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Keeping the Sabbath While Camping KEEPING THE SABBATH WHILE CAMPING
A GUIDE FOR BOY SCOUT LEADERS
ISSUED BY NATIONAL JEWISH COMMITTEE ON SCOUTING A Word To The Scoutmaster Can Scouts observe the Sabbath while camping? The answer is yes! Experience has shown that Jewish youth in Scouting who wish to observe the traditional laws of the Sabbath can do so. At the same time they can participate in their unit's camping program. The material in this brochure has been prepared for you. It contains not only theory but practical suggestions describing dozens of Scouting activities that are possible on the Jewish Sabbath without cutting wood, building fires, or writing. If you have any questions about any projects, we suggest you consult your own rabbi who, as spiritual leader of the synagogue, determines the religious policy of the unit. We are grateful to Rabbi Benjamin Sharfman and to the members of the Queens Jewish Committee on Scouting for demonstrating that it can be done. Yes, it is possible to keep the Sabbath while camping! 15/109 1994 Printing (Updated with the assistance of Aaron Marsh and other Scouters on J-SCOUTS, Sept. 2004) LAWS AND REGULATIONS FOR SABBATH OVERNIGHT HIKES
Check with your rabbi regarding any changes or modifications Prohibitions - It is forbidden to travel on the Sabbath, except by foot in certain areas; consequently, Scout troops must arrive at camp before the commencement of the Sabbath.
- No fires may be lit on the Sabbath, nor extinguished. A fire may be lit before the Sabbath begins, to continue burning thereafter.
- No cooking is permissible. This applies to both solids and liquids.
- No holes or excavations may be dug. No loose earth may be utilized.
- Flowers and leaves may not be picked. This applies even if the vegetation has fallen off by itself.
- No wood may be chopped or gathered.
- No Scout knots may be tied or untied.
- Hunting and fishing are forbidden.
- Putting up or dismantling a tent is prohibited.
- Writing of any kind is forbidden.
- Musical instruments may not be played.
- The Sabbath laws may be abrogated only in the event of an emergency involving life and death.
Permitted Acts - It is permissible to open small cans and all bottles on the Sabbath in order to remove their contents. There is sufficient authority to permit this, particularly in these circumstances of Scouting.
- Indoor games, such as chess and checkers, are permitted on the Sabbath. Strenuous games, such as those involving a ball, while not strictly forbidden, are nevertheless not within the spirit of the Sabbath rest. However, discretion should be employed in this matter.
BASIC CONCEPTS TO BE CONSIDERED IN PLANNING THE PROGRAM The Jewish Sabbath starts at sundown on Friday night and ends at sundown on Saturday night. This is based on the Jewish belief that the night precedes the day. Be aware of the requirements regarding carrying and the establishment of eruvim. Almost all Scouting activities can be started on the Sabbath and finished on Sunday. The idea here is to stimulate the interesting aspects of a particular activity so that the Scout has the desire to complete the activity at a future time. Item 10 under "Prohibitions" states that "writing of any kind is forbidden." Many charts, illustrations, diagrams and flash cards can be prepared beforehand. therefore, this program takes a little more preparation. Plan ahead. During the Sabbath, it is important that some method of communication be set up. If at all possible, see that there is at least one watch patrol and that the patrol leader carries a time schedule. This is necessary because bugle calls are not to be sounded during this period. SUGGESTED MENU FOR OBSERVANCE
OF JEWISH DIETARY LAWS
ON WEEKEND OVERNIGHT HIKES Friday Evening Juice (choice of Tomato, grapefruit, orange, or pineapple)
Soup (chicken noodle or rice)
Gefilte fish
Chicken, roast or broiled
Vegetables (two)
Dessert
Tea and cookies Challah - Kiddush Saturday Breakfast Juice
Cold Cereal
Choice of pickled herring or lox, smoked carp, matjes.
Milk, challah, and butter Saturday Lunch Juice
Salad, choice of salmon, tuna fish, sardines, tomato herring, or hard-boiled egg.
Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, and peppers
Milk and cookies Saturday Snack Hard-boiled egg, salmon, tuna fish or cream cheese and jelly sandwiches
Milk and cookies Saturday Supper Juice
Soup
Meat (hamburger, steak or stew)
Vegetables (two)
Dessert
Tea and cake Sunday Breakfast Juice
Cereal (cold or hot)
Choice of French toast, wheat cakes,
eggs (boiled, fried, or scrambled)
Milk, coffee, or cocoa. Sunday Lunch Juice
Sandwiches or frankfurters and beans
Dessert
Tea for meat
Milk or cream for dairy Utensils Scout - (mess kit and utility kit)
Troop - two mess kits, one for dairy and one for meat. Two sets of
cooking and serving knives, spoons, and forks.
Brillo and two cakes of kosher soap
Three cold cups Four plates (8-inch, flat)
Three hot cups Two plates (5 or 6" deep
Plastic spoon and fork All menus and brands of food to be approved by rabbi of sponsoring institution. No white bread to be used. PROGRAM EXAMPLES PROGRAM A Friday 4:00 p.m. Registration
Transportation arranged by each unit; set up camp, make fires; all work
done before sundown.
6:30 p.m. Supper under unit leadership
7:30 p.m. Assemble for Sabbath service; coordinate watches
7:45 p.m. Sabbath service
9:00 p.m. Oneg Shabbat
10:15 p.m. Taps (not sounded) Saturday 7:00 a.m. Reveille
8:00 a.m. Services
9:45 a.m. Breakfast - unit site
11:00 a.m. Scouting activities
a. Compass facing
b. Games
c. First aid discussion
d. Map reading
1:00 p.m. Luncheon
2:00 p.m. Siesta in own quarters
2:30 p.m. Nature hike
3:15 p.m. Discussion groups - Ner Tamid
4:00 p.m. Unit refreshments
4:15 p.m. Scouting activities and Games
7:00 p.m. Afternoon service
7:30 p.m. Inspirational hour
8:15 p.m. Evening services
8:30 p.m. Prepare and eat supper in unit site
9:30 p.m. Campfire by units
10:30 p.m. Taps Sunday 7:00 a.m. Reveille
7:45 a.m. Morning service
8:30 a.m. Breakfast - cleanup
9:45 a.m. Scouting activities such as trailing, fire building, cooking, etc.
12:00 Noon Lunch
1:30 p.m. Assembly - closing ceremonies Remember the varying time of sundown throughout the year. For official Sabbath starting time, check with your rabbi. PROGRAM B Friday Before sundown set up camp and finish supper
Sundown - Sabbath services
Oneg Shabbat
Star hike
Taps (not sounded) Saturday Reveille
Sabbath services - (before services Scouts may have some fruit juice)
Breakfast
Game --- Compass change 20 minutes
Scoutcraft - Map-reading 20 minutes
Games --- Do this-do that 20 minutes played twice
Scoutcraft - first aid 40 minutes
Lunch
Siesta
Nature hike 1 hour
Ner Tamid discussion 30 minutes
Game --- The laughing handkerchief 20 minutes
Scoutcraft - Morse code 30 minutes
Game --- Signal do this-do that 20 minutes
Scoutcraft - Woodlore 30 minutes
Game --- Sleeping Indian 20 minutes
Free time
Evening service (end of Sabbath)
Prepare for supper
Campfire
Taps Sunday Regular Scout activities The time schedule was purposely left out to adjust to the varying time of sundown throughout the year. For official Sabbath starting time, check with your rabbi. PROGRAM C Friday Before sundown set up camp and finish supper
Sundown - Sabbath services
Oneg Shabbat
Patrol business meeting
Taps (not sounded)
Patrol leaders' council Saturday Reveille
Sabbath services (before services Scouts may have some fruit juice)
Breakfast
Game -- object hunt 20 minutes played twice
Scoutcraft - first aid 30 minutes
Tracking - use of flash cards 20 minutes
Game --- oratory 20 minutes
Scoutcraft - compass games
Lunch
Siesta
Visit to spot of natural beauty or historical interest - 2 hours
Ner Tamid discussion
Scoutcraft - edible wild plants and woodlore 45 minutes
Game --- signal do this-do that 30 minutes
Free time
Evening service (end of Sabbath)
Prepare for supper
Game --- "Steal the white flag"
Patrol campfires (if there is time)
Taps Sunday Regular Scout Program The time schedule was purposely left out to adjust to the varying time of sundown through the year. For official Sabbath starting time, check with your rabbi. PROGRAM D Friday Before sundown set up camp and finish supper
Sundown - Sabbath services
Oneg Shabbat
Round robin discussion groups
a. How to care for feet while hiking
b. How to dress for hikes in different weather
c. The importance of patrol meetings and what should happen
d. Safety in camp
Taps (Not sounded) Saturday Reveille
Sabbath services (Before services Scouts may have some fruit juice)
Breakfast
