CommunityC10 HAMODIA 4 ELUL 5772 AUGUST 22, 2012

For the last ten years,teenagers from across the globehave joined Camp Marabu in trav-eling out West to many of thenational parks. The camp is run byRabbi Raphael Mendlowitz, amechanech for over two decadesin Silver Spring, Maryland. RabbiMendlowitz’s goal is to use nifleoshaBorei to inspire today’s youth intefillah.

Before each tefillah, campersand staff check to see if there areJews in the vicinity. Ten years ago,during Camp Marabu’s first year, agroup of 11 found themselves ontop of Yosemite National Park fac-ing Half Dome. Before Minchah, ayoung Israeli man with two chil-dren was asked to join the minyanand he asked to say Kaddish. Heended with Kaddish Yasom. WhenRabbi Mendlowitz asked him whyhe had said Kaddish, he answeredthat he had forgotten that hisfather’s yahrtzeit was that week.

“Last night, my father came tome in a dream and yelled at me!How could I be without a minyanand not say Kaddish on his

yahrtzeit? He said, ‘I will send youa minyan. Be sure to say Kaddish!’”

The next year at the same spot,Rabbi Mendlowitz told hiscampers: “We have sanctified thisplace as a makom tefillah. I amcertain that before we startMinchah, another Jew will joinus.”

No sooner were these wordsuttered than a Jew from Floridaasked if he could join the camp forMinchah.

This past summer, at Yosemite,the camp encountered a familyfrom Eretz Yisrael. The motherbecame very excited when theywere asked to join 36 campers forMinchah. She was on vacationwith her husband and 14-year-oldson. Their son had not wanted tojoin them on vacation as he hadmade a kabbalah at his bar mitz-vah to daven tefillah b’tzibbur, buthis parents had insisted he jointhem for this trip. Now, he coulddaven b’tzibbur with CampMarabu at Yosemite.

This is the power of kviusmakom l’tefillah. The makom

becomes a source of kedushah andcreates an environment of mitz-vah goreres mitzvah.

An exchange student fromGermany was a member of thecleaning crew at a hotel in theGrand Canyon. The camp wasconcluding Shacharis as thisyoung man stood with respect andawe, observing the young men fin-ishing their prayers. After daven-ing, Rabbi Mendlowitz thanked

the young man for waiting sopatiently to enter the room. Hetold Rabbi Mendlowitz, “I’msorry.”

Rabbi Mendlowitz asked, “Forwhat?”

“For what my grandfather didto your grandfather, ” said theyoung man.

Rabbi Mendlowitz suggestedthat upon his return to Germany,he should inform his family andfriends about the Jews he had metand how respectful and dignifiedthey were. That would render theapology truly meaningful. Theyoung man shook RabbiMendlowitz’s hand and promisedto do so.

One of the camp’s goals is toelevate the campers to become“Maasei Yadai lihispaer” — livingexamples of Hashem’s glory.

Stories of hashgachah pratisand kiddush Hashem are experi-enced daily in Camp Marabu.

Davening Vasikin at the GrandCanyon is truly the most memo-rable and inspiring moment forcampers. One day the camperswere davening in a private area.Prior to Shemoneh Esrei, a groupof seven Asians approached acamper and asked, “We don’tknow how to pray. Can we copyyou as you say your prayers?”

The young camper took threesteps back and then forward, andso did the Asians. He proceeded tobend his knees and then standerect; they did so as well. Heplaced his hands overlapping eachother and continued to shuckel

during the Amidah and they didthe same, while whispering wordsas they “followed the leader.”

After Shemoneh Esrei, thecampers shared this experiencewith Rabbi Mendlowitz. He toldthem, “Do you know we ask forthis experience every day — threetimes a day — in our tefillos? InAleinu L’shabei’ach, we expressour yearning ‘L’saken olamb’Malchus Shakai — to perfect theuniverse through the Sovereigntyof the Alm-ghty. V’chol bnei basaryikre’u biShmecha — and all of theworld’s inhabitants will recognizeand know You.’ We experiencedthis today! We saw people who donot accept a Creator as we do. Wewere mekadesh es Hashem, wewere the ohr lagoyim — a lightunto the nations.”

Coast to Coast Briefs

Camp Marabu at Zion National Park, Utah.

Rabbi Kohn, learning director ofCamp Marabu, leining at the GrandCanyon.

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Camp Marabu campers at Zion National Park, Utah.

Inspiration Out West