Cochavim Update 2013 – Week 5

A new month and a new beginning. It is wonderful to greet 36 chanichim as they brave the challenge of second session at CRB. Our daily shigra (routine) invites chanichim to swim, play basketball, cook, and sing .

Forming a community, an intentional process, is our goal. Elizabeth throws a ball of yarn to Max and she says, “I go to public school”. Max shouts, “Me too”. When this ball of yarn is tossed among 36 chanichim and seven madrichim, a big web of yarn remains that connects each chanich to another. Chanichim are not only linked by strings of yarn, but also by their common interests and backgrounds.

Following the pe’ulah, we ask Micah to share what he learned about Nava. A handful of chanichim share the new names and facts that they learned  about those individuals. After an exciting photo scavenger hunt, the chanichim will never forget  that Rabbi Resnick is that guy who gave us cookies; the bridge that connects Machaneh Alef and Machaneh Bet is where we played leap frog; the mister is where we danced the hora; and the b-side softball field is where ran the bases while singing Hatikva.

Shabbat will create for us even more associations. The amphitheatre will keep memories of Kabbalat Shabbat and Beit Breira will hold memories of meeting our new Bogrim  buddies that will last for summers to come.

Shabbat Shalom,

Sam  Alexander