The Tavor Times
New this week July 27, 2018
An Introduction from Amit
Rosh Report: Guide to Visitor's Day
Ali's Avodah in Action
The Kadima's All Right
A Tzevet Story
Camper Question of the week
Note from Randy
Shabbat Shalom!
An Introduction from Amit
Greetings, Tavor Families!

What a beautiful and adventurous week we’ve had at Camp Tavor! Through our camp classics like Madatz Rev, BoCoup, and Tikkun Olam, we’ve had many opportunities to practice our leadership skills and flex our imagination muscles! We’re so proud of the campers who spent time imagining and collaborating to create fabulous programming for their peers.

We are also so proud of the campers who have been busy developing creative and intentional proposals for how we can enhance camp!

This week, I met with Chotrimot Alef campers (going into 6th grade) who are busy creating a proposal for an equitable and value-informed package and candy policy for Camp Tavor! I also had the honor of facilitating a focus group of this year’s Garnimot (9th grade), to brainstorm ideas for next year’s 5 week Bogrimot program! I’m inspired by the creative ideas and group’s hunger to take on new challenges (longer and more intense tiyul!), and take on new experiences (community service focused on food, immigration, homelessness, etc.).

While we are sad to see our Explore Tavor Plus friends leave, we are looking so forward to the last week of camp together for our full Second Session campers!

Shabbat Shalom,

Amit Weitzer, Executive Director
Click HERE to learn more about the year-round staff
Rosh Report: A Guide to Visitor's Day

Welcome Tavor families!

It has been an incredible time here at Machaneh Tavor! it's been weeks full of learning, exploration, and adventures (both in and out of camp).

For so many of us, Tavor is really like a second home in every sense. When we go on tiyul, it is a unique experience, because although we spend almost all of our summers outside, leaving the comfort of our second home means we must find a home in one another. I am grateful to everyone at Tavor for choosing to take on that challenge and encourage them to share their tales of tiyul with you!

This coming Sunday is Visitor’s day, which gives us the opportunity to show off our home away from home.

Here is a timeline of events you need to be aware of:

1:00  Welcome, visitors! Picnic lunch with your family.
2:15  Introductions and song!
2:45   Lefi Shichvah Time (time by age group) Get to know your camper’s madrichimot (counselors) and friends, while learning about their experience.
3:30 - 4:00  Taste of Machaneh: Feel free to visit your chanichol’s (camper’s) ohel/tzrif (tent/cabin), the chava (farm), the beit omanut (art room), the cheder musika (music room), or take a tour of Tavor’s trails!
3:30 - 4:30   Swimming and Boating at the chof (beach)! 


A reminder that Visitor's day will end at 5 PM. We look forward to seeing you and thank you for sharing your amazing people with us.

See you soon!

Zoe Friedland, 2018 Rosh
Ali's Avodah in Action
Each week we will start with a word from some of the staff. A little introduction of who we with some insight and observations from our summer leadership!
Shabbat Shalom, I am Ali Boreiko, as techni (operations director), I get to help create the avodah we are offering this session. We have your classic anafim (work groups)! There's Briut (bathroom cleaning), Bishul (kitchen help), BeitO (making signs & art for camp) and some newer anafim.
Last year we started an anaf called B’finim/B’achutz (Inside/Outside) which is taking responsibility for the tidiness of our indoor and outdoor spaces. Each day chanichimot wander around, checklist in hand, to our most frequently used activity spaces and clean up trash or clothing. Their motto is “Nothing on the ground but grass.”


Our newest anaf is Landscaping. Inspired by our new assistant groundskeeper Matthew Mosher, this anaf is transforming some of our natural spaces into more thoughtfully designed spaces. Like taking on the “Bayit Square”. It used to be a separate building. Now it is just a square of dirt that has been taken over by weeds. 

