A Day at URJ Kutz Camp

"Bo...Bo...boker tov...Bo…Bo…boker tov to Sarah! Bo...Bo...boker tov...Bo..Bo...boker tov to Dave!" And the cheer circulated around the room from one kid to another for five minutes. What did it accomplish? The fun-filled cheer gathered community into one whole. It gained momentum and volume as it progressed. It built connections and smiles. It caught attention. It worked! My Thursday morning initiation into Kutz Camp life began with this cheer and moved smoothly into morning services. The kids were ready for worship. Today's Kutz theme was leadership: Who is your Jewish role model-your ideal Jewish leader from any time and any place? Their outfits demonstrated their hero (for example, one girl wore Superman pajamas). The kids shared ideas about successful leaders: 1. They know their stuff. 2. They have confidence in themselves. 3. They build relationships that engage the community’s trust. 4. The innovate. 5. They inspire. 6.  They motivate others to become leaders. 7.  They take risks when there is a clear, higher ethical purpose. 9.  They have great mentors. 10. They continuously grow and learn. 11. They need a passion to live fully. A TED-like video described why companies like Apple are successful: they concentrate on the why, not the what or the how. Their leaders asked, why NFTY?  Most responded with a how or a what NFTY meant to them. Some offered, “I believe in NFTY because of the power of community…because it gives me a voice…because it offers me a safe place to be me…because I can be myself."  Their assignment: by camp’s end, create their Why NFTY statement. In the afternoon, six girls spent time with me discussing girl empowerment and women’s rights. They were so thoughtful, so genuine. We did an exercise I’ve often done with WRJ women: list 3 words to describe yourself, 3 words to describe your strengths, 3 words to describe your challenges, 3 aspirations in your life, 4 women you would put on your Mt. Rushmore, and 2 names who would put you on their Mt. Rushmore. What amazing revelations! They willingly shared. They learned about themselves. They were surprised! One young woman stayed at the end and commented, along with a big hug, “ Thank you! You made me know what I want to do despite what my parents want me to do. I want to be a social worker. Now I can say it with determination. Thank you!” We shared another hug. My short visits was fulfilled – my purpose bashert to give her self-knowledge about her future! [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"90496","attributes":{"class":"media-image size-medium wp-image-14986 aligncenter","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"300","height":"249","alt":"_photo 8"}}]] Time out for a special Skype with Rabbi Rick Jacobs in Israel, who stayed up till 11pm to meet with the kids and explain the impact of the Presbyterian divestment. They listened respectfully and asked questions. After their half hour Skype, Rick offered more time since he was wide awake – and the kids jumped at the option to share more thoughts and ask questions.  These kids are our future’s leaders. After dinner, a time machine led us into our evening activity where the kids traveled to NFTY in 2089 on its 150^th anniversary. Strange white robots set the stage. Think out of the box, they were told, “What will NFTY look like?” The many small groups had all kinds of ideas.  Who knows what will happen but change is inevitable!  Delivering NFTY will differ but the ruach, the NFTY chant, and the lifelong friendships will all continue. To close the evening, Rabbi Ilana Mills and I shared a conversation about my role as an adult volunteer: my pathway, why I care, what I do, what WRJ does, what the NAC is, and on and on. I told the kids to talk with their sisterhoods, plan an activity, and THEN ask for money. I promised I’d help them with their sisterhoods if the women didn’t help them. I made a promise; help me keep it and continue being advocates and financial sponsors. Thanks you, Kutz Camp, for a very special visit to a wonderful, thriving community. Can I book my visit for next year now?