Guide for the Jewish Chaplain at Boy Scout Camp

The founders of Scouting recognized the importance of religion in the life of a boy and urged its practice. However, they did not assume for Scouting the authority for religious instruction. Scouting is in partnership with the synagogue and the church to which it looks for the completed program of religious education.

The chaplain will find that the Scouts of Jewish faith coming to camp are from Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform homes. The function of the chaplain is to meet the needs of each Scout in accordance with his home background. Scouting is interested in having each Scout observe the religious customs, rituals, and ceremonies which he has been taught at home and in his synagogue.

RELATION OF CHAPLAIN TO CAMP STAFF

As a chaplain, you are technically on the staff of the camp director, although your salary and expenses may be paid in whole or in part by the local Jewish Committee on Scouting, the local Boy Scout council, the Jewish Chautauqua Society, or a combination of these.

You will find this position on the camp staff to be advantageous and extremely helpful to you in your duties. By being a member of the staff you are not an outsider. Your chief consultant is the camp director himself. The success of your religious program is one of his responsibilities. You should confer with him often.

Where a chaplain resides in a Scout camp, full responsibility for all matters regarding the spiritual welfare of Jewish boys rests with him. Before the season starts, the chaplain should try to meet with the camp director and the staff for an orientation session.

Responsibilities of the Camp Director

1. Provide adequate quarters for the chaplain, befitting the dignity of his office and assuring the necessary privacy and conveniences.

2. Provide a suitable place of worship conveniently located. Representatives of the local Jewish committee in cooperation with camp officials help select the site.

3. Provide an adequate and safe place for all religious equipment used in the worship service.

4. Arrange schedule for Friday evening and Saturday morning services with which the camp program will not conflict.

5. Provide the chaplain with information on the troops chartered by Jewish institutions that are at camp.

DUTIES OF THE CHAPLAIN

The following are some of the major duties carried out by the chaplain at a Scout camp:

• Conduct Sabbath Services

  Sabbath services should be held on Friday evening before or after the supper meal and on Saturday morning before or after breakfast. The service should be of a type acceptable to the majority of the Scouts present. Experience has shown that a service of 30 minutes on Friday evening and a 1 hour service on Saturday morning are most satisfactory.

  Among the prayer books that are available for these services are: "A Jewish Religious Service for Boy Scouts and Explorers," published by the National Jewish Committee on Scouting, and "Prayer Book for Summer Camps," published by Prayer Book Press, Hartford, Connecticut.

  The chaplain will find Scouts eager to serve as ushers and to assist in conducting the service. Eagle Scouts, Ner Tamid recipients, and boys belonging to the Order of the Arrow will prove most helpful if invited by the chaplain to assist him. At the Friday night service, arrangements could be made for boys to share the kiddush wine after the service. Jigger-size cups should be filled with wine before the service begins, ready for distribution at the conclusion of the service. Scouts should be reminded to drop cups in waste cans.

  Scouts attending the Sabbath services should be inspired and encouraged to work on the Ner Tamid program and complete it when they return home. Local Jewish committees on Scouting should make available a supply of the "Ner Tamid Record Books" for the chaplain to distribute to Scouts interested in the program.

  A Torah scroll may be borrowed from one of the local synagogues for use during the summer only if special care is taken that it not be desecrated. It should be kept in a safe place between services. Otherwise, a miniature photo-offset Torah scroll is available from any good Jewish religious supply house.

• Conduct Daily Services

  In some camps, where enough boys are present who are accustomed to having a daily service, the chaplain will want to conduct one before breakfast.

• Promote Ner Tamid Program

  The chaplain can be of tremendous help in getting Scouts started on the Ner Tamid program. This program is designed to help Jewish boys put into practice the Twelfth Point of the Scout Law, "A Scout is Reverent."