The work group has big plans to clear out the weeds and trash, add some nourishing compost and then plant a pollinator garden. Throughout the process they’ll learn about Michigan’s native wildlife!
Click HERE to lean more about Camp Tavor's Summer Leadership
The Kadima's All Right!
A Kadima update from the Kadima Tzevet (Staff)
Kadima, the Habonim Dror North America (HDNA) program for entering 11th graders wrapped up this week. We are so thankful to Camp Tavor for hosting this program and we are so happy to be able to report back on many exciting new experiences​ we shared.
In the last week​,​ we partnered with Eden Garden, an urban garden ​in​Detroit​ for a service-learning adventure focused on food justice and community development. 

​While in Detroit, we also spent three days helping with an amazing community-building​ project, learning about Detroit’s history and current urban ​agriculture​ movement.

Sunset kayaking ​along the Detroit River was a real highlight!
We had an amazing Tiyul (camping trip) at Pictured Rocks National ​Lakeshore. ​Our backpacking trip along ​ the​ beautiful cliffs was such a memorable experience.
We had a great time in Chicago and spending Shabbat relaxing at ​Camp ​ Tavor. We’re already looking forward to next summer​ and continuing this new tradition for our entering 11th graders!  
2018 Bogrimot parents:  Please ask us about Kadima as a phenomenal option for your campers next year! ​
A Tzevet Story
Each week we will profile one or two of the Tzevet (staff)
so you can get to know them better, learn how they came to camp and why.
Jane Mintz
Name: Jane Mintz
Pronouns: She/Her
Age: 18
Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI
Year at Tavor: 8

What is your job at Tavor? I'm a madrich (counselor) for bogrimot.

What is one activity you are sharing with campers? I'm excited to bring more softball to machaneh as an option for zman sport !

How did you first come to/hear about Tavor? Most of my religious school class from my synagogue had gone to camp and it sounded so fun, so I started the next year.

What is your favorite memory of camp?
Last year we celebrated Hobart's (our dish sanitizer) 10,000 wash. So many chanichimot fit in the shtifa to hold Hobart as it did that cycle, then we all danced the hora around the chadar. It was ridiculous and so much fun!

What’s your favorite part of camp?   My favorite part of camp is singing songs and banging on the tables after meals! There's always so much energy and it's always a great time!

Last but not least, most importantly: Is cereal a soup? No, soup is a food, not a category of food.
Itamar E.T. Steiner
Name: Itamar ET Steiner
Pronouns: He/Him
Age: 18
Hometown: Skokie, IL
Years at Tavor: 7

What is your job at Tavor? Madrich for Garinimot

What is one activity you are sharing with campers? Baseball! I've been playing all my life and I really enjoy playing sports with the kids at camp. I also just came up with silly stuff for my kids to do so that I wake them up in the middle of the night for bonding time.

How did you first come to/hear about Tavor? My family is a Tavor family! My dad, my uncle, my mom and both my sisters spent multiple summers as chanichimot and madricha.

What is your favorite memory of camp? My favorite memory of camp happened just this year while on tiyul. We were sitting around the campfire singing popular songs together for almost an hour. I remember everyone had the same amazing smile on their faces... and it stayed there the entire trip.

What’s your favorite part of camp? My favorite part of camp is Friday night rikkud because everyone gets so into it and has a blast, not only dancing, but also playing sports and eating watermelon.

Last but not least, most importantly: Is cereal a soup? YES! Cereal is a soup.
Stop: Photo Time
Click Here to See More Photos at CampInTouch
CAMPERS QUESTION
Which is the right way to hang a roll of toilet paper?
Front End Roll
Back End Roll
Answer to last weeks question: Is a vanilla soy latte a three bean soup?
33% Yes
50% No
17% Don't mess with my coffee
Note from Randy
Hi parents, just a few reminders from me this Friday :)

1) If your camper is heading home on Sunday they can be picked up starting
at 1 PM. You are all welcome to stay and enjoy Visitor's Day with us!

2) If your camper is heading home or home already please check your email for our 2018 Camp Survey. Answering those questions will better help us prepare for our next summer season.

3) Be on the lookout for a special email this week highlighting the Tour L'Tavor ride from Chicago to Camp Tavor!