Shabbat Shalom J&R Day Camp Families,

What an incredible ending to our 1^st week of Camp as we welcomed in our 1^st Shabbat!

It’s incredible to see how much our campers have done in only one week. Some of our weekly accomplishments include:

• We have planted, maintained, and cooked with all of our veggies and herbs in our very own sustainable garden.
• We have returned to the nature of J&R Day Camp as our outdoor adventure activities have us in completely exploration of the trees, animal tracks, and living creatures (mostly frogs, and bugs) in our woods
• Our Specialty Tracks had their first week of operation and our campers enhanced their skills in the areas of Arts & Crafts, Outdoor Adventure, and Sports
• I have seen art projects including paper mosaics, ceramics, and paintings
• The J&R Community is stronger then ever as we hear loud cheers, Unit songs and singing throughout the entire camp grounds.

It has truly been an exciting week.

This afternoon, we welcomed in Shabbat with the entire camp community at our amphitheater. Our campers gathered in their groups to share challah, and grape juice. We celebrate Shabbat at J&R Day Camp for several reasons (other then being a Jewish Camp). First, we like to have a weekly ritual to recognize the ending of our week. Second, we like to have our individual groups have a reflective moment on the week that is passing. It’s important for reflection and debriefs to happen all the time. Finally, we like to gather for special reasons as an entire J&R Community, and what better way to do that then peacefully welcoming Shabbat! With music and singing, all of our campers enjoyed grape juice and challah together.

It has been an incredible week here at J&R Day Camp! We want to wish you a Shabbat Shalom! We look forward to a restful weekend and seeing all of our campers back here on Monday.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email j&[email protected] or call 412-829-7707

Shabbat Shalom,

Lewis Sohinki, Director