On January 25th at the Peretz Center for Jewish Culture, Camp Miriam's Camp Committee hosted their third annual havdallah event for the machaneh community! The evening began with a welcome from MC's Madison Slobin and Nancy Gabor who highlighted how wonderful it was that we could all come together, people who care about Camp Miriam and continue to be involved in its success. After 200 participants arrived, pizza was served and we announced some chuggim for people to participate in. These included: "what you have always wanted to know about camp but were too afraid to ask", a new parents orientation, Jewpardy!, and story competitions. After people had a chance to engage with two chuggim we began the havdallah ceremony in the traditional way we have been doing at Camp Miriam for generations. After a relaxing havdallah, dessert was served and people had the chance to shmooze and form new inter-generational relationships. Thank you to all those who attended the event, it was a smashing success!

The Ken wouldn't miss a chance on winter-kef, so we all hopped on a bus and

 headed to Cyrpus mountain. After plenty of runs down the snow-tubbing hill, we gathered inside a lodge for warm hot chocolate and a yummy dinner. While warming our toes we played triva games and learned about Tu B'shvat.

Right now we're planning a Shabbat dinner when Leah and Yossi come to Portland. We're thinking February 28th as our date. We're super excited that Portland ken has been so active and are loving getting to make Miriam a stronger presence in our lives outside Machaneh! We are hoping to have a sleepover with the Seattle Ken in the spring.   

Having launched off this month, one of our maapilim- Madison Slobin, is working in partnership with the JCC to develop a program for Queer & Trans* (LGBTQ) youth! The purpose of the group would be to engage in discussion and activities that encourage young people to explore their sexual and gender identities and gain support from the facilitators and their peers. The group is expected to kick off soon and is open to anybody below 18 who identifies with any gender or sexuality! Please contact Madison if you are interested, have questions or have feedback at madison.slobin@gmail.com

Social Justice, Potluck and Challa, what more can one ask for?
The Post-MBIers got together to have a shabbat dinner and partake in a peula about social justice in Vancouver! We had two visitors come to the ken event from Machaneh Moshe who shared in the amazing food provided by the chanichim and their madrichim. The evening began with a kabbalat shabbat and proceeded to eating some delicious dishes. After we had eaten dinner, everyone gathered in the living room to talk about how we can change our tikkun olam to be in accordance with a veida resolution that passed and how the post-MBIers could get involved with the MVA (a broad-based social justice organization that the Vancouver maapilim have been working with). We ended the night by talking about some issues in Vancouver that we could potentially tackle and ate some yummy mint-chocolate chip ice cream. A good time was had by all!