Links of Interest

Schedule of Services

Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 6:15PM
Friday Evening

Shabbat Morning Service, 9:30AM
Saturday Morning

Minyan, 8:30AM
Sunday Breakfast

Rabbi’s Corner

From The Rabbi’s Study

Trying to increase our odds this summer . . .
This summer, Riki and I drove our oldest daughter, Meital, to summer camp for the first time. This was a strange concept to which we had to adjust. As parents, we took care of our daughter and all of her needs for nearly every day of her life over the course of ten years, and then suddenly we dropped her off in the middle of the woods and told a bunch of young people that they are “in charge!”

What has made this adjustment easier is that Meital has been in the safe hands of Camp Ramah in Palmer, Massachusetts. Not only is it a fantastic, warm, embracing environment, but Camp Ramah is also a place where she sees many familiar TCS faces, including our young emissary this past year, Na’ama Kelman.

Each night, we have joined the world of parents who religiously check the camp website for the latest pictures, hoping for a glimpse of Meital. Sometimes we have to settle for her back….or arm….or ear.

Running to the mailbox each afternoon has also become a spiritual experience, praying to receive a note from our almost 5^th grader. Once a week, our prayers come true and we are told, “Camp is awesome!” or “I’m on the green team for color war!”

Our family dynamics at home have changed as well with Meital away. Our middle child, Ayelet, is suddenly the oldest kid at home. She treats our youngest child, Avi, like a peer, and has certain expectations of him when they play together. This is different from his relationship with Meital, who tends to allow Avi to be the “baby” and get whatever he wants. Ayelet’s “tough love” has allowed Avi to grow up a little faster this summer.

The four weeks are flying by and Meital will be back home as big sister before we know it! We fully anticipate that Meital will request to spend a full eight weeks at camp next time around.

As we know, there are no guarantees that our children will grow up to live active, Jewish lives, connected to Jewish communities in which they live. All we can do is increase the odds by giving them the opportunities and the resources to experience the beauty and excitement of Jewish life first-hand.

Experts have concluded that there are a few experiences that “increase our odds.” They include:

Strong Formal Jewish Education
An Israel Experience
Jewish Youth Group Involvement
Jewish Camp

There is no question that many camps can provide an amazing environment for growth and development, but there is something unique about a Jewish camping experience that simply cannot be replicated elsewhere. Celebrating Shabbat with your peers who all think it’s the “coolest” day of the week, learning Hebrew while playing soccer or practicing archery, and learning about current events in Israel from counselors who have served in the Israel Defense Forces—these are not experiences that one can obtain by just sitting in a classroom. At a quality Jewish camp, Judaism comes alive in ways that are truly contagious and transformative. Providing this experience for our children is nothing short of priceless—and of course, a golden opportunity to increase those odds.

While there are many, excellent Jewish camp options, I am openly partial to Camp Ramah, as the official
camp of the Conservative Movement. In addition, there is substantial “free” scholarship money available for TCS families who send their children to Ramah. These scholarships are NOT based on need and offered to every child!

If you are interested in learning more about “increasing our odds” through Jewish education, trips to Israel, youth groups, or Jewish camp, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to continuing the conversation in person!

B’shalom Rav,

More information about Rabbi Jeremy Wiederhorn is here.

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