Anyone who has been at Jacobs Camp during a summer rainstorm knows that smell. First, you feel the air change, the temperature drop, and the clouds turning grey over head. Then the wind swirls and the trees begin to sway back and forth as if they are dancing along to a morning rendition of “Father Abraham.” Finally, those large Mississippi raindrops begin to plop onto the hot concrete and steam rises slowly from the newly washed ground. Part metallic, part soil; water, asphalt, earth, and heat combine to create a mist that pleasantly lingers and is undoubtedly “summer in Utica, Mississippi.” I love that smell. It is one I will recognize anywhere and that will always remind me of the incredible experiences I have had at my home away from home.
To me, a rainstorm at camp is a perfect metaphor for this moment in time. Back in March, which seems like another lifetime ago, our office was eagerly preparing for another awesome Family Camp weekend. Family Camp is one of my favorite events outside of our summer camp sessions. The weather is typically pristine, the joy is palpable, and we begin to truly set our sights on summer. We get to welcome camp families, new and old, back home with open arms and high fives. Adding to the excitement, we have the opportunity to work with some of our incredible summer staff to create lasting memories of Jewish Joy. The Jacobs Camp magic begins its rise from a simmer to a boil. And just as it does prior to a summer rainstorm, the forecast looks clear and promising.
As we know, the world really began to shift in mid-March. We made the tough, but necessary, decision to cancel Family Camp. While we were obviously disappointed, we looked forward to the situation passing, gathering up a few final camp registrations and additions to our summer team. Despite the setback, Summer 2020 still promised to be the best one yet. Then the forecast began to turn. No longer was the weather clear for activities on Lake Gary or climbing on the tower. By mid-April, we could see the radar did not look great for Summer 2020 and the clouds turned grey over head.
Summer rain storms have a funny way of hitting hard and fast. The trees begin to sway, the wind howls, and the rain falls quickly and all at once. In late April, we made the most difficult decision a summer camp can make. We moved into our “rain plan,” and canceled all in person activities for the summer. As the rain continued to fall and the leaves wrestled with each other on their branches, and just as limbs snapping from their trunks, our hearts felt broken. We knew the decision to cancel camp was the right one, but that didn’t make the pain of missing an entire summer, or a final summer, any easier.
I am so disappointed and sad for our first time campers who must wait for that long anticipated experience at our remarkable summer home, but my heart breaks for our older campers in Talmidim and Chalutzim, whose precious few moments in Utica have been turned to fewer opportunities to experience the magic. I ache for our staff, who lose the opportunity to join in community with one another and the sense of fulfilment that comes with working to create the magic for our kids. With all of those feelings in mind, I must also share that I am deeply sad for myself, as this was to be my last summer, too. I was looking forward to one last summer of Jacobs Magic and I had planned to pen this farewell letter in August. Unfortunately, this summer’s rainstorm had other plans. My last day as Assistant Director at Jacobs Camp will be June 30th.
As I write this, a real summer rain storm has rolled in and lightning is dancing across the sky. Each strike reminds me of the electricity and life camp fills me with. I am so thankful for the opportunity to have served as an Assistant Director with our unique and unparalleled community. Thank you to Anna and Nadav for being my “work parents” and guiding me through my first real job. Anna has taught me so many valuable skills professionally and personally, that I will lean on and treasure forever. Sarah, Jacob, and Tamisa, thank you for putting up with my silliness, rants about sports or TV or the world, and continuing to support me as we do the work we all love. I deeply appreciate your friendship and the opportunity to learn from each of you. To our summer staff, whether you were supposed to join us this summer or have worked for us in the past, thank you for your commitment to our mission and values. One of the best parts of my job was the opportunity to speak with each of you and feel inspired by your passion for what we do every summer. Finally, thank you to our campers. Don’t tell the others, but I will miss y’all the most! You are what makes Jacobs Camp special. You are what keeps the magic alive. Your infinite optimism, passion for knowledge and joy, and insatiable appetite for the next adventure makes our jobs joyful and fulfilling. Thank you for being you.
The beauty of summer rain storms lies not only in their power, but in their fleeting presence. While my time as Assistant Director did not end the way I had hoped, I am still comforted by the knowledge that our community remains strong. I may be saying goodbye to my time as Assistant Director, but this is not a permanent farewell. Just as the rain continues to feed the grass on the Upper Athletic field even after the clouds have passed, camp will continue to be a part of me for the rest of my life. The friendships created during my time as a camper and staff member, experiencing the growth in myself and campers, and feeling the love of our Jacobs Camp family are all things that I will carry forever. And, of course, I’m more than a little jealous of everyone who will get to experience the magic of Opening Day at HSJ in the future. I am fully confident that the next time the gates open in Utica, it will be the best summer ever!
Finally, I am grateful to Jacobs Camp and NFTY Southern for giving me opportunities to grapple and engage with social justice around our communities and region. During this pivotal moment in our country’s story, I feel prepared to act as an ally for our African American friends and other marginalized and disenfranchised groups. This preparation is due, in no small part, to the lessons I learned as a camper and staff member at Jacobs Camp and the experiences I shared with fellow teens in NFTY Southern programs. While there is plenty we can all still do to create the just and righteous nation we strive for our country to be, I am thankful for my experiences in Utica and around our region that taught me tolerance, empathy and the importance of taking a stand against injustice.
Thank you again to everyone who has made these last 3 years so incredible and transformative. I look forward to giving each of you a high five very soon!
“Gam zu l’tova. This too is for the good.” – Nachum Ish Gamzu, Talmud, Taanit, 21a
Joshua Posner is a Jacobs Camp “lifer,” with his first summer in 1996 as the child of the camp doctor. Joshua attended HSJ as a camper through his Chalutzim summer of 2010 and returned for Gesher in 2012. He served on staff as a counselor, Sports Department Head, CIT Director, and Assistant Director until 2020. Joshua looks forward to returning to Utica as a community member very soon!