Chanichim - Nevatim Bet

Nevatim Bet Camp 2008

Sunday 10th August 2008

The last full day on Nevatim bet began with, you've guessed it, shacharit, and as usual it was energy filled. After breakfast for those who weren't fasting, and a learning session for those who were, we all had a program looking at the three generations of British Jews since the holocaust. After that we had time in our small groups for the last time.

Then there was lunch, and for those still fasting we had mincha. After lunch we launched straught into our round-up program, in which we reflected over the past two weeks. Then we got together with Nevatim alef, and cleaned up the site, leaving time to prepare skits and songs for the last night show

The show was amazing, lots of talent on display with most of Nevatim bet taking part in at least 1 skit or song. As I write now, the last night party is getting underway, a Haiwain theme it has. Some of us will party away until we leave in just under 11 hours, others will catch some sleep, but all will be on the coaches when we depart.

See you at the coach stop (For estimated time of arrival, click here, it will be updated if the time changes)

Shabbat 8th - 9th August 2008

Shabbat began with all of nevatim together in the dining room performing songs and skits for each other about the past couple of weeks. Highlights included some excellent singing, and a couple of plays with the chanichim impersonating the Madrichim and Roshim. Afterwards we repaired to the chapel for our service, in which we put the transliterations of the service on a big screen so all could join in.

Dinner again was filled with energetic singing, but this time everyone was served by the roshim - what a treat! After dinner the singing and energy continued late into the night, accompanied by games, as Nevatim bet went into their room for some fun shabbat activities.

Shabbat morning began with another communal service, with everyone joining in, and many people leading parts of the service. The rest of the day was very relaxed, with activities such as kite flying, meditation, and dodgeball for those with a bit more energy. In the later afternoon we spent time in small groups getting ready for tish b'av

After dinner we had an activity about tish b'av, we talked about the destruction of the two temples, the expulsion of Jews from England, and the contempory relevance of the day and the events that have occured on it. Afterwards we rejoined with Nevatim Alef, and read from Eicha - the book of lamentations, before retiring to bed for the night.

Friday 8th August 2008

This morning, we had another inspiring shacharit service, one of the last few before we return. After breakfast we had an activity about modern Israeli culture, run by two of our leaders who have just spent time living in Israel. We looked at different parts of the society, including religious, secular, native-born, immigrants, and what they have in common, and what makes them different.

This afternnon we are spending time in our k'vutzot (small groups) and getting ourselves and the site ready for our last shabbat.

For an update on tonight and the rest of Shabbat, check back on Sunday

Shabat Shalom

Thursday 7th August 2008

Today was another day of outdoor activities, with groups going out on a variety of activities. Today we had on offer climbing, sailing, kayaking, and canoeing.

After breakfast, half the group went out on activities whilst the other half stayed on site and had an activity that simulated early settlement of the land of Israel. It always amazes me to see how our leaders bring to life topics such as early zionist ideology in a creative way that is engaging to young people.

After lunch the groups swapped round, and those on site in the morning went out for their activities. When the groups had returned, it was time for tuck, and the weekly calling home slot.

We had another energy filled dinner, with lots of singing. After dinner the evening was spent either taking part in a big wide game which involved running around the site completeing various tasks or watching a film.

Wednesday 6th August 2008

Today was a relaxed day, the first full day back after the hike. After breakfast we returned to our Chuggim activities, trying to finish up the various projects, be they art, cooking, or drama before the end of camp. Before lunch we attempted to recreate the atmospheric setting of eastern european shtetls, and to tell some of quirkier stories of the early chassidim.

After lunch, using some dice and a large board, we looked at some of the areas where modern society and Judaism may not agree, and talked about it. It was great to see the madrichim bring this alive through their creative methods. We followed this with some time in small groups, playing games and talking about what people wanted out of the last few days of camp, and then we had a scavenger hunt around the camp, which ended in the dining room for dinner.

Dinner was filled with energy, after eating everyone was standing up and singing, progressing from chants through to songs, the atmosphere was electric, and culminated in a brilliant grace after meals.

