Director's Corner, Saturday, July 25, 2026

Saturday, July 25, 2026

We are family
I got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up, everybody, and sing

Today was another wonderful day at camp! Shabbat mornings always begin with our rolling breakfast on the Island followed by morning GA (general activity), giving campers the chance to ease into the day, enjoy a delicious breakfast, and spend intentional time with friends through the activities that interest them most.

This morning, some campers jumped right into active games like frisbee and 9 square, while others enjoyed lawn games such as cornhole and Kan Jam. Many campers chose to take a walk and catch up with friends, while others embraced a quieter start to the day by reading or drawing. Those who opted for these more independent activities were engaging in parallel play—enjoying their own individual pursuits while remaining connected to the camp community through shared space, mutual interests, and the comforting presence of those around them.

Following GA, all campers and staff gathered in Crown Hall for our weekly Shabbat morning services. Each Saturday, our CITs present Saturday Torah Live: an educational puppet show that brings the week's Torah portion to life in a fun and engaging way for the camp community. This week, the CITs shared the story of God's call to Abraham to leave his home and journey to the Land of Israel.

With this week's Shabbat theme centered on Love of Israel, Abraham's journey served as a meaningful reminder of the Jewish people's enduring connection to Israel. It also highlighted the special bond our camp shares with Israel through the incredible Israeli Beber staff members who join us each summer. Through humor, creativity, and storytelling, our CITs helped campers connect with the Torah in an accessible, engaging, and memorable way.

Following a deli sandwich lunch and a relaxing rest hour, campers and counselors gathered for today's Shabbat Mishpacha rotation: the Great Mishpacha Games! Working together in their Mishpacha groups, campers tackled a series of team challenges that emphasized communication, problem-solving, and cooperation. Activities included silent lineups, the human knot, a sit-stand circle, a memory challenge, creating the human alphabet, and more.

Each team timed themselves with a stopwatch, racing to complete each challenge as quickly as possible while supporting one another every step of the way. It was especially exciting to watch our Senior Ramot campers and CIT leaders step up, encouraging their teams, demonstrating leadership, and helping create an atmosphere of enthusiasm and teamwork. The Great Mishpacha Games were a fun reminder that success comes from working together and cheering one another on.

One of the highlights of this Shabbat has been welcoming the SITs (Staff in Training) from Montreal’s Camp B'nai B'rith, a fellow member of the Association of Independent Jewish Camps. Arriving yesterday around lunchtime and staying through tomorrow’s breakfast, the visiting SITs joined our own CITs to experience Beber's Mishpacha program and immerse themselves in camp life.

During today's Mishpacha rotation, each visiting CBB SIT was paired with one of our Beber CITs. Working side by side, they helped facilitate activities, encouraged campers, and experienced firsthand how our Mishpacha program builds community, leadership, and connection across age groups. It was a wonderful opportunity for the visiting SITs to learn about our approach to leadership while also sharing ideas and perspectives from their own camp experiences.

Throughout the weekend, the CBB SITs embraced everything Beber has to offer, from enjoying favorites like the Aqua Park, BMX track, and delicious food and dining hall experience to connecting with our campers and staff. They were eager to learn about our traditions, programs, and the values that make our camp community so special. Their visit was even recognized during tonight's Havdalah with a special shoutout! We are incredibly proud of our CITs for welcoming their peers with warmth, confidence, and enthusiasm, and it was an honor to showcase the Beber experience while strengthening the bond between two Jewish camp communities.

Following the Great Mishpacha Games, each division rotated through its afternoon divisional rotations. For their Jewish Life rotations, Makor and Kesher worked together in cabin groups through a variety of activities tailored to this week’s Love of Israel theme, continuing to build skills, strengthen friendships, and make the most of another beautiful Shabbat at camp.

Today's Ramot Jewish Life rotation gave campers the opportunity to explore Jewish identity, culture, and community by choosing from three engaging activities. One group created Israel vision boards, where they designed their ideal trip to Israel: their ideal food, cities, ancient sites, and more. Other campers chose to create their own Jewish holiday, complete with traditions, symbols, and meaningful celebrations. The third group got active with Tel Aviv Beach Games, playing classic Israeli beach games like volleyball and Matkot, a popular beach paddle ball game.

Each activity encouraged campers to connect with Jewish life in a unique way while building community, expressing creativity, and learning through hands-on experiences. Whether they were crafting, creating, or playing, campers had the chance to celebrate Jewish culture in an engaging and meaningful environment.

In addition to their Jewish Life rotations, campers also enjoyed the classic Shabbat pool and athletics rotations today. Our Makor baseball players even competed in their All-Star baseball game, coached by Chuck and some amazing Ramot volunteers. It was a wonderful afternoon filled with laughter, teamwork, and friendship.

We gathered for degel and a delectable baked ziti dinner tonight, and then our Kesher and Ramot campers got an exciting announcement: they found out which 3-day trip they will be on next week! While Makor played on lower camp during GA, Kesher and Ramot broke into their trip groups and learned about all of the exciting adventures they will be going on next week.

To end the day, all of camp gathered in the Amphitheater for Havdalah. We sang Beber classics like “There is so Much Magnificence” and “Bless This House,” prayed together over the candles, grape juice, spices, and the separation between Shabbat and the rest of the week, and heard from our amazing Division Leaders. 

Makor Division Leaders Jolie and Sam gave an incredibly thoughtful and heartfelt tribute to our rookies. Our two-week campers leave tomorrow, and, while we are sad to see them go, we are so grateful to have had them in the Beber Bubble this summer and cannot wait to see them again next year. 

In addition to the rest of the divisional speeches, our head counselors also announced this week’s cabin cleanup winners! Congratulations to K3, G4, and T5 on a cabin well cleaned!

As the sun set tonight, it was wonderful to be with all of camp and watch the little moments–a smile from a counselor to a camper, a friend putting their arm around a friend, and the Amphitheater swaying and singing as one. We had such a meaningful week filled with fun, connection, and joy, and I am greatly looking forward to the adventures that this new week will bring.

Shavua Tov,
Michael

Yesterday's song was "Nice To Each Other" by Olivia Dean. Congratulations to Ari Kirsch on sending in the correct answer!

Can you name the artist behind "We Are Family?" Send your guess to trivia@bebercamp.com, and I'll reveal the answer in tomorrow's blog.