OSRUI Blog

Temple Sholom Away From Home
OSRUI Reflections 2019

“OSRUI is a great place to meet new friends and get closer to old friends. Tubing, waterskiing, sailing - so much fun!”
-Sam Bayer, Gesher camper

This summer at URJ Camp OSRUI, I spent June 30-July 14 on segel (faculty) for my fourth summer with Tiferet Aleph, a program for budding artists. I wish I had gone when I was a kid! Our middle school chanichim (campers) enjoyed hours a day in studios pursuing their passion in music, theater or visual arts under the guidance of talented specialists who are masters of their craft.

OSRUI welcomed two of our rabbis and myself to serve on segel throughout this summer, supporting madrichim (counselors) as an extra set of eyes and ears, leading tfilah (prayer) and ivrit (Hebrew) experiences, and facilitating informal limmud (learning) components led by the tzevet (staff). This unique aspect of OSRUI makes it stand out from other summer programs in terms of adult presence and support.

I look forward to returning to OSRUI for Temple Sholom weekend retreats this fall with our 5th-8th Grade Youth November 8-10, with our Orr Shalom teens December 6-8, and for our second annual JK-4th Grade Mishpacha (Family) Camp Getaway January 26-28, 2020.

The extended OSRUI community gathered Saturday, July 21 for the dedication of the new Harcheil HaTarbut Kaye Arts Center in honor of the recently retired director of 48 summers. Our members Joel Bayer and Steve Wolf both serve on the OSRUI board, and Steve eloquently addressed the crowd in his role as Board Chairman at the event.

Rabbi Gellman headed to OSRUI at the end of July to join Gesher Gimmel with a group of our 6th-9th graders, along with a record-breaking twelve campers from Temple Sholom in OSRUI’s Kallah Atid 5-day trial program. I loved serving with Kallah during my first summer on Segel, and am excited that my own daughter will attend for the first time this summer, along with many of her Religious School classmates and Gan Shalom friends.

We will continue to celebrate the magic of Jewish Camping in Religious School this fall with Yom Ruach (camp spirit day) on Sunday, October 20, and will welcome OSRUI Director Solly Kane to our Shabbat Mishpacha featuring 1st and 2nd graders on Friday, February 7. Stay tuned for more updates coming soon!

OSRUI is offering daily tours for prospective families. Visit www.osrui.org/tours for details or contact jay@sholomchicago.org to learn more about Jewish camping and scholarship opportunities for your family.