme was "dress in white," which added a beautiful flair to our evening.
Every Friday before dinner, I have oneg (a special gathering) with our CITs. Now that they've had the experience of living in or shadowing cabins, they've shared so much about the staff they admire and their connections with campers. It's truly a meaningful time, and I'm excited for them to finish off this summer and step into full bunk counselor roles next summer!
We kicked things off with a relaxed gathering called the "Shabbat Schmooze" at Hobby Wheel Field. Campers socialized, took photos, and simply enjoyed each other's company. The evening continued with individual bunk gatherings to welcome Shabbat, express gratitude, and share in prayers. Tonight, we enjoyed a Shabbat dinner - a delicious meal of roast chicken, potatoes, broccoli, matzo ball soup, and fresh challah. Hearing our campers enthusiastically sing the Tish after the meal was both entertaining and heartwarming.
Following dinner, our services, accompanied by guitar, were held in our outdoor amphitheater, making for a truly memorable start to Shabbat. During services, Ruchel enchanted us with a beautiful story that carried a powerful moral. They then led us in a song without words, sparking reflections on the week's experiences and supporting our Shabbat theme of Love of Israel.
Following services, campers donned their sports jerseys for a spirited Israeli Dance session on the Ron Kaplan Courts. They blended classic moves with new ones learned throughout the week, creating a truly lively atmosphere. This energetic session culminated in 2 vibrant song sessions (one for Makor and Kesher and one for Ramot and TLP) led by the Beber Music Staff Band, mixing traditional Jewish melodies with popular tunes, all while reinforcing our camp's profound connection to Jewish traditions.
Tomorrow, the entire camp will relish a well-deserved morning sleep-in and a leisurely start to the day. I can't wait to tell you more about Shabbat!
The song "Beautiful Things," which I referenced above, teaches us about cherishing the moments and the connections that make life so rich. Today, from witnessing the joyful rehearsals in the musical, to the innovative sounds in the recording studio, the proud triumphs on the waterski lake, and the encouraging teamwork on the ropes course, we truly saw "beautiful things" unfolding everywhere. These are the precious, tangible moments—the laughter, the learning, the shared pride, and the deep sense of community fostered during Shabbat—that make Beber Camp an extraordinary place where lasting memories are made.
P.S. Congratulations to the following who knew that Fleetwood Mac sang "Dreams"
- Shana Fromkin
- Julie Brodsky
- Lisa Roth
- Julie Houghton
- Leanna Worrall
- Patty Shalhav
- Dan Ripes
- Brian Berns
P.S. - Today’s question: Who sang “Beautiful Things?” Email your answer to trivia@bebercamp.com for a shoutout in tomorrow’s blog!