  At the Sabbath services the chaplain should have a supply of "Ner Tamid Record Books," made available by the local Jewish committee on Scouting, and challenge the Scouts to earn the emblem by Boy Scout Sabbath in February or by next summer. The "Ner Tamid Record Book" could be distributed before the close of the service to all boys who are First Class, Star, Life, or Eagle. A Scout must be a least First Class at the time he receives the emblem. After services you will find that some Tenderfoot and Second Class Scouts will come to you pleading for a record book. Give it to them. They can begin working on the program even though they are not eligible to receive the emblem until they are First Class Scouts.

  During your visits to the troop sites and troop campfires, another opportunity presents itself to inspire and encourage Scouts to earn the Ner Tamid emblem.

• Inspirational Talks

  Be prepared to give inspirational talks at opening and closing campfires at the invitation of the camp director or program director. These talks should be of a nonsectarian nature and could illustrate some point of the Scout Oath and Law. Boys love a good story, well told. See Section VII, "Scout Sermon Sparklers."

• Help the Scoutmaster

  Help the Scoutmaster cope with any homesick or behavior problems which he may have with any of his boys.

• Visit Troop Sites

  Visit troop sites to become acquainted with Scout leaders and boys.

• Visit Health Lodge

  When Scouts are sick and confined to quarters or confined to the health lodge, the chaplain should set aside time for a visit. Old copies of "World Over" magazine and "Boys' Life" magazine are always popular with the boys and can be left with them to help them pass the time.

• Dining Hall Graces

  The chaplain takes his meals usually in the camp dining hall with the staff and Scouts. he should arrange, in consultation with other chaplains, for grace to be said before each meal. A selection of approved graces for all faiths will be found in another section of this guide.

  In some camps, the Scout who is selected to recite the opening prayer may want to do so in accordance with his religious training. In such cases, all Scouts will maintain a respectful attitude during the recitation of the grace and then recite to themselves the Hebrew prayer, "Hamotzi" (blessing over bread), or any other prayer to which they are accustomed.

• Kosher Food at Scout Camp

  You will find that the majority of Jewish boys coming to Scout camp will eat whatever is on the camp menu. There may be some Scouts, however, who, for religious reasons, will not eat ham, pork, bacon, or cold cuts made with pork products. A substitute dish of beef or eggs will usually be available for those who require it, provided the camp director has been informed by the unit leader before his unit's arrival at camp.

  Troop camping is the best method - the Scouting method - for helping Scouts observe the Jewish dietary laws of Kashruth. Scouts come to camp as a troop under their own troop leadership. They bring along one set of pots, pans, and cooking utensils for dairy and another set for meat meals. The dishes and cups are paper. Kosher meats are brought up to camp and stored in the camp freezer or refrigerator. Canned food, milk, and other staples are purchased from the camp commissary. Boys cook their meals by patrols. Troop camping where kosher meals are prepared by patrols is the method used in such councils as Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, Baltimore, and many others.

  There are several Scout camps where the number of Jewish boys who require kosher food is large enough for the camp authorities to provide it. In these camps a kosher kitchen is set up with the guidance of the local Jewish Committee on Scouting. Such kitchens are operated at the Ten Mile River Camp of the Greater New York Councils, at the Goose Pond Scout Reservation of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and a few others. Full details will be found in the pamphlet, "Kosher Food at Scout Camp", available from the Jewish Relationships Service, BSA.

SUPPLIES

• Prayer Books - Several good prayer books are available:
  • A Jewish Religious Service for Boy Scouts and Explorers, which may be ordered from the National Jewish Committee on Scouting, BSA.

  • Prayer Book for Summer Camps published by Prayer Book Press, Hartford, CT, is published in two editions -- hard cover, cloth edition.

  The following items may be obtained from any good Jewish religious supply house:

  • The Torah - New translation published by the Jewish Publication Society

  • The Holy Scriptures - published by the Jewish Publication Society

  • Hertz Chumish - The Five Books of Moses

  • Hertz Daily Prayer Book

  • Miniature Safer Torah - (photo-offset)

  • Velvet or Satin Table Cover for Pulpit

  • Skull Caps

  • Prayer Shawls

  • Wine for Sabbath Kiddush

  • Silver Kiddush Cup

• Ner Tamid Record Book, No. 33182 - for distribution to Scouts

• Boy Scout Handbook, No. 33229 - for the chaplain's information

Other Items Needed:

• Two Complete Scout Uniforms

  Shirt, shorts, belt, neckerchief, slide, cap, stockings, and garters which may be obtained from local Boy Scout distributor, usually located in a leading department store.