In the evening, we had a chilled night and watched a film before bed.

Tuesday 5th August 2008

This morning all awoke to the last day of the hike. The weather had decided to pay us a visit, and everyone packed up for the last day with a spot of light rain for company. It cleared up as the groups started walking, with most taking the scenic coastal path for the last6 few miles to their pick up points. Lunch was had on the hike, sandwiches that were made in the morning.

All the groups were back by mid-afternoon, with time to shower and chat to friends that hadn't been seen for three days. Before dinner we gathered together and each group acted out their highlights of the hike.

After dinner we had a colour war to re-bond the group after the time away. Much hilarity ensued in the rounds, which included callo my bluff, where the teams had to guess if the stories that some people told about themselves were true, and a search around the site to find the biggest item that was the same colour as the teams. The dining room was filled with benches, gian (plastic) frogs, and a couple of model dolphins.

Monday 4th August 2008

Today all awoke early, dotted around 8 different campsites, in order to have breakfast and leave for a days hiking.

After visiting 5 of the 8 groups today I would like to share some highlights with you:

- Shacharit overlooking a wonderful bay with early fisherman casting their lines.
- Being taught a song about fluffly sheep enthusiastically by one of the hike groups. Apparently they are wonderful!
- A game of ready steady cook being played to see which team could cook the best dinner, judged by the hike leaders, I have never seen people cook so enthusiastically
- Reports of the view from the highest point in the region
- The sunset as seen from the campsite of group 5.

Everyone is back tomorrow afternoon from the hike, check the website to hear about how their evening back on site went.

2nd and 3rd August 2008

We began Shabbat by having skits and songs perofrmed by Nevatim bet for each other, a very impressive array of talent is evident in this group

Shabbat was wonderful. A real communal feeling was in place on camp, as for the first time since we began, every single person on site gathered in the dining room for services and dinner, it was a bit of a squash, but everybody thought it was worth it. And the communal singing went on all the way to bed-time

Saturday was a very relaxed day, to allow everyone to get some much needed rest before the hike. In the afternoon we had games of rounders and football, guided meditation, and singing, amongst other things. Just before dinner we spent about an hour in our k'vutzot (our small groups) and talked about the upcoming hike and relaxed. After dinner, we had boys and girls sessions, to again prepare for the hike, and reflect on the first week of camp, before havdalah, and getting an early night.

On Sunday we woke to clear skies and got ready to hike. All the groups were out by midday. They spent the afternoon walking from where they were dropped to their campsites, most of them along the coastal road with spectacular views. They are now all having a bit of hot chocolate before curling up into their sleeping bags and getting some rest for tomorrows walk

1st August 2008

Friday started with preparation for Sundays hike, with a check of everybodies kit, and anything that people didn't have being borrowed from the centre's stores. After that everybody packed up their hiking stuff so that we can make an early start on Sunday.

Following on after that we had a series of activities to bond the groups ahead of the hike

After our lunch, we had time to prepare the site for shabbat, some baked challah for dinner, some made placemats and decorations for the dining room, and others planned skits and songs for the skit session we are having before dinner.

Tonight we are looking forward to a huge dinner, with everyone on the site, all four age groups eating in the same room at the same time. After dinner an evening of relaxed fun is planned, the perfect start for our first shabbat.

31st July 2008

Thursday was Israel day. A day where we took a break from our theme, and spent a day concentrating on an aspect of Israel, we looked at the make-up of Israeli society.

Everone came down to breakfast dressed in blue and white, and most of the madrichim were wrapped in Israeli flags for the day.

Our opening activity was entitled 'wish Jew were here' and looked at the different backgrounds and traditions of the Jewish community, with groups experiencing differing aspects of Ethiopian, Morrocan and Eastern European Jewry amongst others. After that we played games indoors before going into lunch

After lunch we had a similar activity, but this time looking at all the different ethnic and religious groups within Israel itself, including the bedouin, the druze, and the christian community.

