aruchat boker

breakfast

avoda

"Literally, 'divine service'" (JPS) Also, "work" or "service" and sometimes used as the name for a unit at camp in which campers help with such duties as service in the dining hall, laundry, etc.

beteavon

bon appetit; enjoy your meal; dig in. Glinert: "Literally, 'bon appetit!'"

Birkat Hamazon

The blessing after food, referring to the four blessing Grace After Meals said after consuming bread. Referred to in many communities as "bentching."

bishul chutz

Cook-Out.

boker or

literally, "morning light". said in response to "boker tov."

boker tov

"good morning"

brecha

pool

bruchim haba'im

welcome! [lit. "blessed are those who come"]

chadar ochel

dining hall, dining room

chanichim

campers; members of youth movement, as in Hashomer Hatzair

disciples (in a classroom)

chug

elective class, group activity

group, circle (of people)

dugma

example

dugma ishit

role model, personal example

eidah

group, cohort; session/unit

gaga

A version of dodgeball played in a hexagonal or octagonal "pit," sometimes referred to as "Israeli dodgeball." Gaga is common in Jewish summer camps, schools, and community gatherings and has spread to non-Jewish settings as well.

hafsaka

break or interruption

hoda'ot

announcements

Kab Shab

Abbreviated form of Kabalat Shabbat (the Friday night prayer service).

kova

hat

kumzits

sing-along; campfire gathering with singing

lo matim

Inappropriate

lo matim

Inappropriate

maccabiah

international Jewish sports competition, known as the Jewish Olympics, held (mostly) every four years since 1932; smaller regional competitions held in Jewish community centers around the world

color war / intra-camp competition in a Jewish summer camp

madrich

youth counselor or supervisor

menucha

Rest or rest time

merkaz

central area (of a given space)

moadon

clubhouse, lounge

nikayon

time set aside for cleaning / tidying up (at camp)

ohel

structure built over a grave, especially that of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

tent (in a summer camp setting)

peula

activity

peulat erev

evening program

rikud

dancing, especially Israeli dancing (at camp)

rosh edah

supervisor of staff member responsible for a particular age group at summer camp

ruach

spirit, "spiritedness, morale" (JPS)

shir

song

shira

singing session

shmira

"guard duty"

"watching over the body of a dead person prior to burial"

shomer

one who keeps vigil over a dead body before it is buried

adj. observant, observing the laws of kosher, shabbat, or negiya (not touching members of the opposite gender outside of family)

a member of Hashomer Hatzair or a camper or counselor at a Hashomer Hatzair camp

a chaperone, protector, or guard

a camp counselor on duty

sifria

library

sivuv

noun: a go-around, walk-around, lap, especially one done in order to double-check something

teva

nature

character (quality of a person or thing)

toranut

tour of duty, esp. the task of serving and clearing food, and/or setting and clearing plates, at communal meals at Jewish summer camp

The people given the job of toranut

tzevet

staff member

staff

tzrif

cabin/bunk

va'ad

"committee or council" (Steinmetz), group convened for a particular purpose, including rabbinical council, kashrut supervisory council, youth group/synagogue board of directors, study group, etc.