KESHET JOINS CAMP MOSHAVA!

Our Dream Becomes a Reality

The Ruben Family Keshet Overnight Camp at Moshava.

In 1993, after many months of planning and preparation, Keshet’s dream of an integrated overnight summer program became a reality.  For four weeks that summer and every summer since, Keshet children have joined Jewish children from around the world at Camp Moshava in Wild Rose, Wisconsin.

A special thanks to then Moshava Executive Director, Rabbi Moshe Kushner and the Moshava camp committee for the time and energy that was put into making this program a reality.

In 2004, Joyce and Dennis Ruben announced the establishment of The Ruben Family Keshet Overnight Camp at Moshava.  This generous support has helped carry on the vision of Keshet of offering a fully integrated overnight experience for campers with special needs. Moshava provides this opportunity to participate in a four week overnight Jewish camp.

Overnight camp experience, while fun, is not a luxury for the Keshet campers. Play can be hard work. With the proper staff and supervision, the summer is a time of tremendous personal development. This four week program is customized to meet each individuals needs. Our staff members are hand- selected and trained as peer support. At Moshava, campers work, learn and play alongside their typically developing peers. It is wonderful and amazing to see the independence and confidence gained by the Keshet campers at Moshava.

Keshet campers participate in all the activities ranging from sports to arts and crafts, davening to canoeing, swimming to study groups, special trips, and a whole lot of socializing.  The nights end late, but are filled with an exciting array of games, competitions, singing, dancing, and much more. Highlights of the summer are strawberry picking, the trip to the Wisconsin Dells, bowling and roller skating.  The most popular of all is the “chutz”, the overnight camping trip, where blankets and rocks became tents, and meals are cooked over an open fire. The Maccabiah, or color wars, another favorite and eagerly awaiting tradition at Moshava, signals the end of the summer.  For two days, the red and blue teams compete in athletics, banner-making, singing, and a final evening of moving presentations.

And, all of this is possible because Moshava opens their doors to Keshet.

– Sharon Frankel

Director of Special Events at Keshet

One of the most moving times for anyone spending a summer at Moshava is Tisha B’Av.

For the past several decades, Moshava has defined the Tisha B’Av experience for chanichim and madrichim alike. This year, however, Moshava was unable to host the full Tisha B’Av experience due the a scheduling conflict. Because of the way that the Jewish calendar fell out this year, Moshava had no choice but to schedule intersession during this week of Tisha B’Av. Regardless, the community got together at Hillel Torah North Suburban Day School, in Skokie, and decided to try to capture the uniqueness of a Tisha B’Av in Moshava outside of camp.

Eicha was read beautifully by Jeremy Amster. A crowd of over 135 people listened quietly to the reading of the prophet Yermiyahu’s lament over Yerushalayim and the Beit HaMikdash. Following Eicha, our previous director Rabbi Moshe Kushner told one very moving story. Rabbi Kushner is famous for saying “I’ll never tell a story twice”, luckily the story was recorded and will be available on our YouTube channel shortly.

Check out our Facebook page for more pictures of the event.

Today, our Boys’ Migrash was dedicated in memory of Bernice and Mitchell Macks. Rabbi Danny Kroll, their grandson and long time tzevet member here at Moshava, spoke at the dedication.

Other members of the Macks family drove up from Chicago to participate amongst members of the Committee, Tzevet, and the Chanichim.

We thank the Macks family for their generosity and look forward to many more fun summers on the Boys’ Migrash.

A transcript of Rabbi Kroll’s moving speech can be found here:

http://www.congkins.blogspot.com/2010/08/parshat-eikev-what-i-did-on-my-summer.html

Kabbalat Shabbat was different in Machaneh this week. This week, Mach Hach joined us in Beit Yaakov Levi for a camp-wide tefillah. After Rosh Mosh Yitzi Matanky told a meaningful story, Ezra Allswang from The Hill led davening.

