Camp Updates

Monday 28th July	After a brief delay, Nofim arrived at the Chateau at 7pm.
Monday 28th July	A thunderstorm did little to dampen Nofim's spirits, and the introductory activities went well.
Tuesday 29th July	Nofim Bet have had their introductory activities today along with get-to-know-you games. This afternoon was spent at the pool and enjoying the glorious sunshine. Later on they are having a Colour War fun peula (activity) - nobody does it better than Noam! Click here for photos from today's activities.
Wednesday 30th July	Nofim Bet have the Chateau to themselves today as Aleph have gone on a French market trip. They are enjoying the temperate weather with outdoor activities such as Climbing wall, orienteering, low ropes and team building games. Later on they will have a Noam activity.
Thursday 31st July	Nofim Bet have gone to Euro Disney for the day! The "surprise" trip will see 120 Noamniks descend on the Magic Kingdom and no doubt fit right in with the larger-than-life characters within! Even more photos have been added to the Nofim gallery, so check it out!
Friday 1st August (updated on Sunday 3rd)	Nofim Bet prepared for a restful Shabbat with various chugim (activities). They made the Cheder Ochel (dining room) sparkle with fantastic decorations including the longest paper chain ever seen in Noam! The art room was entirely dedicated to making the whole Chateau beautiful for Shabbat, and the creativity and talent of Noam chanichim (participants) and madrichim (leaders) really shone. Other groups prepared songs, dances and skits to entertain the group before the Friday night service. Shabbat dinner saw all 250 people on site eating together in the same room - ruach (spirit) was great and the Chateau and the hills around resounded with the songs of Shabbat.
Shabbat 2nd August (updated on Sunday 3rd)	Shabbat was pleasant and peaceful, with a largely peer-led service which saw Nofim participants leading their entire camp in prayer. A massive lunch set people up nicely for a lazy afternoon, punctuated only by football, a table tennis tournament, singing, story-telling and of course the now-traditional Shabbat rain! A spiritual Havdalah brought Shabbat to an end. Nofim Bet ended the day with a surprise Toga Party Disco! Bedsheets were donned, Latin was the language of choice and the party went on until bedtime - of course nobody wanted to go to bed (QED!!)
Sunday 3rd August	Today is Nofim Bet's Israeli Culture day. Chanichim (participants) are dividing into groups as diverse as Charedi and Secular, Kibbutznik and Rapper, to engage with the interactions of different social and cultural groups within Israeli society. They will address the question of what it means to be a modern Israeli. Our P2K delegation of six Israeli chanichim (participants), one madricha (leader) and an educator have been bringing their own input to today's activities. The evening saw the Bereshis Festival come to Noam, complete with music, dancing, Israeli food, face painting, fortune telling and more!
Monday 4th August	Nofim Bet spent the day at Chateau de Fontainebleau, a beautiful place just near Melun. They had time to explore the charming town (and do some shopping!) in the morning, stopped for lunch in the verdant Chateau grounds and then played massive Noam games in the Chateau courtyard - surely a first for Noam! Later on they had time to wander around the Chateau grounds and even go boating on the lake! Tonight Nofim Bet will relax around a bonfire and enjoy the balmy Summer night. New photos have been added to the gallery - check it out!!
Tuesday 5th August	Nofim Bet are enjoying the sunny weather today with a variety of outdoor activities including Zip Wire, Archery, Low Ropes, Orienteering and Trapeze. They also have a programme about Israel's changing borders with our resident Israeli educator. Later on they will have the opportunity to plan their own programming during their kvutsa (small group) time - can they come up with something creative and peer-led? The evening activity was a camp-wide Murder Mystery! The caretaker of the Chateau disappeared - but who was the murderer? Was it the Mayor, noted for corruption? Or his hired muscle? Or was it the hotel owner, who had their own mysterious connection to the Chateau? Could it have been the doctor? The casino owner? Surely it wasn't the butler?! Chanichim (participants) scoured the site for clues and used persuasion, bribery and wit to tease information from the suspects. Check the photo pages for new photos!
Wednesday 6th August	Nofim Bet are in Paris for the day! They have time to explore the Notre Dame area, eat lunch in one of the beautiful parks and perhaps buy some souvenirs. Later they will converge at the Eiffel Tower and see sites of Jewish interest on a walking tour led by Rabbi Chaim Weiner. This evening they will relax with a barbeque and a film night.
Thursday 7th August	The rain hasn't dampened Nofim Bet's spirits and they are on site for activities all day. They will also have time in the swimming pool. An update on the peace process with our resident expert, Masorti Shlicha Reli Israeli, should be interesting and informative. Later on they have a Supper Quiz which will test their knowledge. The weather is clearing, but until then we're singing in the rain!!
Friday 8th August (updated 10th)	Nofim are preparing for Shabbat which should be a restful and relaxing day to finish an exciting week. The Chateau and the grounds will be cleared and decorated to look fantastic for Shabbat. Groups will make decorations including posters, place mats, planning drama sketches, songs, poems, and stories. Everyone will dress up in their best Shabbat clothes and welcome Shabbat with a moving service and a dinner filled with food and ruach (spirit). Later on there will be a fun Oneg Shabbat. Tomorrow there will be a Torah service and a great Shabbat lunch. The afternoon is full of activities including sports and relaxing games and songs.
Shabbat 9th August (updated 10th)	A restful Shabbat saw varied activities including traditional Camp football match and a Harry Potter themed storytelling session. Havdallah was unique as sky lanterns floated ethereally into the air - each kvutsa (small group) had decorated their own.
Sunday 10th August	Today is Tisha B'Av so the mood is more sombre. Programming will look at the destruction of the Temples and events in Jewish history. After dark the final night party will raise spirits to the maximum!