SAC 2023 Mid-Session Update from our Camp Director!

As we reach the mid-point of SAC this summer, I wanted to share a few highlights of the first half of our session:

  • Incredible Shabbat Experience – Shabbat at SAC is a special experience, and this year has been no exception.  We had a nice mix of meaningful Tefilah, learning and Pizmonim, together activities, and supervised free time. Special shout out to Judy Maimon, Lulu Maimon, Joy Maimon, Rinah Benoliel, Cynthia Gamel and Leora Alhadeff for doing lots of baking for our first Shabbat of camp.

  • Fun SACtivities – On our first Sunday at camp, our older kids and CITs went on their overnight camping trip.  On Monday, our younger bunks went on their overnight camping trip.  Our campers also experienced all that our beautiful host site has to offer. From Swimming, Kayaking, Fishing, Sports, Archery, and Art, our campers had an action-packed week of activities.  One of our new activities this year is Rock Climbing at the Feathers in Vantage, WA. This wasn’t your typical camp rock wall. This was a real 40-foot rock.  Of course, our campers were safely secured by harnesses and ropes, and carefully supervised by Josh, our rock climbing specialist.   If you haven’t already read our blog article about our Rock Climbing experience, you can find it HERE.  

  • Israel Day – Last Wednesday, we celebrated Israel Day featuring nine different activities/learning stations highlighting cities from all over Israel. Campers and Staff enjoyed Arome Coffee in Tel Aviv, Fresh Pita in Bet Shemesh, Shesh Besh and Matkot in Eilat, Army training in Jerusalem, Candle making in Tzfat, and more. The night was capped off by the Eight Great Rishonim debate, where the campers made Refrans Style Skits based on famous sayings from Sephardic Rabbis.  Special thanks to Israel Day sponsors Al & Sue Condiotty and Michal Jacoby. 

  • Visiting Sephardic Scholars – One of the highlights of SAC is our visiting Sephardic Scholars program where prominent Rabbis from our community, and other Sephardic specialists, come to SAC and teach our children.  Last week, we were fortunate to have many special guests visit us at SAC including Rabbi Yehuda Gabay, Head of School of Northwest Yeshiva High School and his wife Haya Gabay, Rabbi Naftali Rothstein, School Rabbi of Northwest Yeshiva High School, and Rabbi Daniel Hadar of Temple Moses, Miami.  We also had a strong representation from the Owen family spend the last Shabbat with us: Rabbi Owen, Head of School of Seattle Hebrew Academy, together with Jeffrey Owen and Julia Owen, long-time SAC staff members. Rabbi Owen helped judge a Ladino Refranes event on Shabbat as well as participate in a beautiful post-Havdalah bonfire.  Also, Sarah Aroeste, renowned Ladino Singer and writer, spent a few days with us and ran a highly competitive poetry slam event.  We were also joined by Ethan Marcus from the Sephardic Brotherhood of America, who ran a Ladino program. Finally, on Sunday, Rabbi & Rubissa Hassan of Sephardic Bikur Holim joined us to spend a few days at camp learning with our kids.
  • Cocoa en la Boca – Hazan Aryeh Greenberg (Haham) has been leading our early-waking campers again this year for this popular activity which includes mind puzzles, Djoha stories, hot cocoa, and more!  We are grateful to our 2023 Cocoa en la Boca sponsors, Donna Amira, Judy Roberts Cohen, and Eli & Kelly Mizrachi for their support.

  • Sephardic Baking –  We capped our week off with a highly competitive biscochos baking experience!   Special thanks to Hadar & Micah Cohen and to Eli & Kelly Mizrachi for sponsoring our Great Biscocho Bake-off.  And also to Joy Maimon and her army of volunteers:  Dave & Terry Azose, David Maimon, Judy & Menachem Maimon, Janet Jassen, Ilya & Cynthia Gamel, Leah & Rob Gladstein, Michael & Rinah Benoliel, for coming up to help with the event.

As you can see, Camp has been very busy and full of fun and meaningful activities so far, and I am personally so grateful for our hardworking staff, amazing campers, parents, board members, and community supporters.  Together we are delivering a great SAC season for our kids.  Stay tuned for more SAC Happenings for the balance of SAC 2023!

If you are interested in sponsoring either our Mimouna or Cocoa en la Boca activities, please let us know by emailing us at office@sephardicadventurecamp.org  We would greatly appreciate your support. 

By Rabbi Kenny Pollack, Camp Director

 

July 4, 2023 · by  · in SAC Blog · Tags:

2 Comments

  1. jill Paul says:
    July 4, 2023 at 10:41 am

    Looks like FANTASTIC Sephardic program. Congratulations.