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<\/a>In previous years, Camp Solomon Schechter has awarded the Migdal Or Award to individuals who have provided a \u201cspark of light that guides the way for others to follow.\u201d The inspiration for the award and its first recipients, in 2020, were camp founders Rabbi Joshua and Goldie Stampfer (z\u201dl). While an award won\u2019t be given out this year, the 70th anniversary Schechter Spark will reflect the Stampfers\u2019 \u201clegacy, virtue and commitment to Jewish life and camping.\u201d<\/p>\n
Camp Solomon Schechter started in 1954, near Echo Lake, in Washington. The first year, 25 campers attended a one-week session; the next year, 40 campers attended a two-week session.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The camp moved to Whidbey Island in 1958 but outgrew that space within 10 years. With the help again of Seattle Rabbi Joseph Wagner, one of the camp\u2019s founders, as well as Harry Sherman and Rabbi Zev Solomon from Vancouver, BC, a camp property in the Olympia area was found, and it was for sale.<\/p>\n \u201cRabbi Stampfer immediately called the number and spoke with the owner, Helen Shank,\u201d reads the Our History page of the CSS website.\u00a0\u201cAnd, for $300,000, the 200-acre property could be owned by Camp Solomon Schechter. Each of the rabbis from the major cities (Portland, Seattle and Vancouver) committed to raising $100,000 from their communities, and they were able to accomplish the goal in time for summer 1969.\u201d<\/p>\n CSS is still located at the site near Olympia, with some 600 campers and more than 100 staff attending annually, in addition to the Stampfer Retreat Centre and OSPREY Camp (an outdoor education program).<\/p>\n Seventy years is a special anniversary in Judaism.<\/p>\n \u201cThe number 70 is considered a lifetime, so much so that 13 years into the second lifetime, at the age of 83, many Jews will have a second bar or bat mitzvah,\u201d explained Duitch. \u201cWhere does that number come from? A midrashic tale tells us that there was an old man planting a carob tree by the side of the road when a traveler walked by. The traveler asked the man, \u2018Why are you planting that tree? It will never bear fruit in your lifetime.\u2019 The man responded, \u2018I\u2019m doing it for the next generation.\u2019 And so, the legend goes, it takes a carob tree 70 years from seed to fruit and that\u2019s where we get that idea of a lifetime. So, this year, at Schechter Spark, we are celebrating our first lifetime and raising funds for our next lifetime.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are looking forward to being at the event with many of our good friends and all our kids,\u201d Andrew Altow told the Independent<\/i>. He and Lisa attended CSS in the mid-to-late-1970s. \u201cI was a camper,\u201d he said. \u201cLisa was a camper and, later, a counselor.\u201d<\/p>\n After their first year at CSS, Andrew said there were a couple of reasons for wanting to return for another summer. \u201cFirst, all our Jewish friends from all the cities \u2013 Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, Spokane \u2013 that went every year. Second, the ruach<\/i> [spirit], the amazing sense of Judaism and fun together.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking back now some 50 years later, Andrew said, \u201cCSS played a massive role for us. Because of our CSS lifelong camp friendships, we met in our 20s at a party in Bellevue [Washington] and fell in love and got married a few years later \u2013 Lisa was from Bellevue and I was from Vancouver. Because of CSS, we maintained a meaningful connection with camp and eventually each of our four kids attended CSS and have made their own lifelong friends.\u201d<\/p>\n Andrew and Lisa have each, at one time or another, served on the CSS board or a board committee.<\/p>\n \u201cCSS has been a Jewish string that has connected us to our Judaism and to Israel in a positive and meaningful way, for which we are extremely grateful,\u201d said Andrew. \u201cMostly, it\u2019s been the amazing people involved with CSS, whether they be staff or volunteers, each one amazing in their passion for CSS and their genuine love for this magical camp, its mission, its values.\u201d<\/p>\n It was \u201cincredibly important\u201d that their kids also go to Camp Solomon Schechter, said Andrew. \u201cEach child \u2013 Josh, Lynne, Joey and Ari \u2013 got something different out of camp but their experience reinforced their Judaism and their connection to Israel.<\/p>\n \u201cOne summer, it was very special to have all four kids and my nephew from Toronto to attend in the same summer session \u2013 five Altows at one session. We were so proud to see how close they all were and continue to be. We believe CSS was an incredible positive influence on all of them.\u201d<\/p>\n Humbled to be one of the Schechter Spark 24 honourees, Andrew said, \u201cIn a world today full of hate, full of antisemitism, full of turmoil worldwide, CSS is an oasis of safety for Judaism to shine through our children and teach them the beautiful tenets of Judaism so our children, and future children, can continue to repair the world as our faith illustrates.\u201d<\/p>\n To read about the other Schechter Spark 2024\u00a0<\/span>honourees and to RSVP for the (free) local May 5 event at Tap & Barrel in Olympic Village, go to campschechter.org\/spark-24<\/a>. Vancouver co-chairs are Elana Bick and Sheldon Franken, and the special guest will be camp director Manda Graziel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n