Rabbi's Weekly Message
"Off to camp – again!" July 11th, 2008
Did you hear the one about the talking donkey? No, I’m not talking politics, I’m talking Torah! Balak, King of Moab, is concerned about the Israelites. He asks Balaam to go and curse the Jews. This was before television and the Internet which our enemies use today, so Balaam saddles his donkey and heads out to proclaim his evil words. Standing in the way of the donkey is an angel of God which Balaam cannot see, but the poor animal can. Balaam beats the donkey several times but it will not move. Eventually Balaam’s eyes are opened and he realizes that he was blinded by his hatred. Instead of cursing the Israelites, he blesses them with the familiar words of Mah Tovu repeated in our prayer book, all thanks to the actions of one talking donkey! If only our enemies today could have such an awakening.
Our challenges today do not just come from the outside. There are internal or domestic challenges as well. As I have written many times, I am not a numbers guy. I do focus on Jewish survival as much as others do. Though I am concerned about assimilation and other factors that draw Jews away from Judaism, I tend to focus on quality instead of quantity.
One quality experience that we know enhances Jewish identity and a strong sense of values and tradition in our children is summer camp. Kids who go to summer camp tend to have stronger Jewish identities and a higher affiliation with Judaism in later years. Along with formal education offered in synagogues, the importance and impact of the informal educational setting of a sleep-away cannot be underestimated. Children begin to learn how to cope without their parents, they learn the important life lessons they will need to survive in the future, they learn that Judaism can be fun, and most importantly, they see older Jews (counselors and other staff) as positive role models.
This Sunday, I will be heading to the San Bernardino mountains for two weeks as I attend Orange County Jewish Community Center’s Camp Yofi as Camp Rabbi and song leader. I am very excited as this is only Camp Yofi’s third year. As the only Jewish residential camp in Orange County it is critical that this program thrive and grow, and I am hoping that I will be able to bring something very positive to what they have already created.
Along with my experiences in Israel as a teenager, nothing cemented my desire to become a rabbi and to serve the Jewish people more than my time at camp as a child and later as a young adult. My head is still filled with incredible memories and some of my most spiritual moments have been with my peers and with kids in the camp setting.
As I will not be here for the next few weeks, I know that you will be in good hands with Cantor Avdee and our lay leaders. Before I go, of course, we have our early service tonight and our program at 7:30 PM, “The Jews of Iran.” Tomorrow, Torah Study and our morning service as usual. Have a great couple of weeks and a safe and enjoyable summer, and if you see a talking donkey, let me know as soon as possible!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Kenneth Milhander