• Paper Cups

  1-ounce cups for Scouts; large cups to pour the wine into the small cups - obtain from any five and ten or supermarket

GRACES

• Morning Graces
  1. "Gracious Giver of all good, Thee we thank for rest and food. Grant that all we do or say, in Thy service be this day."

  2. "Our Father, we thank Thee, for this new day and for Thy loving care. Help us to be mindful of Thee in these happy, sunlit hours."

  3. "Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for Thy care through the night and for this new day. Guide us by Thy spirit, and at the close of this day may we not be ashamed before Thee."

• Noon Graces
  1. "Father, for this noonday meal, we would speak the praise we feel. Health and strength we have from Thee, help us, Lord, to faithful be."

  2. "Heavenly Father, help us to see the beautiful things in earth and sky which are tokens of Thy love. Walk with us in the days we spend together here. May the food we eat and all Thy blessings help us to better serve Thee."

  3. "Our Father in Heaven, as this day leads on, let us not forget our obligation to honor and serve Thee. We thank Thee for these gifts of Thy bounty. Bless them to our use and our lives to Thy service."

• Evening Graces
  1. "Tireless Guardian on our way, Thou hast kept us well this day. While we thank Thee, we request care continued, pardon, rest.

  2. "Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for this day and for Thy presence in it. Forgive us if we have not made it a better day and help us to be tomorrow what we have failed to be today."

  3. "Our Father, God, we thank Thee for this evening meal. As Thou hast been mindful of us, so help us to be mindful of Thee, that we may know and do Thy will."

  4. "Our Father in Heaven, Thou hast given us all things richly to enjoy. We bring our thanks to Thee at this evening meal. Bless us as we partake of this food, and keep us mindful of the needs of others."

• Graces Suitable for any Meal
  1. "For health and strength and daily food, we give Thee thanks, O Lord."

  2. "For this and all Thy mercies, Lord, make us duly grateful."

  3. "For food and health and friendship, we give Thee thanks, O Lord."

  4. "We thank Thee, our heavenly Father, for this food. Bless us as we partake of it that it may strengthen us for Thy service."

• HEBREW BLESSING OVER BREAD

  Boruch Atto Adonoi Elohenu Melech Haolum Hamozi Lechem Min Ha-aretz.

  Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who bringeth forth bread from the earth.

SCOUT SERMON SPARKLERS

A SCOUT IS TRUSTWORTHY

Words that make up a language are more than tags for things and thoughts; they convey something of the philosophy of a people. The word for "whisper" in the Hebrew is nachash. The word for "serpent" is also nachash. The tongue, our rabbis tell us, is facile like a serpent. it slithers here and there, casting words, recklessly and aimlessly--and like the serpent condemned to evil, the tongue is capable of the crushing evil of the lie, injustice, and the cutting evil gossip in human relations. A Scout worthy of the name remembers the sanctity of the tongue and the holiness of speech. He understands why our fathers included in their daily prayers the words, "O God, keep my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking guile."

Grant us strength, O God, to be guided by Thy light, and may our mouths always speak Thy praise and the praise of all men.

A SCOUT IS LOYAL

In 1654, on the good ship "St. Charles," there arrived in the harbor of New Amsterdam, now New York City, a small company of Jews. They joined the settlement which was located on a site now designated as Wall Street. Here they assumed the burdens of establishing a new life in a new country. They found shortly after their arrival that they were required to make their contribution to the welfare of the settlement in the form of taxes. They, of course, made no objection to this requirement. They also learned that they were not called upon to defend the settlement. Then a group of three came before Peter Stuyvesant, the Governor of New Amsterdam, and complained: "We are children of an ancient faith. We have come here in search of freedom and the enactment of the principles of our faith. In this, all of us here settled are brothers. We have been called upon to share in the responsibilities of this community by way of a tax. This tax we shall refuse to pay until such time as the Honorable Governor will permit us the loyal privilege of defending the settlement with our time and our energy and thus make our contribution complete."

