Back to Camp: Reliving Shabbat at Interlaken
Written by Stephanie Marks Laev
Returning to camp for the Shabbat Tables experience was like stepping into a time capsule, where my most treasured memories echoed as I made my way through the machaneh. As a former camper and counselor of over ten years, I was accustomed to the Interlaken community as a child, teen, and young adult. The Shabbat reunion brought my oldest camp friends together to experience Eagle River through a new lens: adulthood.
Stephanie Laev Marks and friends at Interlaken’s Shabbat Tables this past summer.
On Friday, we excitedly arrived at the gates of CIL. The air was thick with nostalgia as we participated in the Shabbat walk and took an excessive number of photos on the athletic field. We were amazed to see that our Ozo ’08 project, a painting on the rock-climbing wall, was still intact. The Finley greeted us as we made our way to the amphitheater for a ruach-filled Shabbat service. Just as when we were campers, we rushed through our Shabbat meal to get the to the ultimate dessert: song session! We jumped, danced, and sang (read: shouted) with current campers and even our own campers, who had also, unknowingly to me, come to experience the magic of the Shabbat Tables. By the end of the night, our calves were sore from moving, and our abs from giggling.
Stephanie Laev Marks and friends at Interlaken’s Shabbat Tables this past summer.
We woke up Saturday morning wishing for a classic Benjy Bar-Lev morning show, so, naturally, we blasted Cat Stevens as we hurried back to camp for a tour. While most cabins have been beautifully renovated to meet the needs of Gen Z/A campers, I found my name scribbled on the bunks of Cabin Judah, which is awaiting its makeover. As we roamed from Ski Point to K’far, Toni discussed the incredible transformation camp has had during her nearly 20-year tenure. Not only has camp updated its buildings, but the community has become strikingly more diverse and even more attuned to the campers’ unique developmental needs. The best part of the day was spending time with my crew on the docked pontoon and jumping into the Fin. Yes, we are still convinced that the lake has healing properties. And, if you’re wondering, the heating coils seem to be in good shape. 😉
The lore of our camp has a way of transcending time, creating a legacy that is both personal and communal. CIL’s traditions and values have been passed down through 59 summers and serve as a reminder of our Jewish roots and the ideals instilled in us as children. The experience was not just a weekend of fun; it was a reaffirmation of Camp Interlaken’s enduring legacy that has given us a lifetime of memories.
Stephanie attended Camp Interlaken as a camper from 2001-2007; she was an Ozo in 2008. Steph worked at camp in ’09, ’10, and ’12. She lives in Tucson, Arizona with her husband Nate and daughter, Isla, and works at the University of Arizona with outpatient child and adolescent psychiatry.