Increase the Light this Chanukah Season
“A mitzvah is compared to a candle, and the Torah is light.” During the Chanukah season, we both literally and figuratively are looking for ways to increase the light. One of our favorite moments of Chanukah each year is watching the eight candles and the shamash burn down on the 8th night of Chanukah. The sight of the flickering flames and the warmth of the fire feels like home. Each night of Chanukah, we physically add an another candle to the menorah, slowly increasing the light each night of the holiday. With each night, the menorah burns more brightly and becomes more beautiful. There is a physical increase of light, but there is also a spiritual one, helping the home shine brighter and warmer.
There is a very interesting argument in the Talmud about whether or not using one candle of the menorah to light another is, in fact, diminishing the light of the first candle. A beautiful response follows. When one person uses the flame of their faith, or mitzvot, or goodness, to light that of another person, their own goodness does not diminish. It actually increases exponentially, because there is now more goodness in the world. When it comes to spiritual versus material of physical goods, the more we share, the more we have. The more we give of ourselves this Chanukah season, the more we have, as well. The more light we create for others, the brighter all of our lights will shine.
We hope you have had a chance to follow our Facebook page throughout Chanukah. This year, we really wanted to show off ways that our campers and staff #increasethelight all summer long!
We hope you had a joyous and meaningful Chanukah, and we wish you a Happy New Year!
B’Shalom,
Beth, Sara, and Jared
CAMP STAFF HIGHLIGHT: Corey Levin Celebrated 25 Years on Staff!
We LOVE when campers feel at home during their summers at the JCC Camps at Medford, that they then choose to be staff members. Corey Levin, our Tavor Division Head, is the epitome of a “lifer” at the JCC Camps at Medford. In addition, his sons Nathan and Matthew, are second generation campers who love camp just as much as dad!
Corey has been part of the JCC Camps at Medford day camp mishpacha (family) for 35 amazing summers – 10 as a camper and 25 working as a counselor, Assistant Director, Director and Division Head in Camp Hilltop, Shalom, Aaron, and Chaverim. Anyone who knows Corey would say Camp is his “happy place.”
As a camper way back in the 1980s, Corey’s favorite memories are of competing in Sports League in Camp Shalom and Aaron. More importantly, during those 10 years as a camper, Corey knew this was where he belonged.
In his quarter century as a staff member, Corey has worked in all 3 Camps and Chaverim. He credits his CIT Directors and Chaverim Director with teaching him everything he knows about working at Camp. The fondest memories Corey has from working at Camp are the times spent with people who would become his best friends in Camp Hilltop and Chaverim.
As we approach the 2019 Camp season, Corey is eagerly looking forward to getting back to work with the rest of the Camp Aaron team.
For Corey, the best part of coming to Camp now, along with his wife Meredith, is watching his two boys grow here and build the same kind of love for Camp as he has.
REVIEW US ON GOOGLE TO WIN!
Do you love the JCC Camps at Medford, the best summer day camp in Southern New Jersey?! Head to Google and write a review of our camp! All reviewers during the month of December will be entered to win a FREE WEEK OF CAMP!
All you have to do is GOOGLE the JCC Camps at Medford. At the right of your search results page, you will see our Google Business account. Click on the reviews and add your own!
FACILITY UPDATES (photos sent by sara)
We are fortunate to have a talented and creative Site Director, Ken, and his crew. This fall, they have already started working on two new and fun projects for Summer 2019. The crew has designed and built an interactive sensory fence installation around the Shoresh playground for our youngest campers. Additionally, our team will be building us the first ever JCC Camps at Medford HUMAN FOOSBALL COURT!
BROADWAY LIVE’S 10th ANNIVERSARY: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF COMES TO SOUTH JERSEY!
As you may know, our Open Hearts/ Open Doors program is subsidized by the Saltzman Foundation and supported by a fundraiser called Broadway Live! Through these two revenue streams we are proud to offer the needed support to our campers with special needs without passing the additional expense of advocates, case managers, directors and supplies along to our families. Camp tuition would almost double for campers with special needs without these funds.
We are excited to announce that this is our 10th anniversary for Broadway Live! and we will be celebrating in style. We were able to secure the rights to Fiddler on the Roof and the Cherry Hill School District has agreed to partner with us, making Cherry Hill West available to us as our venue. Ben Lipitz, a Cherry Hill native, camp alum, and Pumba in both the Broadway and national touring companies of The Lion King, who has been our producer for the past 10 years is putting together a star studded cast. This will be a Broadway production customized for our community! Mark your calendar for Monday May 13, 2019.
For this event to be a success, we need your help and there are many ways to get involved. Consider joining the Broadway Live! committee as we will need the additional support for such a large undertaking. Assist in selling ads, take out an ad yourself and help expand the Playbill. Help sell tickets to the show by sharing email groups you are part of and bring your family and friends. Volunteer on the night of the event because we will need more ushers, back stage help and ticker takers. Make a donation. You can even make one today HERE.
We are counting on our camp community to support this amazing event and keep our Open Hearts/ Open Doors program strong. For more information or to get involved please reach out to Beth Segal at Bsegal@jfedsnj.org.