Our Stories

A Welcome Respite from the Day-to-Day at Camp MILTON

November 20, 2023 by Emily Berman (Community)

On a gorgeous Sunday in late October, more than 400 MILTON community members gathered for Camp MILTON, a day-long retreat at Capital Camps. We climbed the rock wall and played soccer, dodgeball, kickball, mah-jong and a high-stakes game of BINGO. The children turned into Master Chefs as they layered chocolate, challah, cinnamon and sprinkles into Monkey Bread. We sang songs around the campfire and tie-dyed everything in sight. Together we found joy, connection and respite in a time of uncertainty and fear.

When we began planning the event nearly 18 months prior, we had no idea it would fall just weeks into a war in Israel. As the day began, MILTON parent Jenny Rosenthal and teacher/parent Hen Manor led us in a prayer for the State of Israel. We put our arms around our Israeli friends and sang Hatikvah as a full community for the first time since October 7th. 

Over the course of the day, I noticed many faces relax and smiles came more easily. A group of dads strummed guitars by the fire. Families took a hike together. Kids basked in the sunshine and open air, playing with friends and enjoying endless snacks and treats. Parents and grandparents got a much-needed break from planning and preparing meals, from shuttling kids to and from sports and activities, and from the news.

And as we drove home, exhausted and smelling like campfire, we felt renewed by our collective strength and comforted by simply being together. 

Monkey Bread recipe

By Rabbi Corey Helfand 

Serves 1 hungry child or adult

Ingredients:

  • Thick slice of challah 
  • Butter (or Margarine) 
  • Brown sugar

Optional toppings:

  • Cinnamon 
  • Chocolate Chips
  • Coconut flakes
  • Sprinkles
  • Raisins

Directions:

Place challah in the center of a large piece of aluminum foil. Rub all over with a generous layer of butter or margarine. Rip into pieces and sprinkle with sugar and additional ingredients as desired. Smush everything together by hand, then pull edges up of the foil and seal into a packet. Place close to the fire for 5 minutes. Pull out with tongs, open carefully and enjoy.

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Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation’s Capital
Kay and Robert Schattner Center

North Campus

6045 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20011

South Campus

4715 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20011

Pre-K — Grade 8: Coeducational, community school
202-291-5737