Sam Gessman, Olim ‘16, Olim Staff ‘21, & Cornerstone Fellow

In a summer unlike any other, one thing you can count on is the feelings we experience and the skills we leave camp having learned. Even through a mask, our campers learn the Midot (values) of Chesed – being kind to others, Yira – appreciating the beauty in the world around us, and Bitachon Atzmi – how to be proud of who they are and what they have to offer.

This educational journey of sorts is no more special, readily apparent, and change-making than for our Olim campers. However, especially for Olim, I would tack on one Midah, Manhigut – leadership. As a member of the “Funky Fun Olim ‘21” staff this summer, I had the distinct pleasure of witnessing their growth first-hand. As I met my campers for the first time on Opening Day, they came to Eisner fresh out of a COVID-year when many were isolated from their friends, from their new high schools, and from the experiences that allow them to develop as members of their communities. The second they stepped into the bubble and got adjusted to life here, those campers who endured so much hardship began their journey of rising up as the leaders of camp, of becoming Olim.

Through their Becoming Olim and Kesher educations, Olim began to expand their thinking on what it truly means to lead the camp. They talked about acts of Gimilut Chasadim (acts of kindness), Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), and B’tzelem Elohim (made in the image of God). With brains full of new information, it became their time to put this learning into action.

One of the pillars of the Olim experience is the Bolim (Bonim + Olim) Buddies Program. Each Olimer is paired with a Bonim camper, a pairing of the oldest campers with our youngest full-session campers. This partnership is an amazing way for Olim to demonstrate themselves as the leaders of camp and teach our youngest campers what it means to be an Eisner camper and member of the Jewish community. This year, Olim had a unique opportunity.

I am part of a fellowship called the Cornerstone Fellowship, through the Foundation for Jewish Camp, which is a leadership development opportunity for counselors from over 60 camps across North America. Part of the fellowship is writing and leading multiple programs, two of which must be for campers. For my programs, I decided to do a two-part program in which one built upon the other.

The first program was an Olim-only program. The premise of the program was to continue to teach Olim how to be leaders and good Olim Buddies- this time through writing a program for their Bonim Buddies. The program consisted of a few activities centered around Jewish values to  demonstrate to Olim what kind of activities they would need to create for their Buddies. Then, following a discussion, they wrote their very own activities! In the beginning, I was worried about the “what if’s” – what if Olim doesn’t want to write these activities? What if I end up with no activities written at the end of night? Those what-ifs were quickly put to rest. As I walked around, what I saw was an Olim that was engaged, working-hard, and excited at the prospect of creating a program for their Buddies. The activities they wrote were thoughtful, represented a variety of engagement types, and truly showed that they cared about writing a fantastic program for their Buddies.

Violet from Olim has this to say about her experience: “Writing the Bolim Buddies program felt empowering and made me notice how being present is a big form of leadership. My buddy’s reaction when we got to do my own activity was priceless! I could tell how much she looked up to me and how proud she was that her buddy wrote such a cool and fun activity.”

The second program was a Bolim Program. Based on the movie Soul, the Buddies would travel around to different stations together filling in their “Value Passes” (a play on Earth Passes from the movie Soul). The stations were all rooted in different values, from the Blindfolded Obstacle Course to teach Trust, to the Tower Building Competition teaching Teamwork, to the Secret Handshake station teaching Creativity. In all, the program was an absolute success in that everyone had fun and learned a bit more about themselves and their buddies: Bonim and Olim alike.

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By Ethan Lesser, Tzofim ‘21

Hey, it’s Ethan from Tzofim! I come to camp every year and this is my 4th summer at Eisner. Each year I come in as a camper and leave as a camper, but this year I will leave as staff… well, sort of! At Eisner Camp we have a tradition called Yom Tzofim, where the Tzofim unit switches roles with the camp’s staff. Leadership Team members, specialists, and even the directors are temporarily replaced by us! This means that we the campers are now your Eisner staff for the rest of the day.

Ever since K’tanim, our Eisner experience has been marked by waiting for a chance to take on a special role. It’s so interesting to learn about how everything comes together to make camp run smoothly. Now more than ever, we have found a new appreciation for our counselor’s perspectives and leadership. And for the 2021 Tzofimers, this chance has finally come. The kids are running the camp!

This morning we “broke” the Yom Tzofim news by announcing to the entire camp that Yom Tzofim is finally happening. I have taken on the role of social media director so that I can tell you about the wonderful activities that happen on this unique day. Camp is fun, but for a moment, running the camp is pretty cool too. We get to help kids build their summer memories and do things that we have always wanted to ever since we started going to camp. For me, I certainly loved riding in a golf cart. Extra Mo (candy) wasn’t too bad either!

