One fine Thursday morning, the campers awoke to find a few changes in staff. It seems there was a
mass camper revolution, and key positions like head-counselor and even EMT were commandeered by
campers. Such a revolution is referred to as topsy turvey day, when campers get to be staff members
(or at least think they are). All throughout the day, the announcements on the PA were given by a not so
familiar camper voice. The ECADs GMs, counselors, and even head staff were “replaced” by campers.
The campers had a blast running the show, while the staff cringed in fear at incurring their wrath
and receiving punishment, for truly, nothing is more embarrassing than getting yelled at by someone a
quarter of your size.
For a few days the campers had been noticing some strange activities going on in the soccer
field. The staff seemed to be building and painting for something. All claims of “a new shed for the
camps bus” did nothing to satisfy their curiosity, and besides, who really would believe such a
preposterous story? There had to be something bigger and better going on. And it had to be soon
because all of the staff seemed to be more and more tired by the day. On Thursday night the questions
were answered (as if they didn’t already know), with the announcement of the grand staff play. The
play, which was about the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash, opened up with a scene of the Simchas
Beis Hashoeiva in the Beis Hamikdash, a scene of great dancing and celebration with real fire juggling
and acrobatics, all performed by our talented staff. The following scenes showed the infamous story of
Kamtza and Bar Kamtza, in which ECAD Eli Lipsker through HC Rafi Steiner into a cake. This was followed with the story of Bar-Kamtza’s appearance before the roman emperor – a
hilariously entertaining character portrayed by HW Simcha Raskin – to propose that the Jews wish to
rebel. He is then sent with a Korban from the Emperor to see if the Jews will bring it. The korban is given
a blemish by Bar Kamtza and is rendered unfit for a korban. Then Abba Sikra – a Jewish zealot played by
HC Moshe Shemtov – threatens to kill Bar Kamtza, and Bar Kamtza pleads for his life and tells Abba Sikra
when the Romans are attacking. They watch, from a guard tower (a fire escape covered with a
backdrop), as torches flare up from all sides, and the entire Roman Army surrounds the
wall that the staff built. The Roman attack scene was led by Vespasian, played by LT Mordy Touger. He
rallied them with war cries and prepared to attack Yerushalayim, but the battering ram (yes, they
actually built a functioning battering ram!) is no use. The walls are too strong and they are forced to
make a siege and wait. Fortunately for the Jews there are rich men in Yerushalayim with enough
supplies to last for tens of years. Unfortunately, we once again saw how our destruction always comes
from within, when some zealots burnt down the storehouses, in an attempt to force the Jews into a
fight with the Romans. Then came the story of Rabbi Yochanan’s escape from Yerushalayim to see the
General/Emperor, and the famous request to leave the yeshiva of Yavneh alive. Then came an epic battle and, sadly, the destruction of Yerushalayim. But the play ended of on a happy note as in the final scene
Rabbi Akiva and the Chachamim seeing the aftermath of the destruction of Yerushalayim and the fox coming out of the Beis Hamikdash, may we all see it rebuilt, may it be speedily in our days. AMEN!