June 15, 2023

Shalom Chaverim (Dear Friends),

Reflecting on the trip to St. Louis Lori and I made this past weekend, it really was everything I had hoped it would be. What a joy to have 13 family members come together to visit our daughter, son-in-law, and of course, our granddaughter, Emi Lou. Most of this group of extended family met Emi Lou, who is now 13 months old, for the very first time, and seeing my mother hold her great granddaughter was just priceless!

It’s also priceless to see the smiling faces of our happy campers who are enjoying summer adventures provided by our Adolph & Rose Levis JCC Marleen Forkas Camps! Between our Early Childhood Camp, Upper Camp, Theater Camp, and Camp Kavod, hundreds of children are having incredible summer days. They all come together on our campus, which is alive with excitement and energy. I want to share some words from one parent:

Sending you a huge thank you! My daughter came home from camp and told us it was the best day of her life! She couldn’t stop telling me every single awesome detail of her awesome day [and] said she can’t wait to go back tomorrow. And the day after. And the day after! Thank you for making her first day of camp so incredible!

This week’s Torah portion is Shelach (Send) in the Book of Numbers, the fourth in the Five Books of Moses. In it, Moses sends 12 spies to report on what they saw in the land of Canaan. Only two, Joshua and Caleb, insist the land can be conquered as G-d commanded. Because of this, G-d decrees that Israel’s entry into the land will be delayed by 40 years until the entire generation dies out. Spending my family time with 4 generations, including our latest addition, Emi Lou, and seeing the next generation each day enjoying our Levis JCC Marleen Forkas Camps programs, gives me great hope for our Jewish future.

Light Shabbat candles Friday night at 7:57 pm
Shabbat ends Saturday night at 8:54 pm

Shabbat Shalom!

Marty