Divrei Derech

Back at Camp

We’ve been involved in the Jewish summer camp world for a long time.  It’s a powerful experience every summer with unique highlights each time.

This summer we’ve reached a new pinnacle.  Our baby is on staff.

There have been many moments when our kvelling (Yiddish verb for bursting with pride) has overflowed but perhaps the most intense was when Laura and I entered the amphitheater on Friday evening, the community dressed in white as usual, and the song leader standing up front, leading the entire congregation was Max.

Sitting off to the side, our good friend Dan, a musical mentor to Max could see us all the way in the back of the space, and we kvelled together.  Laura got ferklempt (all choked up) and Max was helpless to stop me as I took tons of pictures.

I’m sure there’s something profound to frame all this, though I’m content just being a proud father…

This summer, we’ve welcomed into the faculty ranks a couple of new Jewish professionals who we’ve watched grow up in the camp setting.  Sarah the artist and Sara the cantor.  As young staff ourself, we were welcomed by Sara’s uncle, Rabbi Ken Weiss, whose memory beautifully infuses life here at camp.  Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan is back on faculty with us after a break of many years and most of our usual crew is back.  

Creating a vibrant Jewish experience for the campers is the top priority, but I know that each of us on staff and faculty also feed off the energy, learn from the laboratory and revive our spirits with the beauty of Jewish experience all throughout the camp setting.

Watching the young staff take their place in leadership… and, especially, as both of our boys have reached this level beautifully illustrates the concept of L’dor vador… from generation to generation.

Taking the Washboard a little too far...

The banjo has been part of my life since I was eight years old and, from the very beginning, so has the East Bay Banjo Club.  It’s hard to describe a banjo club to those who haven’t experienced it but much of the music intersects with Dixieland.  The most significant difference, at least in our club, was the restriction on instruments.  A banjo club is primarily banjos with just a few rhythm instruments to keep us in line.

We had a bass or tuba, sometimes a washtub bass, otherwise known as a gutbucket and a washboard.  I remember seeing clubs who also had talented spoons players and a couple with the bones.  

I love all of the funky rhythm instruments but I especially appreciate both a well appointed washboard and, even more, a talented washboard player.

Growing up with the East Bay Banjo Club, our washboard player was Jim Morgan who also connected us with the hospital charity our playouts always supported.  Jim would get up and strap on the washboard for a couple songs each night, especially the Coney Island Washboard.

Here’s a recording of the Club playing it though I’m pretty sure this was after Jim had passed away.

 

Now YouTube gives us access to anything and everything, so I found an amazing washboard player who plays smooth with impressive fills, not overdoing it.  Here's the Washboard Chaz Trio playing the I'm So Glad Blues.

 

 

About a year ago, I decided it was time to create my own deluxe washboard and began building it.  I started with a classic Dubl Handi. 
I like darker woods, so I stained it.  Then I made many trips to the best music shop I’ve found in town, Bentley’s Drum Shop.  I’m not a percussionist but it’s clear that Dana Bentley has the best selection for his realm of the music world and absolutely the most knowledgeable staff.

The cowbells and plastic versions of wood blocks are mostly LP Percussion and Meinl attached with the clamps to attach them to drum kits.  Ultimately, I discovered the whole things was just too heavy for normal hang around your neck play, so Bentley’s found a Gibraltar Electronic Mounting Station that worked perfectly.

While I mostly remember playing with thimbles, I also like the spoons which are a bit more mellow and can be played as their own instrument.  I also picked up a couple types of percussion brushes which work well and don’t overpower the room.

All told, the cost added up, especially with the stand but the components are all interchangeable and the fun it has been creating has been completely worth it.

Here's the final product...

And here it is from the player's perspective...

May the beauty of humanity prevail

Years ago, I named my blog Divrei Derech (Words for the Road) to share with the community back home while I was traveling on a sabbatical road trip.

This evening we shared the road in the Tower District of Fresno with a wide variety of people.  The LGBT community gathered with many allies walking hand in hand with a wide representation of religious leaders standing together in solidarity with the local LGBT community.

We heard unequivocal condemnation of the violence and complete support for the LGBT community from religious leaders including Unitarian Universalist, Native American, Muslim, Sikh, Christian and Jewish (that was me).  Others were present including a Catholic priest from our regional diocese.

With short notice, our city police department accompanied our march, protected the participants (though gladly there was no need) and closed off a street for us to march.  

I abhor and condemn the violence.  There is no excuse.  As several voices echoed throughout our evening, we cannot simply continue to pray for an end to such horrific violence, we must make concrete steps to put an end to such tragedies.

With such ugliness in human behavior, I do like to have a spotlight to shine on beauty and as I watched the evening unfold, there was much beauty to behold.  Here in Fresno, in the heart of the Central Valley, gay and straight, people of diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures and religions came together in beautiful and powerful solidarity.  

While I unquestionably prefer our gatherings for celebrations, I deeply appreciate the beauty in human partnership we shared along the road in Fresno this evening, the same spirit of oneness that we share every day.

May the beauty of humanity prevail.