At camp, we begin each morning with Modeh Ani during B’yachad at the flagpole. During this communal moment before the day begins, we stand together and say, “I give thanks.” It’s a simple phrase, but a powerful one. It encourages us to pause and notice the people, places, and moments that sustain us.
That spirit of noticing is at the heart of this week’s Torah portion, Chukat. In it, we encounter a moment of deep loss: Miriam dies, and almost immediately afterward, the Israelites find themselves without water. Our tradition teaches that a miraculous well had followed the people through the desert in Miriam’s merit. When she passed, the water dried up.
Miriam wasn’t always front and center, but she was a quiet source of strength and nourishment. Only when she was gone did the people realize just how vital she had been. Her story invites us to ask: what are the “wells” in our own lives? What are the sources of support and care that we might not always recognize?
During meals this past week, I asked a simple question to campers across villages: what is one thing you’re grateful for at camp? Their answers were a beautiful reflection of what really matters here. Some campers named their counselors, their friends, or the people who make their meals. Others mentioned Shabbat, the lake, the pool, and grilled cheese (of course).
What struck me most was how many of these answers pointed to relationships and small comforts, the things that might not always make the schedule or get a shoutout, but that shape the camp experience in deep and lasting ways.
Miriam’s well reminds us that some of the most important contributions are the quiet ones. At camp, so much is held together by small moments of care, by people who show up day after day to support others, and by spaces that give us the chance to be ourselves.
Gratitude is not just about saying “thank you.” It’s about noticing. It’s about honoring the people who make a difference without needing attention, and about becoming that kind of presence for someone else.
This week, may we continue to notice the “wells” around us. May we carry Modeh Ani not just at the flagpole, but throughout our day.
Shabbat Shalom,
Josh Micley