Maccabiah
8 Alufim
4 teams
2 days
1 color war
Maccabiah is color war. The camp is divided into 4 teams: Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow for a fast-paced, creatively themed showdown. All 4 teams prepare songs, dances, and cheers, and compete in sports and arts competitions… all for a chance to hear their color named when the MC gets on stage and announces “Aaaaaand the winner of Maccabiah issssss………”
(Can you hear it?)
Here at GFC, the last 2 days have been filled with cheering, team spirit, excitement, and friendly competition. While Maccabiah is fun, spontaneous, and a break from the normal camp schedule, it is so much more than a color war. It is a lesson in building a sacred community. Every other day of the summer, we live by the phrase, “Everyone is a winner at GFC!” which is a mindset that empowers and celebrates the camp community. When Maccabiah begins, the empowerment and celebration doesn’t stop… but it is taught instead of shown. During Maccabiah, there is competition – but where there is competition, there is a lesson in sportsmanship. At the end of the 2 days there is a team that comes out on top – but where there is a winner, there is a lesson in respect and humility.
During Maccabiah, we sing louder, dance bigger, and play harder. We cheer on our friends and encourage them to be the best version of themselves. Immediately after it all ends, the whole camp stands up and dances the Jessica together, celebrating each other and all of the hard work we put in together. There may be winners and there may be defeat, but at the end we join together, unified as one community.