On the weekend of September 5-8, Student Life Director Arieh Bentolila gave the 11th-grade class the opportunity of a lifetime: a Shabbaton to Camp Seneca Lake in New York. The Shabbaton allowed for the junior class to detach from the pressures of being in 11th grade and to connect with one another, deepening their sense of community.
The trip began on the streets of Brooklyn, NY where students enjoyed a kosher meal. The buses then took off to DUMBO for an escape room activity at “Beat the Bomb”. In order to avoid getting slimed at the end, students were placed in small groups, where they bonded while solving codes. After the escape room, the juniors gathered in a local Shul to meet Jewish activist, Elizabeth Savetsky. Savetsky spoke to them about Judaism and about the attacks of October 7, as well as her personal experiences and threats as a Jewish-American.
The juniors proceeded to embark on a three-hour bus ride to their campsite, where they were informed of a grade-wide Mickey-Mouse-Clubhouse-themed “Color War”. Since then, waking up each morning at the campsite began with Tefilah services, followed by a number of activities such as canoeing, potato sack races, pickleball tournaments, lip-sync battles, Oneg, a dance party, and swimming. The juniors even had the opportunity to visit the American Dream Mall, and the girls participated in a challah bake led by Mrs. Yael Sprung.
As the sun began to set on Friday evening, the anticipation of Shabbat filled the air. Hillel students and staff gathered for pictures, candle lighting, prayers, inspirational talks, and Havdalah, where they were given the opportunity to connect more profoundly to their Jewish identities. Regardless of how students observed Shabbat at home, they still handed in their phones in order to fulfill the Mitzvah of keeping Shabbat.
The experience at Camp Seneca was not just a weekend getaway; it served as a powerful reminder of the significance of community and the shared values that bind us together as Jewish teens.
Writer’s Note: Thank you to Arieh Bentolila and to each faculty member who made this trip possible. We hope to see more Shabbatons in the future along with the positive impact it will have on our Scheck Hillel Lions.
