Shalom Camp Judaea Parents,

We’ve had a wonderful week three in spite of rather challenging weather conditions.  This week, in addition to our regular activities, we celebrated Bikkurim, Camp Judaea’s color competition day.  We hope you enjoy the video highlights of our first session Bikkurim.  (Note:  If you have difficulties with this link, please visit our Vimeo site to enjoy this week’s episode of CJ News.)

This session’s teams were:

Green:  Shahar Pe’er

Shahar is an Israeli professional tennis player. Her career-high singles ranking is world no. 11, which she achieved on January 31, 2011 (it is the highest ranking ever for an Israeli singles tennis player, male or female).  She attained her best Grand Slam singles result when she reached the quarterfinals at the 2007 Australian Open and the 2007 US Open. She also reached the women’s doubles final at the 2008 Australian Open with Victoria Azarenka. Pe’er has won five WTA singles titles, and three WTA doubles titles.

Blue: Yossi Benayoun

Yosi is an Israeli international soccer player, who is currently a free agent after being released by Chelsea. He has previously played for Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Maccabi Haifa, Racing de Santender in Spain, two spells with West Ham United, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Red:  Omri Casspi

Omri was drafted 23rd overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings, making him the first Israeli to be selected in the first round of the draft. With his debut with the Kings in 2009, Casspi became the first Israeli to play in an NBA game.

Yael is the first Israeli to win an Olympic medal. She is widely recognized as one of Israel’s most successful athletes and is credited with bringing judo into the athletic mainstream.

Congratulations to the Yael Arad (white) Team on their victory.  A great day was enjoyed by all.  

All of us at Camp Judaea are looking forward to a fantastic week four including lots of peulot, chuggim and special activities including the Bogrim Hatzagah and Banquet.  

Please enjoy the following summaries of activities for each of our Edot.  

Shabbat Shalom,

Tom

OFFARIM

Shalom Offarim Parents!

We had an exciting (and wet!) week here at Camp Judaea. Although it has been raining quite a bit, it certainly has not slowed us down. We started the week by heading to Emerald Village to go on a tour of the Bon Ami gem mines and do some gem mining of our own. All the kids left with a big bag of beautiful rocks that they mined for themselves, After, we went to our camp grounds for our overnight at the base of Mount Mitchell. We got there fairly early so we had plenty of time to set up tarps, collect fire wood, and sing some songs with guitar accompaniment beside the camp fire before making dinner and smores. Aside from the overnight, we had some peulot eda that included a traditional Jewish wedding and an “Israel experience” by simulating experiences unique to different cities and areas of Israel. We also just finished Bikkurim (color war) which the kids really enjoyed—White won!! I hope you all have a peaceful Shabbat! This last week here is sure to be meaningful at camp.

Shabbat Shalom,

Shira Berman, Offarim Merakezet

ORANIM

Shalom Oranim !arents!

Despite all the rain, It has been another incredible week in the Oranim eda at Camp Judaea! The Oranim campers led Shabbat last Friday and Saturday and all did an amazing job leading services, performing a dance, and singing songs in front of the entire camp. On Sunday we had the privilege of going to the Asheville Nature Center and saw many rehabilitated animals unique to North Carolina. All of the campers had a lot of fun there. After, we went to camp out at Pisgah National forest where the campers helped set up the tarps with the Israeli scout Yuval and Israeli teva (nature) activity counselor, Bar, while other campers helped set up the fire and cook. After we returned from the overnight we learned about Purim and had a Purim costume fashion show and learned about Passover and freedom. The campers also learned how to make matzah from scratch!! Yesterday the campers had an incredible day of bikkurim (color war) where the theme was Israeli athletes—White won! Today we will be learning about Shavuot and we will be making goat cheese from the milk from our very own goats! The Oranim staff and I are looking forward to this next week at camp but are also sad to see this amazing session come to an end.

Shabbat Shalom,

Emily Shalev, Oranim Merakezet

SAYARIM

Shalom Sayarim Parents!

Week three has come to a close and yet again proven to be a successful CJ week. This week started off with the campers experiencing the Pisgah National Forest on their overnight. Before arriving at the campsite the campers got the opportunity to see Chimney Rock and hike down the mountain through the Four Seasons Trail. This week, the campers also learned about the Israeli Defense Force through an interactive army day led by Moshe Dayan, Yoni Netanyahu, and Hannah Senesh! The week culminated with the much-anticipated Bikkurim, color war, which the campers look forward to all session—White won! The session is sadly coming to an end but we are all very excited about an incredible close to what has demonstrated to be an amazing session.

My staff and I have had such an incredible experience with your children and we cannot wait to show you how much they have grown over the summer. As we light the Shabbat candles, we begin counting down the days until the next Shabbat at Camp Judaea begins.

Shabbat Shalom,

Eitan Bender, Sayarim Merakez

TSOFIM

Shalom Tsofim Parents,

The days at camp keep getting busier and busier!  Our last full week of camp began with a day trip and an overnight at a campsite in the Pisgah National Forest.  Tsofim was able to spend a few hours at Sliding Rock, a natural rock waterslide (we hope you saw the pictures).  Although the water was cold, some still managed to slide down 22 times!  After, we had a campout with a barbecue, smores, and some great stories.  

Israeli technologies were our educational focus for this week.  The campers learned about different Israeli inventions and how influential they are in the world.  We also compared and contrasted new cities in Israel with old ones and had the kids decide which cities fit them best.  The kids really seemed to understand the vast differences between cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

A highlight of this week was Bikkurim, or Color War.  The chanichim have been looking forward to this day since they arrived at CJ.  The kids cheered their hardest, gave it their all, and competed their best in an effort to win bragging rights for life.  Although the white team won, each team did an incredible job and deserved to win.  

In a week of perhaps more rain than shine, we learned, we played, we laughed, we cried, but still managed to have an incredible week that will not be forgotten.  The memories created this week will last a lifetime.  With only a few days of camp remaining, we are hoping they are as great as the days we have already spent.

Shabbat Shalom,

Sam Morse, Tsofim Merakez

KESHER

Shalom Kesher Parents,

My staff and I had another fantastic week with your children. After returning from our trip to New York, the entire Eda (age group) went camping together. First we went on a tour of Linville Caverns (an underground cave), then we went on a short hike through the Pisgah National Forest. This week was also Bikkurim (color war). Every camper was part of a team and worked hard all day vying for that famous space on the Beit Ha’am wall—White won! My staff and I are sad that this will be the final Shabbat with our campers. However, we’ve had an amazing summer with them. I hope everyone can return next summer so I can see their shining, vibrant faces yet again at Camp Judaea. 

Shabbat Shalom,

Tali Burger, Kesher Merakezet

BOGRIM

Shalom Bogrim Parents,

This week the Bogrim chanichim got to experience a unique campout experience, learn about immigrant populations in Israel, and prepare for future leadership opportunities in the camp community. Bogrim also embarked on a fantastic day trip to the Caesar’s Head Park. There, we hiked to a beautiful waterfall outlook. After the hike, Bogrim set up camp at Pisgah National Forest where we barbequed and sang by the bonfire. During our Peulah Eda, the chanichim learned about the immigrant populations in Israel through a study of photojournalists’ lenses. The chanichim learned how far Jews across the world travel to turn their dreams into reality. Finally, the chanichim began to plan for the upcoming events that are tradition for Bogrim to lead. Events such as Bogie Carnival, the Bogrim Hatzagah, or play, and the Bogrim Kabbalat Shabbat are all anxiously anticipated campwide events, and we are so excited to be preparing for them in the week to come!

Shabbat Shalom,

Sarah Fine, Bogrim Merakezet