What a jam-packed few days! It seems like so much has happened in such a short span of time, and like all the best moments in life, you just had to be there to understand. But it’s already unfortunate enough that you weren’t, so we won’t keep you completely in the dark.
As any first-period high school teacher knows, attendance is tough. But miraculous things have been happening at morning Tanya classes. Yesterday, Rabbi Friedman walked into a room full of eager girls, notebooks open, pens in hand. “How are you doing?” He asked. A resounding “Awesome!” Awesome? Being up that early over summer vacation was awesome? Either there was something in the cereal and soy-milk, or we finally entered a classroom where everything being said actually meant something to us.
Our discussions covered some hard-hitting but universal topics like regret, pain, and sadness. We also learned about the meaning of happiness and the importance of this seemingly elusive concept. We came out of class knowing that true happiness is not only a possibility, but our full-time job. “The only way to serve G-d is with a joyful heart. That’s it. You have no excuse to be sad all the time, to beat yourself up. There’s a time and a place to reflect, to be broken-hearted, but your default setting can and should always be set to happy.”
A cool lake on a sweltering summer day. Kayaking. Bike-riding. All ingredients for the perfect afternoon trip, and a great chance to see some of scenic Minnesota! We had a blast, and only a few of our resident kayakers tipped over into the lake. Don’t worry, folks, we made sure to put them in the sun to dry.
After last night’s class, we had some down time to change into PJs and talk about all that we had learned the past few days. Yet as it’s known, every philosophical conversation goes much deeper when it’s coupled with a facial. So we had some of those, too. Others decided to gather by the piano and enjoy some music before bed.
Bright and early this morning, we finished packing up our belongings and said farewell to the Lubavitch House. While we surely would miss the air conditioned rooms and showers with adjustable water pressure, we found ourselves more than ready to say goodbye to civilization and hello to Dorchester, Iowa. Fancy bathing quarters are nice, but nothing says camp like wooden bunkhouses and the sweet song of mosquitos buzzing in your ear.
At last, we arrived at our home for the summer– Camp Tahigwa. It has a certain ring to it, doesn’t it?
Perhaps not, but the grass is green, the air is sweet, and an incredible group of young Jewish women is here to take the place by storm. And as the scent of baking challah fills the lodge with that warm, pre-Shabbos feeling, I can just tell that that storm will alter these grounds forever.
Wishing everyone a fantastic, uplifting, and inspiring Shabbos, wherever you are! (Although we know you’d much rather be right here with us.)
