By Shelley Hubal

With their arms around each other on a late summer Saturday night, about 500 Jewish campers gathered in the dark woods; the only light was the glow of Havdalah candles. Their resplendent joy as they sang, danced and hugged was palpable. 
My son is a participant in the vocational program at Camp Ramah New England and, as a parent, you can log in and see photos from camp and the occasional video. The video of the Havdalah service was so beautiful it moved me to tears. It also took me back to my own summer camp experiences: celebrating Shabbat with my friends and feeling as if nothing existed, but that moment in time and place, and the love that was all around.
Still thinking of the Ramah video, I reached out to Rabbi Micah Friedman months later and asked him if he would help me to plan a special community Havdalah. After all, don’t we all need a little unfettered joy? It turns out that Temple Israel was already planning an Artist in Residence Weekend with musician and cantor Zach Mayer. Zach uses the power of harmony and traditional Jewish melodies, or nigunim, to bring people together. 
So, it seems bashert that the Jewish Federation will sponsor the Havdalah service of the Artist in Residence Weekend at Temple Israel. The entire community is welcome to attend any of the weekend’s special events. I hope you will join us as we raise our voices in harmony and celebration. If you are seeking joy and kinship, you will not be disappointed.
For more information on participating in any of the four events that Zach will lead the weekend of March 14-16, see the article on page 5 or visit Temple Israel's website.