On Friday, September 6, Temple Shalom, Camp Chai Director Laura Seymour and Greene Family Camp Director of Year-Round Programs Rabbi Andrew Terkel joined together for a special “Welcome Back from Camp” Shabbat service  celebrating the Jewish summer camp experience and its importance in children’s lives. The congregation, sporting their favorite camp shirts, relived camp memories. “I was so happy to be a part of an evening celebrating camp.  The wonderful part was not just seeing the children but listening to the stories parents and grandparents were sharing.” said Laura Seymour.  

Campers and families enjoyed the camp-inspired service, dual guitar playing, music by Mary Medrick and singing their favorite songs with their favorite camp directors. “So much of what Reform Judaism is today started at camps like Greene Family Camp, and it was an honor to be invited to share the bima at Temple Shalom Friday night.” Rabbi Andrew Terkel. 

Celebrating camp in song and prayer was a perfect end to summer at Temple Shalom! Music plays a significant role in our spiritual life. “Nothing makes us feel like we’ve returned to a time and place more than hearing ‘the songs we sang when…’ Coming together to sing the songs of our people with Greene Family Camp and Camp Chai brought camp to Temple Shalom for a Shabbat. It was an honor to share in the creation of this uplifting service,” said Cantor Devorah Avery.  

“There is no more powerful a Jewish experience than Jewish camp and so many of our families have passed through the JCC camps and Greene Family Camp transforming their lives and the lives of their families.  Celebrating that and bringing everyone together to relive a little bit of that camp magic was absolutely awesome.  Looking forward to celebrating more memories with more song and more campers!” exclaimed Rabbi Andrew Paley. 

The entire community is invited to our next Camp style Shabbat on January 10. Kick off the 2020 camp season with a special Shabbat service followed by dinner and camp songs with Laura Seymour and Rabbi Andrew Terkel.   Watch for more information coming soon to www.templeshalomdallas.org