After this we had Israel themed cookery, art and dance sessions, with people picking one of the three, some made humous, whilst others drew and painted and learnt Israeli dance. Before dinner, Reli, our Jewish Agency Shlicha gave us a short update about the current situation.

After dinner, we had a very relaxed evening, watching a film about The rescue of hostages by the Israeli army from Entebbe by the Israeli army

30th July 2008

Many apologies for the late update on Wednesdays activities, we were having problems with the website. Please check back later for the update for thursday.

Day three on Nevatim bet

I'd like to start with a brief word about last nights 'wide game'. The chanichim ran around the site attempting to capture a flag from each of the other teams. A visitor to the site would have wondered what was going on, with 79 children running around with flashlights over the field and round the sides of buildings, various conclusions as to their aim could have been reached, on one thing all observers would have agreed - that everyone was having a great time, the energy and smiles that were evident by the end of the night could leave no other impression

Onto today. As always, a 7.45 wake up for an 8.15 shacharit, and breakfast. Everyday more and more people are becoming more familiar with the prayers, and making shacharit a very positive start to the day.

After breakfast the first group of outdoor activities went out, the activities today were climbing, sailing, canoeing, and kayaking. Half the group went out on them this morning, whilst the rest stayed here for an activity about Jewish prayer and life in temple times, which involved one of our leaders dressing up as a sheep to represent sacrifices! After that they had a 'midrash yomi' - an activity run by our educator, which focuses on an aspect of Jewish life, or a central bit of Jewish text, and relates it to our everyday lives, attempting to link us deeper to our heritage.

After lunch, the two groups swapped around, and those who hadn't been out on activities this morning went, and the group back on site had the same sessions that were run this morning. In the hour before dinner, when the outdoor activities group had returned, there was structured free times, with games and sports, and time to shower before they went into dinner.

Tomorrow we are looking forward to 'Israel day' a day where the whole of our camp concentrates on Israeli society for the day.

29th July 2008

Hello and good eveningfrom Nevatim Bet.

Today we had an early start to a slightly overcast sky, we countered this with a shacharit prayer service, where the whole of Nevatim bet prayed together for the first time. They then went into a breakfast of cereal, hash browns, baked beans, fresh fruit, and spaghetti hoops, a meal which was enjoyed by most.

After breakfast we had time in our k'vutzot, which are small groups in which games and small activities are run everyday with the same group of people, so that everyone can make new friends with people they may not have known before.

Before lunch, we had an hour of 'chuggim' activities run by our staff that they will do for the duration of camp, culmanising in a small pesentation at the end. The five chuggim the chanichim got to choose from were: cooking, art, drama, music, newspaper.

Lunch followed, tthe highlight of which was an energy-filled grace after meals, I don't think the camp has ever heard so much singing before!

In the afternoon, we had a peula (session) that was about the Jews of the bible, taking the first step in our trip through the various generations of Jews. After this, the sun came out to play, as did all of Nevatim bet, and games were organised for the hour and a half before dinner on the field. A game of rounders, and some more sedate games such as 'wah' were being played all over.

All of Nevatim bet came to dinner dressed in a certain colour, in preparation for tonights activity, which is to be a fun 'capture-the-flag' type activity.

28th July 2008

Hello there! Welcome to the first update for Nevatim Bet Machaneh 2008.

After a delayed start in London, everyone arrived in beautiful sunshine. The chanichim (participants) went straight onto the field in front of the centre for some water and initial games. After playing 'going to Netanya' and 'Wah' they went on a site tour, so they can see the site, and what facilities it has. Now they are putting their bags in their dorms, and having some time with their dorm and their dorm madrichim (leaders). After Dinner we have planned an introductory peula (activity/session) to the theme of the camp, which this year is L'dor v'dor - From generation to generation. The excitement amongst all of us here has been building, and now we are thrilled to have everyone here for two weeks of camp

Keep checking back for a daily update of the life of Nevatim Bet Camp 2008

Dates:

28th July - 11th August