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

July 22, 2014

Cabin 13: Being Together

Opening Song

Our service theme is being together. I think the Bar’chu fits perfectly for our theme because it calls us all to come together and pray in one area. Then after saying the prayer we are ready to pray together and our mind has adjusted. – Simon Silverman

Bar’chu

The Ma’ariv Aravim is about God creating multiple things that match in a certain way. For example, it says in the prayer, light is different from darkness, and night is different from day. – Eito Schwartz

Maariv Aravim

My prayer, Ahavat Olam, shows God’s love for us together. Plus, love is not a one way trip. As a camp together we show love for God. – Micah Gretta

Ahavat Olam

The Sh’ma is a prayer about being together as one and listening. My temple is a community because we listen as one and we pray as one. When you sing the Sh’ma think about how you declare faith. – Jacob Kaufmann

Sh’ma/V’ahavta

Being together is special. When we’re at GUCI we are all together in a Kehilah Kedoshah, a holy community. When you are saying the Mi Chamocha think about how the Israelites crossed the Red Sea together and not alone. – Jonah Snyder

Mi Chamocha

Hashkiveinu

A community is loving and kind. Everyone in the community works together and helps one another when something goes wrong. A community sticks together and solves problems together. – Avary Hirsch

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

The Shalom Rav to me is saying if we work together or come together we can make peace. If everyone in the world comes together the world would be a better place. Before you do something think to yourself: am I making peace or am I getting rid of it? – Jonah Grant

Shalom Rav

I feel the most together with the people around when we are all silent. When we’re all silent we can also come together with nature. Then we can come together with God. – Cyle Ginsberg

Silent Prayer, Yih’yu L’ratzon

The theme being together is perfect because I love people. The Aleinu is about being yourself and different from others. I like the balance between the two. I like people but I don’t want to be a bee, exactly like all the other bees in the hive of a thousand. I also don’t want to be alone with no one to talk to. Differences are important; they keep us together. – Avi Kaufman

Aleinu L’shabeiach

Together we help each other overcome loss. If we didn’t then we would never accomplish anything. When we recite the Mourner’s Kaddish tonight, don’t only think about your own losses. Think about others’ losses as well. – Noah Waldman

Mourner’s Kaddish

When I think of being together I think of being a team. Before I came to camp I was on a baseball team. Every person on my team felt united with each other. We all felt together because we were having fun. As we finish services, think of how you can be together as one with friends or family. – Isaiah Jacobs

Closing Song