Amidah Explorations

Throughout this kayitz (summer), we’ve been exploring the Amidah, which is our educational theme this year.  Across camp, we’ve run all sorts of different programs, allowing campers to learn about the different berachot of the Amidah, their meaning and their history.  We’ve also explored different ways to connect with the words and intentions of the Amidah.

Here are some updates from our Rashei Edot (Division Heads) on some of their & their edah’s favorite Amidah educational moments:

KOCHAVIM: In Kochavim, we are using the Amidah to reflect on what we’re grateful for in alphabetical order.  After pausing for our short, silent Amidot, chanichim have been sharing the things that the are grateful for that start with A B C D E and F.  We can’t wait to get to the rest of the alphabet!

ILANOT: Every morning before Mi chamocha and the Amidah, the leader of tefillot will give a thought prompt to our chanichim.  For example: what is a goal or intention you have for today?  That way, even the campers who don’t connect to the words of the tefillot can have a special moment at that time.

SOLELIM: Solelim has been enjoying davening in the amphitheater that overlooks our beautiful agam. It is especially wonderful to enjoy the quiet and view during the Amidah. After some time of reflection, chanichim have the opportunity each morning to share one thing they want to do make camp a better place.

SHOAFIM: I’m very fond of our summer-long tradition to do a silent Amidah overlooking the agam. We daven on the mirpesset, the large deck on the Bet Am Aleph, overlooking the agam.  During the silent Amidah, we allow all of the kids to move over next to the railing and have an inspiring view while they reflect on the words they read from their siddurim.

AMITZIM: Tikvah added a new bonus verse to our rise and shine Amidah song for Shabbat shacharit!

Rise And Shine for Shabbat Shacharit
Rise and shine, give God your glory, glory
Rise and shine, give God your glory, glory
Brachot of the Amidah
Campers of Machane Ramah!
Today is Shabbat, so the prayers are different
Instead of small brachot, we just say one big bracha
God told us to – keep every Shabbat,
Campers of Machane Ramah!
Rise and shine…
On every Shabbat, we stop doing all our work,
Just as God did when God created all the world
We rest on Shabbos, saying this Amidah,
Campers of Machane Ramah!
Rise and shine…

MAGSHIMIM: Wordy Wednesday is one of Magshimim’s recurring tefillot themes, in which chanichim are encouraged to connect with the tefillah in different ways.  For instance, jotting down short haiku reflections during the Amidah is a unique way chanichim pause to reflect and pray in their own way.

BOGRIM: Before the Amidah we give chanichim a prompt to think about. During intersession, the the prompt was to think about what they were excited for during machzor sheini (second session).  Many chanichim shared that they were excited to welcome all the second session chanichim back to camp, and the new chanichim into our edah!

MACHON: We did a mi chamocha activity where we put water in our mouths, as a way to understand the pronunciation of those words (with the chaf and the kaf).  Someone asked a good question of: if water is in mouth for the second time, how come the second half of mi chamocha is a cha and not a ka?  We were able to answer that, because when you make the ka sound the water would have exited Nachshon’s mouth, so at that point the cha sound could be made.

NIVONIM: We have loved having guest divrei torah through the kayitz to explore the Amidah in different ways with our chanichim.  Our edah especially enjoyed the d’var from Rabbi Alison, who connected the prayer to Snapchat, which really engaged the chanichim!