Daniel's Summer Blog

This week at the Shiur Matkal, the new shtender was presented us. A shtender, under most circumstances is a simple wooden stand on which a siddur can be placed for reading, usually by whoever is leading. In this case, the shtender is not just a skeleton, but rather a whole box, and inside various nooks and crannies of the shtender are ritual objects, compartmentalized by daily, weekly and annual use. Most of the shtender is made out of walnut wood, with metal only used when necessary and for cups and the like. Each separate piece has some intricate carving on it, most, but not all, pertaining to shivat haminim, the seven species (of plants). One of the pieces which does not have plant life on it was the case for Megillat Ester (read on Purim) which featured a bit of dark humor, a hangman's noose, symbolizing the hanging of Haman. The case also has a magnet on the top, so that it literally hangs inside the shtender, metaphorically hanging Haman all year long.

Speaking of hangin' 'em high, the Staff vs Campers All-Star Hockey Game took place shortly after lunch the same day, and I am glad to report that the Staff avenged last year's loss with a 6-3 thumping of the campers. No stat line for yours truly, but I got some nice chunks of playing time, and got to yell when I was not actively involved.

Already, unbelieveably, unstoppably, first session is beginning to wind down. It seems like the campers just arrived, but they go home in roughly seven days. The strain of camp is more apparent than ever in some people, but we have stop and remember, that yes, this is really really hard, but it is equally if not more important not only to us, for the experience, for the learning (not for money though), but also that for the kids, this is the best month of their life, and every summer only tops the previous one.