So is summer vacation a good thing?
Now there's nothing wrong with a little break every once in a while. But to allow the kids out of school for week's on end seems to be counter-productive. After all, throughout the year, the teachers expend great effort to transmit so much knowledge to their students. And it's not just the info, but parents and educators strive to instill good character traits, form good habits, create proper structure, cultivating good manners, proper respect, and conduct, etc.
Then, it's all over.
Bedtime routine? Out the window. Structure? Gone. Clean room? Forget about it (or as they say in NY, fugetaboutit!). Without review, their studies will likely regress. Their progress might decline. All our efforts wasted.
It's not just a practical thing. In the mystical text of the Zohar it states Tukfa D'gufa, Chulsha D'nishmasa - when the body gets stronger, the soul gets weaker. So whereas during the year the focus is on higher pursuits such as attaining knowledge and refining character, the summer can be more body focused. Getting that perfect tan, making that luscious smoothie, taking that dream trip to Hawaii.
The good news is, that this is all true only when we look at these two as contradictory. Choose body, or choose soul. However, if we can actually channel the summer warmth, the freedom from the usual confinement, the happier moods, now we are talking. Instead of a decline, we can flip it to incredible progress and achievement in leaps bounds that would be all but impossible on the normal track. That smoothie now becomes the fuel to a better self, and by extension, a better world.
This is the beauty of Camp Aleph. A place where the children have so much fun, and at the same time, the kids are learning the Alef Bet and Tefilah (prayers), about having good Middos(character traits), about Shabbat candles, Zrizut (doing things with speed and alacrity), Tzedakah(charity), and so much more.
With a summer like this, you can be sure these campers (more than 30!) will come back to school refreshed and energized and ready to take on the new year!
Please take a few minutes to browse through the camp photos - you'll feel like you are part of the fun!
This week was an absolute blast (I'm so glad Shabbat is here for a much needed day of rest). Yet I can't wait for next week when the good gets even better.
ב"ה