Scoutcraft - Nature hikes
including edible wild plants and woodlore 1-1/4 hours
Game --- Grandmother's footsteps - 20 minutes; Sleeping Indian - 20 minutes
Lunch
Siesta
Scoutcraft - First aid round robin discussion group (each group 15 minutes - total time 1 hour)
a. Bleeding and pressure points
b. Sunstroke and heat exhaustion
c. Frostbite and shock
d. Breaks, sprains, and blisters
Games - patrol cheers - each patrol is given 5 minutes to compose new cheer - 20 minutes
Signal touch - by patrols - 20 minutes
Scoutcraft - map-reading - 20 minutes
Compass and compass games - 30 minutes
Ner Tamid discussion - 40 minutes
Games --- do this-do that - 30 minutes played twice
Scoutcraft - woodsman's walk around camp
Look at the various trees and decide which ones should be thinned out and why. Then choose ten - trees and see which patrol has learned the most 30 minutes
Free time
Evening Service (end of Sabbath)
Prepare for supper
Campfire with patrol skits using either the Bible or the Talmud as the source of them.
Taps Sunday Regular Scout program The time schedule was purposely left out to adjust to the varying time of sundown throughout the year. For official Sabbath starting time, check with your rabbi. SCOUT ADVANCEMENT ACTIVITIES Tenderfoot Many of the Tenderfoot requirements can be met on the Sabbath, with the following exceptions: 2. Pitching Tent. - Cannot be done on Sabbath. 3. Prepare & Cook a Meal. - Practically speaking, most of these requirements are impossible for the Orthodox or Conservative Jew on the Sabbath, although the discussion parts may be done. However, here are some thoughts on cooking in general. The Biblical Jews, as well as the American Indians and pioneers, often used a covered pit fire (food set in coals and covered with a layer of earth). This can be set up on Friday before the Sabbath starts and be ready for lunch on Saturday. For details, consult any good book on camping, as well as our own Scouting literature. In addition, we know that a good bed of coals can remain hot for over 24 hours, but be sure to protect against a fire hazard. Food cannot be cooked but can be reheated by placing in a container that is placed in a pot of water in the bed of coals. This requires real camping skill and should be tried. 4a. Whipping and Fusing. - Neither can be done on the Sabbath 4b. Knots. - You cannot tie ropes or bandages, but you can explain the use of both. 6. The Flag. - The American flag cannot be raised, lowered, or folded. You can explain how to raise and lower the flag, and with the use of prepared charts, you can illustrate the folding procedure. The Scouts can demonstrate this on Sunday. 10. Exercises. - We quote in part from Rule 2, under "Permitted Acts" above: "Strenuous games, such as those involving a ball, while not strictly forbidden, are nevertheless not within the spirit of the Sabbath rest." We suggest that you check with your own rabbi on this point. 12. First Aid. - None of the demonstrations may be done, but the theory can be explained and discussed. Second Class Requirements 1a. Compass & Map. - This can be done and practiced by the use of flash cards prepared beforehand. Each of the "cards" has the compass points on one side (N., NE., E., etc.) and the degree readings on the other (0, 45, 90, etc.). Various games can be played with them. Game 1: The instructor (patrol leader) puts one of the cards down on the ground and then asks each Scout in his patrol to place his card in the right position in a circle. Game 2: The instructor holds up one side of the card, such as "NE". and the first Scout must give the correct degree reading such as 45. The procedure can then be reversed by holding up the side that gives the degree readings. The Scout may practice with a compass as long as he does not write. Map Symbols. - Easily accomplished on the Sabbath with preexisting maps. 1b. 5 Mile Map/Compass Hike. - Unlikely to be possible within Sabbath walking distance and carrying restrictions. Better to be done on a day hike (non-Sabbath) than on a camping trip. 2b. Pitching Tent. - Cannot be done on Sabbath. 2c. Woods Tools. - Can be discussed, but not demonstrated on the Sabbath. 2d. Prepare Fire Wood. - Cannot be done on Sabbath. 2f. Lighting Fire and Stove. - Cannot be done on Sabbath. 2g. Cooking. - See Tenderfoot requirement for cooking. 