Thus, from the very moment that this country was established, our people have sought with heart and energy to cleave loyally to the principles and responsibilities of this growing democracy. We pray, O God, that we shall continue in our loyalty to the principles and practices that serve the ways of freedom and give meaning to America.

A SCOUT IS HELPFUL

The Talmud tells us that man is not an island. He is one of many and the many are his concern as he must be the concern of the many. The Talmud stresses the point that he must be helpful when called upon and when he is not called upon he must consider how he can best serve his fellowman.

To illustrate the point, the story is told of the aged citizen who was at work planting carob trees. Along came a traveler who asked the old man, "What are you doing, sir?" The man answered, "I am planting carob trees." Said the traveler, "But you will never live to use the fruit of the trees for the years it will take for the fruit to appear are beyond your years." The old man paused, looked at the traveler, and said, "I plant them not for myself but for those who will come after me as those who came before me prepared the blessings I have shared."

A SCOUT IS FRIENDLY

One of the purposes of Scouting is to develop friendship. True friendship is among the greatest blessings of life. One of the most famous friendships is that of Jonathan and David. it was a mutual friendship; there was no jealousy or rivalry because of the success or position of the other. Jonathan stood up for David even before his father, the king, and tried to have him treated fairly. He was willing to help him even at the risk of his own success and welfare. (See First Book of Samuel - 18:1-16. Also 20:1-17)

A SCOUT IS COURTEOUS

In the Pirke Avos, or Ethics of the Fathers, it is written there are seven marks of a courteous man --

He does not speak before one who is greater in wisdom than he.

He does not interrupt another in his speech.

He is not hasty to answer.

He asks pertinent questions and answers to the point.

He speaks first upon the matter first in order, and last upon the last.

When he does not understand the matter under discussion, he confesses: I do not understand it.

When the truth is presented, he readily acknowledges it.

The reverse of these things marks the uncultured man.

Courtesy is like a garment. It dresses up each of our deeds. It lends beauty and sanctity to each of life's endeavors. It makes possible growth and development and a sublime personality.

A SCOUT IS KIND

Eleazar of the city of Worms lived toward the end of the thirteenth century. We remember him well because of the words he left to his son as his inheritance. Being a poor man, he could leave more and yet he left a form of wealth greater than all other forms. It speaks of the true nature of kindness.

My Dear Son:

Let thy dealings be of such sort that a blush need never visit thy cheek; be sternly dumb to the voice of passion; commit no sin, saving to thyself that thou wilt repent and make atonement at a later time. Let no oath ever pass thy lips; play not the haughty aristocrat in thine heart; follow not the desire of the eyes; banish carefully all guile from thy soul, all unseemly self- assertion from thy bearing and thy temper.

Speak never mere empty words; enter into strife with no man; place no reliance on men of mocking lips; wrangle not with evil men; cherish no too fixed good opinion of thyself, but lend thine ear to remonstrate and reproof.

Be not weakly pleased at demonstrations of honor; strive not anxiously for distinction; never let a thought of envy of those who do grave wrong cross thy mind; be never enviously jealous of others, or too eager for money.

Honor thy parents; make peace whenever thou canst among people, lead them gently into the good path; place thy trust in, give thy company to, those who fear God.

A SCOUT IS OBEDIENT

A great American once said, "Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God." To be obedient requires the knowledge and acceptance of the highest good and the service thereto.

