By: Rabbi Rob Morais, camp faculty member and camp parent. Rabbi at Temple Israel, Ottawa.
Camp is a place to discover. Discover who you are. To create friendships that last a lifetime. I began hearing about a Canadian Reform camp sometime during my rabbinic school days. There were a series of rumors and speculations that we were going to purchase and existing camp. Then there was a rumor that we were going to build our own camp. By the time it was announced late in 1998 that we had purchased the current site of Camp George from the Toronto Federation I had been ordained for two years and was the assistant rabbi at Temple B’rith Kodesh in Rochester NY.
The first summer I was able to convince 4 families that they should try this brand new camp “just North of Toronto”. When I made it up to camp on one of the last Shabbat weekends of the summer I knew that we had created magic! While it was clear that we had a lot of building and growing to do, but the foundation had been laid for us to build a place where our children would have amazing Jewish experiences.
Summer after summer I would make the trip from Rochester to camp, serving on faculty with many of the rabbis that I had grown up with. In those early years we had no history, no precedents. We worked closely with the camp staff to create Jewish experiences that we hoped would engage our campers. We would regularly stay up until 2am cutting, pasting, and preparing the various props and costumes that we would use to present our programs. While it sometimes felt like re-creating the wheel, it was also a wonderful bonding experience for the faculty to partner with our camp staff and create programs that were content filled and meaningful. Even if we were more than exhausted by the end of the week.
When it came time for me to leave B’rith Kodesh in Rochester I was able to make a gift on behalf of Temple B’rith Kodesh to camp using some of the money that remained in my rabbis’ discretionary fund. After a series of conversations with Dr. Ron Polster who was the director at the time, we decided that a Gazebo would be the best use of the funds. This would provide a covered program space for a cabin or small group to do some quiet activity. Over the years I have spent hours in the Gazebo having conversations with campers and staff about all sorts of things. We have planned services there, we have wrestled with difficult topics and celebrated Israel. It was one of the best things I have been able to do with the money various people donated to my fund over the years.
For the past 20 years, each summer I have been privileged to work with amazing Jewish professionals who make up the faculty – rabbis, educators, cantors, social workers, therapists – together we create a network of programs and support for our campers and staff. We create Jewish education that is active and engaging. This is also a time for us as Jewish professionals to build meaningful relationships with each other. Over the years I have treasured the opportunity to work with such amazing people. Like our campers, I too have made lifelong friends at camp.
My rabbinate has been filled with many wonderful opportunities to serve in 4 Reform congregations that all sent and continue to send their children to Camp George. I am now the rabbi at Temple Israel in Ottawa. Temple has always had a very special relationship with Camp. Each the C.I.T.’s sleep here in our building during the white water rafting visit to Ottawa. In the past two years the number of campers from Temple Israel has doubled and I am looking forward to sharing camp with many more of our youth in the years to come.
All four of my own children have grown up at camp. They started coming with me when they were babies. They would play on the beach and run around the Chadar Ochel. I would have them on my shoulders during our song sessions and they would laugh and be thrilled at being able to ride the speed boats. This summer my daughter Yael will be a song leader and part of the drama staff, while my youngest, Nathan will be an older Kochavim camper. My two older children, Sarah and Noah are now on to other opportunities, but their hearts are at George – a place we all call home.
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