We’re very proud of our summer day camp, which we started a few years ago. The impact a camp-like atmosphere has on children is so much more potent than a couple hours of Hebrew school once a week.
Eva’s* mother sent us a picture of a Kriyas Shema poster hanging in a prominent spot above Eva’s bed. But the moment that showed us just how impactful the summer experience could be was on the last day of camp.
“We really don’t want camp to be over!” the older girls begged my wife. “Is there any way we can extend it?”
My wife promised to arrange a Shabbaton - not an easy feat for Icelandic summer, when Shabbos is a three day event! We’d host the girls from Friday until Sunday morning, when we could conclude the Shabbaton with havdalah.
Baruch Hashem, the Shabbaton was extremely successful, and the girls enjoyed it immensely.
The next week, we got a call from one of the girls’ mothers. “My daughter wants to keep Shabbos again this week,” she said. “She just doesn’t remember - what were all the 39 things she’s not supposed to do?”