After lots of singing and dancing, the chanichim enjoyed their meal, but of course not before the “chicken dance”. On Shabbat day, the chanichim ate Shabbos cookies, attended shiur, and participated in Mischak HaGadol led by Rabbi Matanky, who was visiting for Shabbat.

During Slow Shira, the chanichim heard a story by Interim Director Avi Roth. They then headed to Maariv and havdallah, which is always a highlight.

Pictures from both Erev and Motzei Shabbat are online, be sure to check them out. Also, stay tuned for Friday’s “MachT”A Moment.”

Today, in machaneh we had the very special privilege of watching a Brit Milah performed by Rabbi Moshe Kushner of Chicago. Parents Jennifer and Ronen from Door County came to Moshava with their three daughters and newborn baby boy, Matan.

Rabbi Kushner transformed the Brit Milah into an educational experience for the chanichim. He explained the Brit Milah process step by step, which the chanichim enjoyed very much. Following the Brit, a seudah was enjoyed by the participants.

Mazal Tov to the Eliyah Family.

Please check out the pictures on the website as well as today’s Moshava Minute, featuring this very meaningful Brit Milah.

Today, the chanichim returned from their one night machaneh chutz (sleepout) at Evergreen Campsites here in Wild Rose. We arrived yesterday and the chanichim got strait to work. “It’s so much fun working with the chanichim to gather wood and start fires” said madrich Sam Stelzer. All of the madrichim, including Sam, were extremely helpful ensuring that the chutz was a safe and fun experience for everybody. We returned to camp today well rested and ready for the rest of this exciting week. Make sure to check out todays Moshava Minute to find out more about the chutz.

Tomorrow, former director Rabbi Moshe Kushner will be up at camp for a brit millah. This is sure to be a chinuchi (educational) experience for everybody. Check back tomorrow for pictures  and an article from the brit.

In an effort to take our programming to the next level, we have started running special programs specifically for the Oldest Shevet – 8th graders. Throughout the month, we hope to run unique peulot designed only for Oldest Shevet.

On Motzei Shabbat, after a very energizing and fun Melaveh Malkah, the Oldest Shevet was treated to an “after hours” shekem and a few games of Knockout. The Oldest Shevet chanichim spent time hanging out with friends and enjoying their special treatment.

Tonight, these chanichim were privileged to go bowling as their night tochnit. They had a blast! We hope to continue the special Oldest Shevet peulot throughout the month.

Be sure to check the website for pictures!

Today was an excellent Friday at Moshava. The chanichim began the day by watching a few videos in shiur about the Israeli army. One video featured a real life IDF soldier from the elite Duvdevan unit giving a special message to the Moshava Wild Rose chanichim. The second video was highlights from the training course that some of our very own tzofiut members went through in the Polsar Golani unit. Rabbi Aviad Sanders, our rosh kollel, spoke to the chanichim about hishtadlut and the wonders that the Israeli army does for our country. After the shiur the chanichim boarded buses and headed to Appleton to Funset Boulevard. There they all enjoyed some time playing laser tag, video games and winning prizes.

After a crazy week of Maccabia the chanichim are ready for the yom menucha and are looking forward to shabbat. Check the website on motzei shabbat for pictures and a new Moshava Minute.

Shabbat Shalom!!!!

Maccabia is in full swing, with both teams “Mayim” (blue) and “Yabasha” (green) full of energy and ruach. Both teams have been competing in sports, making up new and creative cheers, and spending lots of time in Melechet Yad (arts and crafts).

Lunch belonged to team Mayim, who transformed the Chader Ochel into a boat, with blue “water” lining the walls. For dinner, team Yabasha worked with the movie “Shrek” to turn the Chader Ochel into a green wonderland, complete with Ogre-eared waiters and Shrek-themed menus.

Following dinner, both teams put the finishing touches on their “Stomp” presentations. Each team prepared a musical presentation that revolved around both their team name and the noseh of the month – Binyan Olam. Both teams wowed the crowd, and are looking forward to the excitement of Maccabia to continue tomorrow.

Check out the website for pictures and don’t forget to watch the Moshava Minute!