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Director's Corner, Saturday, July 19, 2025

Saturday, July 19, 2025

I Want to Break Free

It's strange but it's true, hey
I can't get over the way you love me like you do
But I have to be sure when I walk out that door
Oh, I want to be free, baby
Oh, how I want to be free
Oh, I want to break free

At Beber Camp, Shabbat is more than just a day of rest, it's a vibrant celebration of our community and a time to reflect on our shared values. As we gather each week to welcome Shabbat, we not only embrace a sacred tradition but also truly live out the Jewish values that define our camp experience. Today, a bit of morning rain gave way to a beautifully sunny afternoon, making for a truly wonderful Shabbat.

I'd like to take a moment to share our Jewish Values and how beautifully we bring them to life at camp, especially during Shabbat.

1. Sacred Community (Kehillah Kedosha)

Shabbat at Beber Camp truly embodies our Kehillah Kedosha, or Sacred Community. On Friday night, we come together for a special dinner, spirited Israeli dancing, and enthusiastic camp songs. Today, and every Saturday, we continue this togetherness during services. The sense of community is incredibly palpable during our two GA periods, where campers can leisurely explore and connect with friends. The Havdalah ceremony, marking the end of Shabbat, further strengthens our bonds as we sing arm in arm under the amazing night sky.

2. Courage (Ometz Lev)

Shabbat invites us to explore and express our spirituality in ways that might be new or unfamiliar. For some campers, it could be their first time leading a blessing or sharing a personal reflection during Mikud (reflection time). It takes courage to participate in these moments, and we celebrate every step taken towards personal growth. Beber's supportive environment ensures that everyone feels encouraged to take these brave steps.

3. Leadership (Manhigut)

Shabbat provides a vital space for campers and staff to step into leadership roles. Campers confidently lead prayers and readings during Shabbat services, gaining confidence and honing their public speaking skills. Our counselors guide meaningful discussions during Mikud, encouraging campers to think critically and express their insights. This practice of leadership in a supportive environment helps cultivate future leaders both within and beyond the camp gates.

4. Gratitude (Hakarat Hatov)

Shabbat is a dedicated time to slow down and appreciate the simple joys of camp life. We express gratitude for the delicious meals prepared by our kitchen staff, the beauty of our natural surroundings, and the friendships we've formed. Activities like gratitude circles, where campers and staff share what they are thankful for, help us focus on the positive aspects of our week and foster a strong culture of appreciation.

5. Love of Israel (Ahavat Yisrael)

This week's theme for Shabbat is Love of Israel. Our deep connection to Israel is celebrated in many special ways during Shabbat. We sing vibrant Israeli songs, learn about Israeli culture, and share stories from our Israeli staff and campers. These activities help deepen our understanding and love for Israel, making the connection more personal and meaningful. Celebrating Shabbat together allows us to reflect on our shared heritage and reinforces our commitment to Ahavat Yisrael.

Shabbat at Beber Camp is a beautiful blend of tradition, reflection, and celebration. It's a time when our core values truly come to life, creating a powerful and enriching experience for everyone. As we welcome each Shabbat, we are reminded of the importance of community, leadership, courage, gratitude, and our deep love for Israel. 

Our Shabbat day began with a leisurely rolling breakfast on the Island and morning GA. This is a wonderful time for campers to explore lower camp and simply hang out with friends in a relaxed way. Afterward, everyone headed back to their cabins for cabin cleanup.

Next, we gathered for services, where campers eagerly participated. We rounded out the prayers with beautiful and inspiring songs and a camper favorite: "Saturday Torah Live." This fun and creative puppet show, performed by our CITs, puts a unique spin on the week's Torah portion. Today's Torah portion was about the Daughters of Tzelofchad. In ancient times, when a man died, his land typically passed to his son. However, Tzelofchad had no sons, only five daughters. In an act of early feminism, these daughters bravely stood up for themselves, approaching God and Moses to argue that they deserved to inherit their father's land. After discussion, Moses and God agreed to grant the daughters their inheritance. In "Saturday Torah Live," our CITs brought a hilarious camp twist to the story. They represented the daughters, comically "standing up for their feminism" around camp. They made jokes about how it wasn't fair they didn't get to do hobbies or be in bunks with the kids (for CIT Bet). In the end, they did a fantastic job summarizing the Torah portion in a funny and relatable way for the campers to understand.

