The Power of Kindness on Tu B’Av
In Pirkei Avot, it is written that the world stands on three things- Torah (Learning), Avodah (Service & Spirituality), and Gemilut Chasadim (Acts of Loving Kindness). We certainly agree with the maxim and at Camp Chi explore all those faces and have a trio of our own core values- kavod (respect), chesed (kindness), and kehillah (community). We believe so much in the power of kindness that it is one of the core principles we use as a base not just the programs we run but the entirety of Camp Chi.
On Tuesday we celebrated Camp Kindness Day along with hundreds of camps around the world. Kindness is not a revolutionary idea for us at camp and Camp Kindness Day is something we have participated in for years. Yet this year was different. More impactful. More meaningful. More sincere. After a year of sitting at home, tuned to screens for more hours than we care to admit, camp is a welcome break for both our campers and staff. And when the opportunity to show kindness came about, they all certainly seized the day. As a camp we embraced Camp Kindness Day and demonstrated kindness in three ways- kindness to ourselves, kindness to others and kindness to camp. All day long campers and staff surprised one another with special moments ranging from a surprise serenade (outdoors and masked of course), beautifully written cards, decorated thank you signs, picking up items we find around camp, stepping in to help the hardworking staff in the kitchen, and creating projects and murals to beautify camp and much more. Some villages competed in kindness bingo, having to complete certain tasks both for themselves and for others. By the end of the activity, it was no longer a competition. Everyone was caught up in the Kindness they were spreading.
Today is the holiday of Tu B’Av, a day of love. And while everyone loves differently one thing every person at Chi has in common is a love for camp. On Tuesday we performed not just acts of kindness but acts of loving kindness. And though both Camp Kindness Day and Tu B’Av will come and go, our love of camp will continue for the rest of this hundredth year and for hundreds more to come.
Shabbat Shalom!