Despite the excitement I feel as Camp Wise opens its doors this morning to its largest group of campers ever, I’m also reminded that summer camp is hard.
The days are long. The temperatures climb higher each year. Campers (and their parents) arrive with boundless energy, endless questions, and occasionally strong opinions about everything from group assignments to snack choices. And, as this week’s Torah portion, Chukat, reminds us, leading Jews in the summer heat can be overwhelming.
Camped at Meribah, the Israelites need water. God tells Moses that once he speaks to a rock, water will emerge. However, Moses loses patience and rebukes the complaining Israelites before striking the rock. Water flows, but Moses, the man who spent forty years carrying his community’s fears, frustrations, and demands, learns that he will not continue into the Promised Land. He has depleted his reserves, reminding us that even the greatest leaders can grow weary.
Camp Wise counselors possess only a fraction of Moses’ experience. Yet every summer they accomplish something extraordinary. They wake up early, stay late, comfort homesick campers, settle disagreements, lead activities under a blazing sun, and somehow find the energy to sing one more song, cheer on one more camper, and make room for one more moment of joy.
The counselors who shape our children’s summers remind us that leadership is not measured only by authority, expertise, or years of experience. It is measured by the willingness to show up for others with patience, compassion, and enthusiasm, regardless of circumstance.
Moses’ moment at the rock teaches us that every leader has limits. Our camp counselors teach us that with support, purpose, and heart, we can achieve more than we ever believed possible. As summer unfolds and temperatures rise, we remain grateful for the many young leaders at Camp Wise who help create communities of belonging, friendship, and joy. They may not be drawing water from rocks, but they are performing miracles of their own.
— Rabbi Josh Knobel