According to the Effort is the Reward

According to the effort is the reward…

As our 10th and possibly best, summer came to a close, I was focused on the words from the final Mishna of Pikei Avot (5:22-23).

Ben Bag Bag would say: Turn it and turn it, for all is in it; see with it; grow old and worn in it; do not budge from it, for there is nothing better.  Ben Heh Heh would say: According to the effort is the reward.

I read the words of Ben Bag Bag as saying, if you pour your heart, soul, and mind into the study of Torah, you will feel only joy. In contrast, Ben Heh Heh knows that study can be hard and it requires effort to stick with your path, but that when you do, you will feel the greatness of its reward.

As a camp director, I read these words knowing that there are camp days when all we feel is the pure joy emanating from dancing on the migrash (field), playing with baby chickens, making new friends, learning how to pack up all by ourselves at the end of the day, or hitting the bell on Har Ramah for the first time.  There are also days of extreme heat, tropical storms, too many missing water bottles, a bishul (cooking) recipe that got over cooked, or too many forms to fill out and collect! Those days take a heavier lift and more effort. But, when we build up our skills in resilience, teamwork and community we learn that we are stronger than we ever could be, which allows us to enter into the school year with more confidence and pride than we had before.

Our tag line “10 Summers & Growing” has taken on a lot of meaning, but my hope is that, above all, parents, campers, and staff have all felt the personal growth that comes with being part of our Ramah community. We cannot wait to hear about all of the growth to come this year and for kayitz 2025!