Shalom! Almost every evening at camp, we have a different cabin lead T’fillot (services). Each camper writes a part and reads it before all of camp in between the prayers we say or sing as a community. This way, every camper gets the opportunity to share something of themselves with the wider camp, and to teach the community something about their values, Judaism, or their connection to our prayers. Our cabin services make each of our T’fillot that much more unique and meaningful. —Jacob Kraus, T’fillah Specialist 

GUCI Evening Service

June 19, 2014

Cabin 18: Going The Distance

Opening Song

Going the distance. This can be interpreted in many different ways. To me, it means putting everything you have to get something even if you could get it by doing something less. We all do this. When you silent cheer during your sport even though your arms have been hurting for several minutes. Or when you stand for the Bar’chu, you are putting in effort to be here in the moment praying as a community. That to me means going the distance. -Chance R.

Bar’chu

From Shoresh to Anaf, coming here for six years has been incredible. I’ve come a long way with my cabin, we’ve been through bad and worse, but we’ve had some good. All these guys sitting in front of me are like brothers to me. Yeah, we fight a lot, but I don’t know anyone else who would make this experience more complete. Now that this is my last year, I cah more than definitely say it’s been an amazing journey and I couldn’t imagine going the distance with any other boys. – George Finkelstein

Maariv Aravim

I go the distance by going to GUCI because that’s where I’m myself and where I feel more holy and spiritual. – Mayson Hester

Ahavat Olam

Going the distance isn’t about making it to the end; it’s about making a new beginning. So, be yourself and you will never have to speed along the road of life hoping there will be something better in the end. Don’t grow up. -Sam C.

Sh’ma/V’ahavta

What does going the distance mean? Well, to different people it means different things.

-Jared S.

Mi Chamocha

As the great Winston Churchhill once said, “Effort is the way of unlocking potential.” In my mind, potential and effort are like the Miami Heat. Without effort, potential is nothing and without Lebron, Miami is nothing. So, always go the distance and put effort into everyday life. Without it, you close many doors to your future. So always put in effort and be the “Lebron James” of life. – Andrew Fleck

Good evening. As I prepared to depart my house in order to go to camp, my brother Sam and I were talking. I told him that I was going to have no regrets and go berserk since it was my last year. He told me that that was pointless and that I should just do what I had done before. As I pondered that I realized that he was right. I’ve come to camp all these years in part due to the wonderful experiences I had. The things that I do each year at GUCI make me have the time of my life. As I am going the distance the thing that I want to pass on is this message: do what makes you happy, try something new, and enjoy life. Thank you for everything GUCI. – Jakob Rheins

Hashkiveinu

Wayne Gretzky wisely stated, “you miss 100 percent of the shots that you don’t take.” Some of my shots may be poor, but at least I take them. Way back in second year Gezah, Jakob threw me the Frisbee way down the field into the endzone. Andrew was guarding me. We ran to the Frisbee and both got under it. He skyed me. Even though the outcome was not in my favor, I left the field feeling happy and content. I knew I put in the effort and gave it my all. Everyday in life we go the distance whether it’s individually or as a whole community. We face challenges and in order to overcome these challenges, we must give it our all and put ourselves out there. – Rafi Derringer

Amidah (Avot V’Imahot, G’vurot, Kedushat Hashem)

I have often dreamed of GUCI’s welcome waiting for me. The campers cheer when they are peaceful and together. We can go the distance if we are strong. I know every step will be worth our while. We can go almost anywhere. – Matty Kahn

Shalom Rav

To many people, going the distance can mean many different things. To some it may mean reaching the finish line but to others it may mean accomplishing a goal. But to me, going the distance means that I gave it my all and I have no regrets. I did my best and I know God is proud of me, and I can thank God, just like in the Silent Prayer when you are personally thanking (or asking of) God. You can thank God for bringing you here but don’t ask God for something now, or something that already happened, as God for something in the future. Ask God to help and guide your way through the journey so that you too can go the distance. – Danny Brickman

Silent Prayer, Yih’yu L’ratzon

In the Aleinu, it says that God has made us unique and given us all a special destiny. How this relates to out theme is that God went the distance when creating humanity. In order to repay the favor, we must pray and bring everything full-circle. This relates to my scenario because camp has given me an amazing seven years, so I feel obligated to give back. To go the distance, all nine yards, in order to give back. – Max Frankel

Aleinu L’shabeiach

GUCI is a journey. You go from Garin to Shoresh, Shoresh to Gezah, and finally Gezah to Anaf. There is a process to it, but no set distance is given. You set the distance yourself and try to get to it. You are only a camper for so many years, and it goes by a lot quicker than you think. – Daniel Niedermann

Mourner’s Kaddish

I’ve been at camp a long time. I personally feel that I’ve gone the distance. When I say going the distance I mean that I have done everything I can to make my time at camp meaningful. I have done this by showing my ruach. I’ve cheered and sand so hard over the years, there were summers I didn’t know what my voice was supposed to sound like because of how often I would lose it. Also, I’ve tried my hardest to be helpful during programming, trying to never make all of our counselors’ hard work go to waste, because I’ve realized that the more work I put in and the more I participate, the more fun I can have, and thus I am able to go the distance. – Alex Kopnick

Closing Song – L’chi Lach

L’chi lach… to a land that I will show you.

Lech lecha… to a place you do not know.

L’chi lach… on your journey I will bless you.

And you shall be a blessing (x3).

L’chi lach.

L’chi lach… and I shall make your name great.

Lech lecha… and all shall praise your name.

L’chi lach… to the place that I will show you.

L’simchat chayim (x3).

L’chi lach.

And you shall be a blessing (x3).

L’chi lach.