Stitching Sacred Stories: My Week at Camp George and the Making of a Torah Mantle

This past week was the infamous ‘week 2 faculty’ at Camp George. I switch into camp mode the minute I drive through the gates. I love being surrounded by the energy and spirit of camp and joining in camp activities and programs with campers and staff of all ages. What makes the week even more special, is that I get to spend it with fellow educators and rabbis, who have become my camp friends. After a full day of programs, meetings with staff, b’nei mitzvah tutoring and more, we find time for our own ‘faculty rec’ activity periods together, and stay up late playing games, laughing, making our own camp memories. 

This year I worked on a special project with a group of Barak campers. We created a new mantle for the camp Torah. Campers designed squares that represented each of the middot – core values, that guide and shape our Camp George community. 

We talked about what each value means and how they are experienced and lived at camp. Campers each picked the value they wanted to represent and designed their square. The values of Ahava – love, Hachlala – inclusion, Ruach – spirit, Tzekek – justice, Kehillah – community, Chesed – loving kindness, Tikkun Olam – repairing the world, Kavod – respect, Sakranut – curiosity, and Koach – strength. Were drawn alongside the names of the four eidahs – units, at camp.  

Once the squares were completed, I spent a late night at my sewing machine in my room in the lodge, stitching it all together to be unveiled at Shabbat morning services.  

Taking the Torah out of the Aron Hakodesh on Shabbat morning to share the newly crafted mantle with camp was a special moment. The Torah is now dressed in a mantle that truly represents the community to whom it belongs. It is bright and colourful, hand make and designed by campers, and depicts the characteristics and values of Camp George, all of which are learned from the words and lessons within the sacred scrolls that it is now protecting. 

I remain grateful for the opportunity to return to camp each summer and watch Jewish life in action through the daily activities that take place. From singing in the chadar and Hebrew words of the day, to answering Jewish questions in sailboats, from lights out stories and creative t’fillah, to hearing campers encourage and cheer each other on as they get up on water skis or climb the ropes course, the values that are now sewn together on the Torah mantle can also be seen in the everyday actions of campers and staff. 

May this Torah mantle be a reminder that our values aren’t just taught—they’re practiced, shared, and embedded in the fabric of this community. created by young people and shaped by the values we hope will guide them, at camp and beyond. 

 Written by: Lisa Isen Baumal, Principal of Youth Education and Family Engagement, Holy Blossom Temple