During my time on faculty at Jacobs Camp, I like to get up early to run in the relatively
cool Mississippi mornings.

Up at dawn, it is spectacular to watch the sunrise over the trees and see the mist
hovering over the lake. It is also remarkable to experience Jacobs Camp, normally
stirring with the joyous sounds of Jewish life, resting under a blanket of holy quiet.
Making my loops along the camp road in the early morning hours, I witness a part of
camp, invisible to most, but indispensable to all.

The sight of senior staff, no doubt on way too little sleep, making their way to their
offices to put the finishing touches on the next magical Jacobs day. They wake before
the rooster crows, fueled by their love for our campers and camp (and lots of caffeine).
In the pale morning light, I also see the dedicated members of the catering and
sanitation teams setting to work. Stealthily, so as not to disturb sleeping campers, they
empty the trash cans along the road and sweep the common areas. In the kitchen, a
crew is hard at work preparing breakfast, as evidenced by the aromas escaping from the
chadar ochel.

This year’s sanitation team comes from Mexico –college and graduate students taking
part in a cultural visa program. The kitchen staff is mostly from Utica; Jacobs Camp is the
area’s largest employer. Whether thousands of kilometers or just a few miles from their
homes, they wake early each morning to ensure Jacobs Camp is a beautiful, safe, and
nourishing “home” for our children.

When I was younger, we used to sing a Debbie Friedman song whose chorus included
the phrase, “Miracles aren’t just magic, they need people to help them along.” Being
able to spend this summer at Jacobs Camp is a much-needed miracle for our kids (and a
miraculous break for parents as well). Let us honor and celebrate all those who labor,
seen and unseen, from early in the morning until late into the night, to make the miracle
of Jacobs Camp possible.

L’shalom,
Rabbi Joel Fleekop
Temple Beth El of Pensacola