Hello! I have just returned from two months in the Berkshires where I have spent the past 17 summers as the Director of Jewish Life at URJ Crane Lake Camp. I love spending my summers with friends breathing in the Berkshire air, watching the sunsets, the storms rolling in, and just living camp life. But what I love most is watching how Judaism and Jewish values play out on the fields and courts, in the bunks, in the friendships. Our camp song speaks about Jewish pride! I feel this sense of Jewish pride throughout the camp, from the campers to the staff, and it is this pride that I hope to instill within each of our TBE students.
Our goal, for this upcoming school year, is to instill within our students a feeling of belonging and a sense of pride in being Jewish, all while nurturing their love of Judaism. We want our students to understand that they are part of something greater than the Temple Beth El community; to understand that there are Jews around the world who say the same prayers we do. Jewish pride comes in understanding our holidays, rituals, and traditions. I want our students to find meaning in our Torah stories and understand how the decisions we make in our lives are based on our values…our Jewish values.
I am excited for our upcoming year. I look forward to meeting everyone and welcoming our students and families back to school in September!