Dear Morasha Yachad Families and Friends,

Hard to believe that we are wrapping up our second week here in camp! In addition to all of our exciting regular-schedule activities, this week we had several stand out night activities and programs that were amazingly fun. On Sunday night we joined a division in camp for a game of kickball and a bonfire. Monday night we had one of our favorite night activities in camp – Army Night. The Israeli staff in camp came dressed in army uniforms and ran an IDF training program. It was exhausting but we all enjoyed. On Tuesday, while the boys played sports, had a large outdoor BBQ cookout and watched the MLB All-Star game, the girls campus had a mini color war where each team represented a different decade. Girls prepared for their dance, art, and sports competitions throughout the day and presented them amidst music and cheers at the Its About Time finale. On Thursday the vocational program went on a trip with Lavi Yachad to the pizza shop and ice cream. There they received a tour of the pizza shop, learned how to make pizza, made a couple pies, and enjoyed a great lunch together. That night, the entire Morasha Yachad program joined the camp-wide SHIRIA night activity where boys and girls campus competed in a sing-off. Congratulations to girls campus for taking the win! As we bring in Shabbos we can’t help but think about all the exciting events taking place next week beginning with Sunday visiting day where we get to see our family and friends.

Workers of the Week:

Lauren Kreiser – Joining the Morasha vocational program for her second year, Lauren is working in Morasha’s brand new art studio. Here Lauren welcomes in campers, hands out materials, organizes the supplies, and helps set up and clean up before and after each activity. She is described by her coworkers as “a pleasure to have around” and is always excited to go to work.

Benny LaDue-Also, joining the Morasha vocational program for his second year, Benny is juggling three jobs this year. He works at the Lake Como Pizza several days a week, where he helps prepare the secret sauces, folds pizza boxes, stocks the fridges with drinks, cleans the tables, greets customers and more. He is the head librarian at Morasha’s Sifria. Here he keeps the library clean, returns books and sefarim to their proper shelves, and offers guidance to campers and staff members that enter the library looking for something to read. Lastly, Benny began taking pictures at several boy activities each week. Using Morasha Yachad’s SLR camera, Benny is gaining the skills to help take pictures that are posted in Yachad’s instagram and facebook page.

Words of the Wise

At mishmar, vocational workers are given the opportunity to share words of Torah with the group in addition to hearing a short shiur. Below is a Dvar Torah shared by a vocational member this past Wednesday.

By: Yehuda Sorkin

This week’s parsha, parshas Chukas, begins by introducing the mitzvah of parah adumah with the words Zos Chukas ha’Torah – This is a “chok” of the Torah. What is a chok and why is it introduced with this general statement – it is a chok of the entire Torah? Why not introduce it by saying more specifically that the mitzvah of parah adumah is a chok? A “chok” is a mitzvah that we follow even though we do not fully understand the reason behind the commandment. The reason is beyond our understanding. By following a chok we show that we do Hashem’s commandments simply because Hashem commanded us to, not because we necessarily understand the reason behind it. Rav Moshe Feinstein suggests that the mitzvah of parah adumah is introduced with the general statement of “chukas ha’torah” – “a chok of the Torah” to teach that every mitzvah of the Torah should be treated as a chok. Every mitzvah should be completed simply because Hashem commanded us to. Some mitzvot we understand the reason behind, however this is not why we keep them. The reason behind it simply makes it more meaningful for us. We follow Hashem’s commandments because Hashem is our creator and we willingly follow His command. I wish you all nachas and I hope that Hashem should bless us and I hope mashiach should come.

Have a great Shabbos!