“Hineini, I am here to do as much as I can, in the time that I have, in the place that I am, and to inspire others to join me in this holy work. For it is written: ‘Lo alecha hamlacha ligmor, v’lo ata be horin, l’heebatel mimena.’ You are not required to complete the work, nor are you free to ignore it. (Pirkei Avot 2:16)”
This final statement in my camp’s mission statement has built the framework for everything we do at camp. It was built by a cohort of Cornerstone Fellows. This summer, Eisner Camp’s cohort has chosen to continue to work with our mission statement to exemplify the aspects of it that support self-esteem, growth, and the bettering our camp community.
As our camp’s Cornerstone fellows, we were able to attend a 5-day seminar with counselors from over 60 other Jewish overnight camps. As a result, we have become one cohesive cohort, prepared to go to camp this summer to try and recreate the experiences that made us the best versions of ourselves and taught us to love camp and our Judaism.
Cornerstone has taught us how to adapt the different programming we participated in during the retreat, and spin it to be used for our campers. The fellowship has allowed staff members past and present to learn from other Jewish camps and Jewish Educators, to become better program facilitators, and have an overall more positive outlook on how we can take what we have learned at camp and bring it to our greater communities.
Cornerstone has had a profoundly positive and lasting impact on my second home, Eisner camp.
Cornerstone has made an impact on the Eisner Cornerstone Fellows of the cohorts that came before me and who will come after me.
Summer 2017 has not fully started yet for us, but I know myself and my cohort have already been impacted by Cornerstone. The seminar taught us how to create meaningful experiences for our camp’s community.
Liora Bernstein is one of the URJ Eisner Camp Cornerstone Fellows of 2017. This is Liora’s 3rd summer on staff at camp. Liora is a rising Junior at George Washington University, studying Communications and Judaic Studies.