The obedience of the Jew is depicted in the story of the Roman and Rabbi Akiba. The Romans issued a decree that the Jews should no longer occupy themselves in the study of the Torah. Rabbi Akiba, however, was most zealous in spreading a love and knowledge of the Torah. One day his friend Pappus met him and said: "Akiba, art thou not afraid? Thou surely must know that thy deeds will bring thee into danger!" "Stay awhile," answered Akiba, "Let me tell thee a story: A fox was walking on the brink of a stream, in the clear waters of which were a number of fishes running to and fro. Said the fox to the fishes, 'Why do you run so?' 'We run,' replied they, 'because we fear the fishermen's nets.' 'Come up on the dry land,' said the fox, 'and live with me in safety, even as my forefathers once lived in safety with yours.' But the fishes said, 'This surely is not the cleverest amongst animals that speaks thus. Water is our natural home. If we are not safe there, how much less safe should we be on land where we must surely die!'

"It is exactly so with us Jews," continued Akiba. "The Torah is our life and the length of our days. To it we must remain obedient, for if we were to give up its study, our obedience to principles, peoples, and governments would have no meaning. We give thanks to God that we have remained obedient to the Torah, the way of life, the way of justice and peace."

A SCOUT IS CHEERFUL

It is written in our holy writings, "Better is he who shows a smiling face than he who offers milk to drink." It is also written, "Whoever gives a gift to a poor man earns a blessing, but he who speaks a kind word to him, obtains an even greater blessing." The deed is important but the manner of the deed is also important. A cheerful countenance speaks of a happy heart.

Many years ago there arose among our people a group known as the Chasidim. They were poor in worldly possessions but rich in cheerfulness. They met the Lord with song and dance and met each other with a smile. Of one leader among Chasidim, it is told that he delivered a sermon to his congregation. He felt, however, that his words were not understood and so he turned to one listener and asked him: "Did you understand my words?" He answered that he did not. "Then," said the chasid, "let us sing a joyous refrain and let understanding come therefrom."

A SCOUT IS THRIFTY

A good student, our tradition tells us, sets a time and place for his studies. He does not say, "When I have time, I will study," for then he will have no time. He is thrifty and saves all his moments and uses them wisely.

A Scout worthy of the name is thrifty with his possessions. He is not ostentatious, he is not wasteful. he does not "show off" with the things he possesses but puts them to their proper use.

Of all things that we have, we remember, as our prayer reminds us, we are but stewards of what we possess. May we never forget that all we have is but lent to us, a trust for which we must render account to God.

A SCOUT IS BRAVE

Bravery does not mean lack of fear, but to have courage in spite of fear. Concern for the right and the truth and to defend them with all our might is the highest bravery of all.

The story of David and Goliath is famous because it is a story of great bravery. You will recall how the Philistine, Goliath, defied the living God. There was no one in the armies of Israel to take up his challenge, but David, a shepherd lad, volunteered to battle with the strong man of the Philistines. David was brave and he had faith as well, and he said: "The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver thee out of the hand of the Philistines." (See First Book of Samuel 17:37)

A SCOUT IS CLEAN

In the Talmud it is recorded, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Carefulness leads to cleanliness, cleanliness to purity, purity to humility, humility to saintliness, saintliness to fear of sin, fear of sin to holiness, and holiness to immortality."

Cleanliness has been emphasized on every page of our tradition, for physical cleanliness leads to spiritual cleanliness. The clean hand is the father of the clean deed.

With the sages of yesteryear we repeat at this time, "Blessed art Thou, O Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who has commanded us to cleanse ourselves in Thy presence."

A SCOUT IS REVERENT

The Ner Tamid program reflects our reverence for our faith. Our faith is symbolized by the Torah. "The Torah," wrote Heine, "is large and wide as the world, towering into the blue secrets of heaven. Sunrise and sunset, promise and fulfillment, birth and death -- the whole drama of humanity -- are contained in the Torah. Nations rose and vanished, states flourished and decayed, revolutions raged throughout the earth -- but they, the Jews, sat pouring over this book, unconscious of the wild chase of time that rushed on above their heads."

For in the Torah we have found the meaning of life and the purpose of our creation. The Torah has been a guide and a lamp unto our feet. To this Torah we turn from week to week, to read therefrom and to discover its truths in order that we may be lifted to great heights for even worthier work.