3. The Flag. - See Tenderfoot requirement for flag. 4. Service Project. - Some service projects, particular those that involve talking or reading may be possible on the Sabbath, but many would not be possible. This requirement is best done independently of a camping trip. 5. Wildlife. - Fine activity for the Sabbath but there are some limitations. Many animals, such as snakes, salamanders, snails, etc., live under old logs or stones. These logs may not be picked up or rolled away. The leader should explain the life that might be found there in a way that will stimulate the interest of the Scout so that he will want to return the following day to investigate. 6. First Aid. - See Tenderfoot requirement for first aid. 7. Swimming. - The Scouts may tell what precautions must be taken for a safe swim. As for actual swimming, we again quote in part from Rule 2, under "Permitted Acts" above: "Strenuous games, such as those involving a ball, while not strictly forbidden, are nevertheless not within the spirit of the Sabbath rest." We suggest that you check with your own rabbi on this point. Explanation portions of water rescues may be done on the Sabbath, but demonstrations should be done another time. First Class Requirements 1. Directions Without Compass. - Simply looking at the position of a shadow, a watch, the stars, trees, etc may used on the Sabbath, but methods involving writing or sticking things in the ground may not. 2. Orienteering Course. - See Second Class requirement for map/compass hike 4. Cooking. - See Tenderfoot requirement for cooking 6. Plant Identification. - This is a good activity, but you must remember not to pick up wood specimens or leaves and not to snap twigs. 7. Lashing & Knots - Discussion parts may be done, but no demonstrations. 8. First Aid. - No bandages may be tied or dressings applied, but all theories may be discussed. 9. Swimming. - See Second Class requirement for swimming. Onward to Eagle and Merit Badge Programs The same method of careful planning and observance of the rules will enable the Scouts to pass parts of the requirements of many of the outdoor merit badges. GAMES, STUNTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES We all know that if a Scout is to enjoy any activity, he should have fun. Purely Scouting activities should and can be fun as well as educational. However, let us not overlook the fun games that have relatively little instructional value. Before we leave the field of education, let us not forget the religious program, which in this case is the Ner Tamid. The Sabbath is one of the best opportunities and certainly the best atmosphere to teach the requirements for the Ner Tamid emblem. The following games and stunts have been taken from the Patrol Leader's Handbook: - Compass Change
- The Laughing Handkerchief
- Sleeping Indian - This has to be Hot or Cold modified by having the "Indian" either close his eyes or by Do This-Do That preparing the knotted blindfold before sundown on Friday. Ringleader
- Guess What
Songs, cheers, and skits. - By all means. In fact, to continue the feeling of the Sabbath, some of the skits might be taken directly from the Talmud or even some of the stories related to the religious holidays. Board of Review. - If the troop has enough adults on its camping trip a Saturday afternoon board of review may be scheduled. The writing of the records will have to be postponed until after sundown. Visits. - If there is a place of historical interest or natural beauty close by, you may hike your troop there and make an afternoon of it. If the historical spot is one that requires an entrance fee, you will have to find some other place, since the Scout cannot handle money. If the place has free admission, but sells souvenirs, remind the Scouts beforehand that they cannot handle money. Councils and Planning. - Saturday afternoon is also a good time for a patrol leaders' council or a patrol planning session. Once again, we caution you about not writing. Discussions. - All kinds of discussion groups are in order; care of the feet while hiking, the behavior of Scouts in public conveyances, summer camp plans, etc. In fact, you might set up a round robin, with three or four discussion leaders and have the patrols rotate leaders and subjects. Star Hikes. - On Friday night, a star hike would be a good activity. Be sure to point out the North Star and its significance in direction finding.
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