After services, we had Mikud, which means "reflection." Campers gathered as a bunk to reflect on the past week and the theme of Shabbat. Then, it was off to lunch for a delicious cold-cut spread, including chicken salad, tuna salad, and all the fixings!

Following lunch, we had rest hour. After that, a new and special Shabbat tradition began this year: Mishpacha, or Family Time!

Campers gathered with their Mishpachot (families) on Saturday afternoon to reflect, connect, and dive deeper into this week's Shabbat theme: "Love of Israel." Mishpacha added a beautiful rhythm to the day, slowing us down and reminding us that at camp, family is what we create together.The groups began by sharing what "Love of Israel" meant to them, followed by trivia questions about Israeli life. For instance, campers were challenged to name three Israeli bands or music artists—a tough one! They then discussed their Maccabiah colors, either by creating new cheers for their team or thinking of songs that included their team's color. They wrapped up with fun games of their choice; I even passed by one group playing "Splat," my personal favorite!

Today, our Shabbat programming is beautifully tied into our weekend theme: "Love of Israel." Each division rotated between two special programs this afternoon.

Starting with Ramot, they participated in a Shabbat program in Crown Hall that was both engaging and educational. A series of geographical questions about Israel were projected, and each cabin had to pinpoint the answer by placing a numbered yellow sticker on a map. Questions varied, from identifying areas in the Israeli desert where the IDF trains and often lives in kibbutzim, to locating popular vacation spots in the southernmost part of Israel known for snorkeling. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this; it was a really cool activity! Ramot's second rotation offered a choice of engaging activities, including beach volleyball, the aqua park, or working on their Island Project (details to be announced later).

Makor and Kesher rotated between the Maccabi Games and the pool this afternoon. During Maccabi Games, they enjoyed the afternoon sun on the upper camp field by the gym. Kickball was a huge hit, with campers loving the thrill of punting the ball as far as they could! The other rotation at the pool gave everyone the chance to relax and hang out with friends during free swim.

Our PIOs kicked off their day at arts and crafts, then spent the afternoon exploring both the Bobblehead Museum and the Milwaukee Public Market!

Meanwhile, CIT Aleph spent the day enjoying activities with their cabins. CIT Bet was busy interning in cabins and also took on a leadership role, guiding their Mishpachot groups for the special Mishpacha program!

As the sun began to set and Shabbat drew to a close, the entire camp gathered together for Havdalah. We sang shoulder to shoulder with our friends, swaying together as we welcomed the new week.

Havdalah at Beber isn’t just the end of Shabbat (the separation from Shabbat); it’s the bridge to what’s next. It gives campers the opportunity to pause and reflect on their past week. Havdalah here is a special time where we all gather as a camp to bring Shabbat to a close and recharge. We sing meaningful songs and look forward to the new week and what we want from it, continuing to make the best camp memories.

Just as "I Want to Break Free" speaks to a yearning for authenticity and self-expression, Shabbat at Beber Camp allows our community to truly "break free" from the ordinary. Through meaningful services, creative programs like Saturday Torah Live, and the intimate connections of Mishpacha, we empower campers and staff alike to express their courage, build leadership, and celebrate their unique spirits. This powerful blend of tradition and personal freedom creates an environment where every individual can thrive, making the memories that shape us, and setting us all free to be our best selves.

P.S. Congratulations to the following who knew that Benson Boone sang "Beautiful Things"

  • Josie and Ryan Suser
  • Shayna Shapiro
  • Brea Berns
  • Dan Ripes
  • Ronit Ripes
  • Melissa Superfine
  • Jessica Fonoroff
  • Patty Shalhav
  • Jenny Micon

P.S. - Today’s question: Who sang “I Want to Break Free”  Email your answer to trivia@bebercamp.com for a shoutout in tomorrow’s blog!

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