By Rabbi Matthew Kraus, Faculty

One score and seventeen years ago, Rabbi Ron Klotz gathered together a group of second year anaf campers eager to return to GUCI the next summer as C.I.T.s (Counselors in Training, now called Machonikim) to tell us about the initiation of a new program called Avodah (Work).  Instead of becoming counselors, if we wanted to return the next summer, we would have to pay $200.00 to study Judaism and provide the maintenance, kitchen, office and infirmary staff for GUCI.  I was so desperate to be at camp that I signed up.  This leads me to the first major difference between Avodah then and now.  Now it is not unusual to hear a 2nd year anaf camper hope that s/he will return as an avodahnik—no persuasion or recruitment necessary! Avodah has become an integral part of the fabric of living Judaism here at GUCI and, for many, the best year they have spent here.

Most surprising are the remarkable similarities between Avodah then and now. The participants live in the same building, albeit expanded with a sacred porch and still serve on maintenance, kitchen, office, and, usually, infirmary crews.  There are some new crews: counselors for Camp K’ton, Migdal (tower), and canoeing, all programs developed after 1979.  And the teenagers are a bit older, as they must be entering senior year of high school, often spending the previous summer on an Israel trip.  Studying with the clergy faculty continues to be part of the program and Avodahniks are still called upon to ignite the camp with infectious ruach and spirit.

While the external features of Avodah continue to be the same for the most part, there are two other major differences that may be less noticeable (the significantly higher cost of the program is quite noticeable). In 1978, I think most, if not all of us, were pretty skeptical at best about paying to clean dishes and toilets, but were motivated by our desire to be at camp and so willing to do anything.  For many of the current Avodahniks, the motivation is to give back and ultimately become a counselor–not just to be at camp, but help, serve, give, and grow.

The last difference is the context of Avodah.  Because of the profound social, cultural, religious, economic, technological and demographic changes in the North American Jewish community (see the recent PEW studies), the Avodah summer offers a radical and transformative alternative to the typical experience of the North American Jewish teenager.  Getting hands dirty, working hard, learning to live and work with their peers, seriously studying Torah, being outside most of the day, and my favorite, helping and thinking of others besides themselves—this is not the usual routine of 16 and 17 year olds.

One thing I pray never changes.  When reading the bios of Avodahmni (Avodah Alumni), I was amazed that virtually everyone has dedicated themselves to lives of service, to lives of work and study, in order to support the world as a whole and the Jewish community.

Simon the Just taught that the world is supported by three things:  Torah, Avodah, and Gemilut Chasadim (kindness). Avodah at GUCI continues to support our world as it changes and evolves.

Rabbi Matthew Kraus, Avodah 1979 
Department of Judaic Studies, University of Cincinnati