#BlogElul 11 and 12 Count and Trust

I think what counts is how you treat someone and how they treat you and those around them.  The measure of a person or how you can "count" on someone is something I have witnessed  many times at school, synagogue and camp.  When a camper is nice to the odd person out, when a student stays behind to help the last child who can never seem to get their books packed up no matter how much time they may have to accomplish this task.  I have seen acts of kindness and sometimes the person I am observing has no idea how much their kind words mean.

 The real way you can "count" on someone is how they treat a someone who is challenged by life.  When every day brings new situations which can throw you off and people stop and are kind to you it makes all the difference.  Be the person who counts. 

 I hope that this is something I have taught my kids.  It is not always easy to be nice to your siblings but I think my kids have done a pretty good job. I have to trust them at this point to do the right thing and be good to one another and to those around them.    I am proud of all three of them and their accomplishments, all in different areas. I trust they have made it count. 


  I could write more and more but am falling TOO far behind in BLOGELUL. 

This post is part of #BlogElul, a series of social media posts created during Elul, the month preceding the High Holidays. During Elul, it is customary for Jews to prepare spiritually for the upcoming new year. An annual project, #Blog Elul is the brainchild of Rabbi Phyllis Sommer.

#BlogElul 10 See (to believe)

Here are a few things which you must see to believe:

Instead of Men and Women on the bathroom at the local Deli this is what they have:

Have you ever seen a Tisha B'Av Tree, here you go:

Oh, and I found my Save Soviet Jewry Bracelet; that's not too old. 

This post is part of #BlogElul, a series of social media posts created during Elul, the month preceding the High Holidays. During Elul, it is customary for Jews to prepare spiritually for the upcoming new year. An annual project, #Blog Elul is the brainchild of Rabbi Phyllis Sommer.

#Blog Elul 9 Hear, O Israel

Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad.
Hear, O Israel, Adonai is our God, Adonai is One!

The notes our Kallah Gimmel campers write when they lead t'filot

We say Shema every time we pray.  Our campers over the summer pray/sing/ Shema not just during t'filot but many times with their bunk mates at night before bed.  Saying Shema before you go to sleep is very peaceful and hearing a whole cabin of girls or boys doing this for me pulls at my heart strings.  This is a prayer we rarely hear our students say they don't know or every question why we say it.  A favorite task of mine at OSRUI is helping our chanichim, campers, lead t'filot.  They usually write a short introduction to the prayer of their choice.  I know they feel confident and comfortable at camp and share their feelings willingly.  I have always wished their parents could Hear and See them as they lead t'filot.  They would be so proud of their children and grandchildren.  I know occasionally I get teary, and yes I cry at the drop of a hat but I love this part of the day at camp and with my chanichim.  They are also proud of themselves for standing up in front of their peers and madrichim and it is their first introduction to well, Making Israel listen. 

I look forward to this year as I start the school year to praying Shema with a new set of voices.  I close my eyes when I sing Shema and I always try to "hear" the voices of the people who are surrounding me.  
When I am at camp I can hear the sounds of nature and the our chanichim.  Listen or Hear next time you pray Shema.

Our beautiful Beit T'filah at OSRUI for Kallah and Gesher

#BlogElul 8 Believe

Remember Space Jam? the Movie?
 This is the chorus of the theme song that played throughout the movie. Space Jam was also incidentally released right before Michael Jordan came back to play for the Bulls and they won 3 more Titles.  I always liked the images and the words to the this song:


I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar
I see me running through that open door
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly

I loved to think about kids watching this film and thinking that whatever they believe would allow them to be able soar and fly.  I loved that Michael Jordan spoke to Bugs Bunny and Daffy and gave them a pep talk and they won the big basketball game.

As a Bulls fan I was also happy when Michael Jordan came back to the Bulls.  I like to believe that if you try hard enough you will fly through life.  As the start  of  public school is almost here now is definitely the time to dream about flying!

#BlogElul BE a Dugmah, Example, Dugmah (Clap)

When I saw Be as the word to blog today, I thought Dugmah, meaning example or BE AN EXAMPLE.  I suppose that comes to mind as I have only been back from camp for a week and when I am at camp and even at Lakeside I realize that not only am I a dugmah but also my madrichim, (counselors) and my teachers are dugmaot (plural of dugmah) for all of the children (and their parents too).

Dedicated 2013 Kallah Gimmel Staff 

It is not always easy to be a dugmah,   When everyone is tired you need to be awake and peppy, when everyone is bored you have to be interested, when everyone is supposed to be quiet but they are talking, you have to quiet.  Our Madrichim at OSRUI are trained and work hard all summer and are great dugmaot for our kids.  Campers love their Ivirt, (Hebrew) classes because they are taught by madrichim as is our limud, (education period at camp).  Anything our madrichim do in front of our campers is "cool". I thank them from the bottom of my heart for being so enthusiastic all summer long.

Teachers are also hard working and  are great dugmaot for our students.  They come to t'filot, (services), they plan for hours for their weekly/daily lessons.  I am happy to be a part of both groups at camp and at home and realize that I am a dugmah.  I think about what I do and hope that my actions along with my words speak for themselves.

Lakeside Teacher, Denise Goldberg

Being a dugmah is a concept which is not easy to teach and sometimes when either a teacher or madrich falls down in this area it is especially hard to watch.  Lessons can be learned but I think the lesson comes home when a madrich sees a camper who wants to become a counselor and teachers see their older students become teacher aides.  During Elul I thank all of our madrichim, teachers and all those engaged in education.  We are all dugmaot.

Lakeside Teacher, Sheri Bulwa

There are the things I know for sure...

These are the things I know for sure:

If I am not working on Sunday it must be summertime.

If all of my children are not in the same room with me my cell phone is on.

If it is the end of camp season  it is time to start working on next year's camp limud.

If I don't plan for it to rain it will rain and if I do plan for rain it will be sunny.

If it is August I will talk to many people looking to join a synagogue.

If it is summer it seems I have more time to read a book here and there.  (check out my books on my Goodreads page)

Sami and Brian

During the summer my simchas are usually weddings, B'nai Mitzvah to start soon in the fall.

Ronnie, Benj and Cousins

During August I need to order books, register  students, look for teachers' contracts in the mail and just get ready for school.

If it's Elul I must be blogging.

To Accept or not to Accept #BlogElul

IT WAS 1984...I can't change the title on this picture

Blogging every day is not as easy as it appears.  Tonight I asked Arthur, what comes to his mind when I say accept.  He immediately told me that he accepts me for all my faults. After thinking about this I promptly told him that I accept him for all of his faults as well.  Our 29th wedding anniversary is coming up in a few weeks, September 2.  Both of us do accept one another and of course our kids as we go through life.

A-Rod answering questions

I pushed Arthur  more on the word accept and he said A-rod, Alex Rodriquez has not accepted guilt for  his cheating, for his use of performance enhancing drugs.  Sports figures whether we like it or not are also heroes that our children try to emulate.  When someone like A-rod can't accept that he has done something wrong this does not bode well for society.  What lesson does this teach?  It is not always easy to accept what life has given us.  I see family, friends and newsmakers accepting life events sometimes with grace and sometimes with whatever is the opposite of grace.  During the month of Elul I certainly think about  what I need to accept and what I have the strength to change.  Good thing I have a partner who keeps me on my toes and has helped me keeping up with blogging Elul.

My family, who I accept and accepts me.