Wow! Time definitely flies by when you're having fun.  I can't believe it's almost a full week since we left on Kanfei.  It's been such a kiwi- filled week.  (Fun fact #1: New Zealand natives are called "kiwis", but they also have the most delicious kiwis I have ever tasted in my entire life.  I have about five a day, but who's counting-  except Chanan).

On Motzei shabbat the kids enjoyed a night activity of bowling and a pancake filled melava malka (shout out to our kitchen staff Sara, Gavi, and Yontan for cooking all those scrumptious fluffy pancakes.) It was a small alley in Queenstown and we had the place to ourselves which  was really nice.  The kids bowled, played some pool, and got to know each other a little better.  All in all, it was a great first shabbat on camp. 


Sunday and Monday we went skiing at the Cardrona mountain about an hour and a half away.  On the drive up to the mountain we were so high up that you could see clouds right below us! It was unreal.  Over the last two days many kids perfected their ski form while others tried their hand (or should i say feet) at snowboarding, myself included; definitely harder than it looks, as many campers came to realize.  Alot of kids have also benefitted from lessons from our very own Rabbi Scheinfeld.

With all the fun we've been having, we've also made time for religious, spiritual, and personal growth with shiur groups that meet for 45 minutes every day.  We will be discussing topics ranging from what the mitzvah of bein adam le'chaveiro means to each camper to how having our own country for Jews affects them.   We started off with an intorduction to the mitzvah of bein adam le'chaveiro and split off into five groups with twothoughful and learned counselors leading each discussion  Some groups touched on what the Torah meant exactly by "love your neighbor like yourself" while others delved into whether that pasuk is telling us what one should do when stuck in the desert with someone and they have very little water.   We will be wrapping up this topic tomorrow with a discussion about the inspiring movie Freedom Writers that we all watched together tonight.  It was a deeply moving movie whose message seemed to really resonate with the campers so I really can't wait to hear what they all share.  Now, we are all preparing for what will be the shortest fast we will ever have! (This side of the equator is pretty cool in that way).  I wish you all an easy and meaningful fast. 

Until next time, 
Jenny



    

On our way up to Cardrona mountain. Our first group picture!