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עמוד:39
Kids Corner If you would like to express your opinion on any Jewish topic , write a short article and send it to our editorial department . This week we have published two letters , from Daniel Landau and from Yael Negbi . A Camp for Everyone Hi , my name is Daniel Landau and I’m 11 years old . At the beginning of the year , I joined the French Jewish Scouts and during the Christmas holidays , I went to their winter camp for the first time . The counselors were great and I had an amazing time ! Before camp , we had a preparatory meeting with our counselor . One of the things she said was that at camp , they insist on keeping to what they call “ common minimum standards” so that everyone can attend the camp — religious and nonreligious — and feel comfortable . N For example : * * Kosher food - the food at camp is kosher ; it is forbidden to bring any non-kosher snacks from hom e * * Prayers – everyone participates in morning prayers * * Ritual hand washing and blessings over food – everyone washes their hands and says the blessings before and after meals , Hamotzi and Birkat Hamazon * * Shabbat – Shabbat is observed at camp ( for example , lights are controlled by a timer , cell phones are turned off , etc . ) This really bothered me at first . Were they asking me to “ pretend” I was religious and do things I don’t usually do ? Our counselor , who like me isn’t religious , said they weren’t asking me to pretend that I was religious , but rather to do things so that the religious and the non-religous kids could stay together as one group . I really wanted to go to the camp , so I decided to give it a try . I’m so glad I did ! I didn’t really pray , but I did sing along with everyone and now I know all the words by heart ! One of the religious boys at camp told me that it was the first time he had seen kids pray , not because it’s a mitzvah , but because they wanted to do everything as a group and because it was fun . ( I loved the beat and rhythm of the prayer tunes !) I am definitely signing up for next year’s camp ! Long Distance Kisses ! Hi , my name is Yael Negbi and I’m from Carmiel in Israel . A month ago , my classmates and I stayed with the families of the seventh grade students at a Jewish school in Paris . My host family gave me a warm welcome and I really enjoyed staying with them . They even bought me hummus at a Jewish store to make me feel at home ! I found French manners so funny . You’re always kissing each other ... when you come home , when you go out , every time you meet — not just one , but two kisses each time ! I found it a bit strange that my host family was so excited that I speak fluent Hebrew . What’s the big deal ? Everyone speaks Hebrew in Israel ! Michelle , the girl I stayed with , knows a little Hebrew since she goes to a Jewish school , but her parents don’t speak any at all . We managed to communicate with hand gestures and some basic English . Michelle’s mother advised me to tuck my Star of David necklace under my shirt . I didn’t expect that ! I had heard that there was anti-Semitism in France , but I didn’t notice any when I was there . Apart from that , Paris is such a cool city ! My favorite thing was sailing on a boat on the river Seine that crosses the whole city . On behalf of all the Israeli students in my group , I would like to thank all of our host families and to invite you to visit us in Israel . And as I learned in France ... I’m sending you kisses ( long distance ! •)
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