“All campers to the Shul, all campers to the Shul” blared the P.A. this Wednesday afternoon.
they said Tehillim for a missing camper, and listened to EMT Shmuly Klein who spoke about the
importance of safety and then suddenly BOG WAR!
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Somberly, There was no missing camper after all, but one of
the best times in camp had begun. Over the next day and a half, the three teams, Shoroshim, Eitzim, and
Peiros presented skits, songs, speeches, and plays explaining their team theme; Shoroshim- roots:
Kabolas Ol- the root of avoda; Eitzim- trees; the person’s own kochos-potential; and Peiros- fruit; what a
After teams were split, the “shirts” – leaders of each team, including a General, 2 Lieutenant-Generals,
and a Captain – were introduced, and the War was on. Davening, bentching, even sports took on a new
chayus as the judges carefully marked points for each activity. Following supper, each team presented
their scavenger – a comedic skit, and then their Halacha skits, which acted out the implications of a
The following day began with Tanya Ba’al Peh, as each team strove to gain the most points for
completing – or exceeding – their quota. Lineup took place in the square, followed by an especially
enthusiastic Shacharis. The theme speeches were presented after breakfast, with points earned for
clarity and toichen. Following learning class, each team had “team time”, a chance to learn their theme
song in preparation for presenting it, which occurred after lunch. All the while, staff members from each
team were hard at work behind the scenes, writing, drawing, painting, building, and rehearsing to make
their play the best that Gan Yisroel has ever seen. Following rest period, the plays began.
The play of team Shoroshim was set in 1930’s Boston, and centered on a Jewish detective learning that
even without a logical explanation, the Mitzvos must be kept. Team Eitzim’s play was set during the
Revolutionary war, and re-enacted the true story of two Jewish brothers whose intelligence-gathering
mission was crucial to the United States’ victory. Set in Europe during WWII, team Peiros’ play depicted
the story of Oskar Schindler, the righteous gentile who selflessly saved the lives of over 1100 Jews
On Friday, amidst much fanfare, the winner – Shoroshim – was announced.
