By Blakely Lord, Cultural Specialist

One of the (many) wonderful things about Camp Kalsman is its newness. Unlike so many other camps, Kalsman is still under construction. We just finished building a brand new outdoor pavilion and we added several new cabins. In fact, the cabins are so new that when the counselors moved in, there weren’t even curtains on the windows, yet. (Don’t worry, the curtains will be up by the time campers arrive!)

All of this newness helps us remember an important aspect of Judaism: just like Camp Kalsman, the Jewish people are constantly “under construction.” Even though our tradition is old, it is also a living culture, constantly evolving, re-creating, renewing itself. Living Judaism embraces tradition, but it is not a rigid set of rules that can never be questioned. Living Judaism honors our history, but it is not a dusty old museum exhibit that is meant to be seen but not touched. Living Judaism is a vibrant community, a participatory activity, and a way of life. Nowhere is that more evident than here at Camp Kalsman.

It is wonderful to have new facilities. It is even more wonderful to see them through the new eyes of children. We can’t wait until our campers arrive tomorrow, bringing with them boundless energy, limitless potential, and endless joy. By the shining light of their lives we can see the way toward the future of our camp, our people, our faith, our culture, and our community. They are the real construction project here at Camp Kalsman, and we take great pride in our workmanship.