by Erin Binder, Nemerim/Kochavim unit head

To celebrate the our camp wedding, each cabin had a different task to help prepare for the special event. Projects ranged from ketubah making and vow writing to decorations and dress making. I had the pleasure of working with Cabins Gilboa and Arbel (our 5th and 6th grade boys) to present the Sheva B’rachot, the Seven Blessings of a Jewish wedding. The traditional blessings build in complexity, starting with a basic Kiddush and progressively build in complexity and praise and joy towards the happy couple. I shared a couple English versions with the boys and tasked them with writing something that was meaningful to them and expressed the original nature of the blessing. Here is what they came up with:

the first ever Adonai “Magic” card

1. Thank you God, Creator of the Universe, who gave us the sweet grapes to represent a sweet marriage and sweet life together.

2. Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe who has created life and nature around us to give you happiness and success.

3. We respect God because God put people in a place where they can survive and prosper.

4. Picture of a Magic card of an Eternal Being – a changeling, indestructable, creator of the universe with protection from God.

5. Bring happiness and joy to all  all at this gathering. Praised be God, who brings joy to the people Israel.

6. May you bring happiness to this couple like you brought happiness to the creatures in the Garden of Eden. Blessed are you God, who brings happiness to this couple.

7. This blessing encompasses all the others to bring them together like the bride and groom. May you be happy on this day and for all your lives together. Thank you God for giving these two people happiness, wonder and love. We come together as a Kehilla Kedosha (a holy community) in peace and friendship to celebrate and honor Abe and Davia. Blessed are you Adonai, Creator of peace, love and friendship, who brings joy to this couple.

I was very impressed with their creativity and appreciated that they took the project seriously, even though they all knew it was a fake wedding. Thank you to Gilboa and Arbel for helping make Abe and Davia’s “special day” even better!