A BEAUTIFUL beach, the idyllic Glencairn campsite, breathtaking tiyul and loads of Netzer ruach (spirit) were just some of the ingredients that made Netzer Machaneh Kol Koreh 2007 a memorable event for all involved.

Some 95 Netzer chanichim camped at Glencairn outside Simonstown in the Cape during the December 2007 holidays. They ranged in age from six to eighteen.

Kol Koreh - A Voice Sounds. The theme of Netzer Machaneh, 2007 was social justice, listening to the voices in our society that we so often ignore and empowering our chanichim (members) to let their voices sound.

Our educational aims were achieved through learning and doing. Peulot (activities) were run on topics ranging from Judaism to societal issues to Zionism to South Africa and current affairs. A tikun olam (repairing the world) project was tailor-made for each age group, including helping at an animal shelter, clearing alien vegetation, volunteering at a Love Life AIDS awareness centre and activities with a foster home in Mitchell's Plain.

Progressive Judaism provided an excellent platform on which to build this theme. As many of our channichim do not attend Jewish day schools, it is of even more importance that our Jewish education spans the elementary and the truly meaningful components.

Structured into our days are basic elements of Jewish practice like Birkat Hamazon and Ma'amadim, which are often done in fun, creative ways, allowing channichim to both express themselves and learn. Shabbat was a climax of each week on camp, with the entire camp coming together for Kabalat Shabbat, a special meal, an inclusive Torah service, seuda shlishit and Havdalla. Judaism is also a prominent part of our educational plan, with shichva activities ranging from the kings to the festivals.

Our main theme, social justice, was motivated and inspired by Jewish texts and sources. Peulot on all topics and issues facing society today allowed madrichim to contextualize Judaism for channichim, and expose them to the wealth of wisdom contained within our traditions. Even arts and crafts, such as mazuza cover decorating, emphasized informal Jewish learning. Two of our best resources - Rabbis Malcolm Mattitiani and Greg Alexander - were also present on camp, sharing their insights both formally and informally.

Zionism, as always, is a strong component of our machaneh. It is inevitable that enthusiasm for Israel permeates everything from conversation to the music in the chader ochel(dining hall) to peulot. Our incredibly successful 2007 madrichim seminar in Israel only served to strengthen this established Netzer norm.

Looking forward to an equally successful 2008!

Nilmad Ve'na'aseh!

We will learn and we will do!

Click here to see more Machaneh Kol Koreh pictures