Right now I’m working with our “new” photography team. I have photographers with cameras taking photos of all of my unit’s jobs. We have campers running our sports activities, logistics team, and the ropes course with the adventure staff. Our friend Hannah has taken on the role of our Camp Director James Gelsey. Hannah talked to the camp “as” James this morning, announcing the start of Yom Tzofim and other important hodaot (information). Mia was helping teach the other units Israeli dances as part our their t’filah prep. She took on the role of our head dance instructor and is teaching kids great routines in K’tanim and above. My friend Noah is helping the pool as a “lifeguard” and the waterfront staff is even training him on how to be one. At Eisner each unit gets a period to swim, and today thanks to Noah and the rest of our waterfront staff, they can do that in a fun and safe way. But ever since they gave him his whistle I can’t stop hearing it!

At the end the day all of the the Tzofimers had a great time as “staff” and are better prepared for what will come next in our Eisner Camp experience. It really prepared me for what a job in the future could look like and the responsibility that comes with it. More immediately, we walk away from this day with a renewed sense of respect and responsibility for camp.

The rest of the Tzofimers and I are especially prepared for and excited about the responsibility that comes with our Olim year of camp. I’ll tell you this much: it is something I’m really looking forward to! Signing off for now, Ethan.

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By Manny Hutter, Olim ‘19

I was last a camper in the summer of 2019– my Olim year. And with the cancellation of our Israel trip in 2020 due to the pandemic, Olim ‘19 was faced with the choice of finally going to Israel or becoming a part of the brand new Junior Counselor Fellowship. What would normally have been the typical Machon experience, Hebrew for “Institute,” was now a completely different program and uncharted territory for both the camp and us, the participants.

The last time we were all at Eisner Camp as Olim, we took the challenge upon us to “go up,” both physically to live on the top of the hill, and to rise to the challenge as the leaders of camp. We were faced with this same proposition just two years later: to jump into a fellowship that would train us to be full counselors from camp’s Opening Day. Once again, we took on an important leadership responsibility.

From day one all the participants in the JCF live in cabin as a full staff member. We have our co-counselors, our campers, and our unit heads just the same as anyone else. Understandably, this transition from camper to staff is not easy. When we were last at camp as Olim, a unit that can often feel like everything is about you, we were the oldest campers. The opposite is the case now: we’re the youngest members of Eisner’s staff and it’s our job to give the campers meaningful experiences as the creators and facilitators, rather than as the consumer.

Though some might look at this as a challenge at first, we see it as a beautiful opportunity. This change requires a change of mindset and may take time, but the special thing about the JCF is that I now have the responsibility of creating experiences for campers the same way my staff did for me. In a way it feels like a mitzvah to make Eisner the place we all know and love, after everything it has done for me.

Being a counselor at camp this summer has been a great way to build my leadership skills as I move into my senior year of high school and professional career. With each day and week, we’ve grown as individuals, as bunks, as our Olim ‘19 unit, and as a camp. I can’t wait for what the rest of session two will hold, but I know that we’re more prepared than ever: for this summer and everything beyond.

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Yesterday was a very special day. Not only did the skies stay blue and the weather temperate… not only did we enjoy some amazing performances in our first-ever “Cabaret”… but we also raised awareness and funds for some outstanding organizations in our Ofarim Tzedakah Fair!

At the Tzedakah Fair, Eisner learned all about how to choose a cause to support in an informed way, as well as ways to make a tangible difference. We touched on themes of tzedakah, naturally, but also allyship and volunteerism. Campers chose these causes after spending the session studying topics like discriminiation, the environment, and poverty. Many of the organizations are related to these causes, and some are very near to the hearts of our campers.

Usually we donate the spare change from our trip day money to causes that are highlighted by our campers. However, this summer we reached out to our faculty members who usually spend a week or two at camp and asked them to chip in– and some of our unit heads even participated too! In the end, we raised $2,000 for the organizations our campers presented about in a three-hour fair. Campers in every unit were given beads to represent money, and they used those beads to “vote” for and donate to the organizations they wanted to support.

The results are in, and each organization will receive between $80 and $215! We hope you will take a chance to click on the links and support some of these causes, some of which will be familiar and some we hope will be new to you.

The Trevor Project

Emily’s List

The Orangutan Project

Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project

OUT Metrowest

The Alzheimer’s Association

World Wildlife Fund

Clean Air Task Force

Ronald McDonald House Charities 

The Heart Foundation

Wolf Conservation Center

Midnight Run

Kiss the Ground

American Indian College Fund

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