Learn more about this amazing camp - an article co-written by me, Rabbi Steve Weisman, and Robin Shuler about our time as faculty at the 6 Points Sports Academy:
http://blogs.rj.org/6points/2012/07/20/6-points-on-6-points-2/
Friday, July 20, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
6 Points - Recommended reading about this incredible program!
This blog entry was written by Avram Mandell, a Jewish education director from LA, who is on faculty for 6 Points' first session:
http://blogs.rj.org/6points/2012/06/26/sold-on-6-points/
Following Torah study last Shabbat morning, I walked across the street and caught the last 30 minutes of services at 6 Points. I also had lunch there and returned for an evening faculty get-together. 6 Points has grown so much since it began 2 years (3 summer seasons) ago. The staff is larger and there are more faculty. But, most impressive, is the number of campers and their ruach! The energy is contagious. I start my faculty stint there next Tuesday.
http://blogs.rj.org/6points/2012/06/26/sold-on-6-points/
Following Torah study last Shabbat morning, I walked across the street and caught the last 30 minutes of services at 6 Points. I also had lunch there and returned for an evening faculty get-together. 6 Points has grown so much since it began 2 years (3 summer seasons) ago. The staff is larger and there are more faculty. But, most impressive, is the number of campers and their ruach! The energy is contagious. I start my faculty stint there next Tuesday.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
2012 Summer Camps Are About To Start
My kids finish school tomorrow (June 7, 2012). Many others are out of school already or have only a few days left. I read that the staff of the 6 Points Sports Academy, the Union for Reform Judaism's newest camp, will be arriving in Greensboro any day now. 6 Points is starting its third year and, in a short period of time, has become THE place for Jewish athletes to spend their summers. I am looking forward to being one of the Camp Rabbis on faculty this summer, having done so since 6 Points opened.
6 Points' program has many strong elements. Sports are not "activities" but rather are one of two central parts of the camp. When I was growing up, we would play softball for an hour, then volleyball, then swim, then arts and crafts or nature. There were activities that we loved and activities that we attended only because we had to. Campers who attend 6 Points are there because they want to be. A 12 year old playing Little League baseball, a high school girls lacrosse player, a competitive swimmer all know that they will spend the better part of their day for the duration of camp focusing on their selected sport. Clinics in the morning and evening range from drills to skills; it is not uncommon to see scrimmages, games, and competitions just like you might find at Spring Training or at elite preseason camps.
The second, but by no means second-class, major component of 6 Points is Judaism. As one friend put it: "those who come to 6 Points have 2 religions - sports and Judaism." Jewish values are central to each day - and a range of values are presented and highlighted throughout each session. For example, the value of Kavod (Honor) might be highlighted during morning assembly and breakfast. Coaches on the fields then reinforce this value, referring to it time and again (in English and in Hebrew) during clinics, games, etc. An interactive evening program helps to reinforce this value. There may be videos shown, stories told, quick activities, all designed to make Jewish learning and living a seamless part of each day.
On my own blog, I have often posted about Jewish values and how they play out in the world of sports. Here are a few additional links:
Kavod - Greensboro's Golf Tournament Names Its First African American Co-Chairs, Henry and Shirley Frye (local civil rights and civic leaders)
http://www.news-record.com/content/2012/06/04/article/hardin_historic_day_for_triads_golf_tournament
or this story about helping an opponent finish a race - which positive Jewish values does this incident exemplify?
http://espn.go.com/high-school/track-and-xc/story/_/id/8010251/high-school-runner-carries-fallen-opponent-finish-line
or this Sports Illustrated story about the good that Phil Mickelson is doing off of the golf course - what can athlethes and so many others learn from this example? again, which positive Jewish values does this story illustrate?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1197997/index.htm
As stories and other examples come my way, I will post them throughout the summer. Ideas and thoughts are always welcome.
6 Points' program has many strong elements. Sports are not "activities" but rather are one of two central parts of the camp. When I was growing up, we would play softball for an hour, then volleyball, then swim, then arts and crafts or nature. There were activities that we loved and activities that we attended only because we had to. Campers who attend 6 Points are there because they want to be. A 12 year old playing Little League baseball, a high school girls lacrosse player, a competitive swimmer all know that they will spend the better part of their day for the duration of camp focusing on their selected sport. Clinics in the morning and evening range from drills to skills; it is not uncommon to see scrimmages, games, and competitions just like you might find at Spring Training or at elite preseason camps.
The second, but by no means second-class, major component of 6 Points is Judaism. As one friend put it: "those who come to 6 Points have 2 religions - sports and Judaism." Jewish values are central to each day - and a range of values are presented and highlighted throughout each session. For example, the value of Kavod (Honor) might be highlighted during morning assembly and breakfast. Coaches on the fields then reinforce this value, referring to it time and again (in English and in Hebrew) during clinics, games, etc. An interactive evening program helps to reinforce this value. There may be videos shown, stories told, quick activities, all designed to make Jewish learning and living a seamless part of each day.
On my own blog, I have often posted about Jewish values and how they play out in the world of sports. Here are a few additional links:
Kavod - Greensboro's Golf Tournament Names Its First African American Co-Chairs, Henry and Shirley Frye (local civil rights and civic leaders)
http://www.news-record.com/content/2012/06/04/article/hardin_historic_day_for_triads_golf_tournament
or this story about helping an opponent finish a race - which positive Jewish values does this incident exemplify?
http://espn.go.com/high-school/track-and-xc/story/_/id/8010251/high-school-runner-carries-fallen-opponent-finish-line
or this Sports Illustrated story about the good that Phil Mickelson is doing off of the golf course - what can athlethes and so many others learn from this example? again, which positive Jewish values does this story illustrate?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1197997/index.htm
As stories and other examples come my way, I will post them throughout the summer. Ideas and thoughts are always welcome.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Tebow & Van Halen: Two Stories of Tzedakah
Rick Reilly's post I Believe in Tim Tebow arrived in my Google Reader at the same time that another article did about Eddie Van Halen's recent gift of 75 guitars to the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation.
Here are two guys, an athlete and a rock guitarist (one of my favorites, I must admit), who have had their share of successes and criticisms. It cannot be easy to be a celebrity. These days, everyone is under such scrutiny. Time and again, we see how people who have achieved so much either crumble under the immense weight placed on them or they fall off of the unrealistically high pedestal they are placed on.
It is nice to see an article catching people as they are doing what is right.
The word for doing what in right in Hebrew is "tzedek." When we help others and "right" the world, we refer to this as "tzedakah."
Tzedakah isn't only what is expected of those in the spotlight. It is expected from everyone. What I found especially refreshing about these articles is that they remind us of this.
Way to go Tim Tebow! Way to go Eddie Van Halen! More than any game or album, these gestures will be your lasting legacies. This is true for anyone who gives, helps, or volunteers.
Here are two guys, an athlete and a rock guitarist (one of my favorites, I must admit), who have had their share of successes and criticisms. It cannot be easy to be a celebrity. These days, everyone is under such scrutiny. Time and again, we see how people who have achieved so much either crumble under the immense weight placed on them or they fall off of the unrealistically high pedestal they are placed on.
It is nice to see an article catching people as they are doing what is right.
The word for doing what in right in Hebrew is "tzedek." When we help others and "right" the world, we refer to this as "tzedakah."
Tzedakah isn't only what is expected of those in the spotlight. It is expected from everyone. What I found especially refreshing about these articles is that they remind us of this.
Way to go Tim Tebow! Way to go Eddie Van Halen! More than any game or album, these gestures will be your lasting legacies. This is true for anyone who gives, helps, or volunteers.
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