Dear Camp Shomria (aka Mosh),
The first time I saw you I was 13 years old. We turned off of Lake Marie Road and everyone in the bus started to sing. It was strange. Where was I?
You see, I decided to take part in Mosh ‘93 for a few simple reasons. My cousin Moran was going to be there and for some reason, it really bothered my parents.
The summer started and I had no idea where I was and why I was there. It took a while to adjust. But then…I was home.
Mosh was the place where I went hiking for the first time. Where I kissed a boy for the first time. Where I learned about cuddle puddles. Where I heard the words Social Justice and Human Rights for the first time. Where I saw the meaning of community. Where I found out that people can live outside the system and be perfectly fine. Mosh brought out the free thinker in me. The person with a moral compass.
We had our hard times. Sometimes, I felt stressed because I didn’t feel the sense of community we often discussed. Sometimes, I felt like I couldn’t be that role model that was expected of me. I came of age at Mosh and sometimes, that’s not a pretty picture.
But no matter what, Mosh always seems to be there for me. Even when I turned my back on Mosh for 5 years, I was still accepted with open arms. My voice was still heard and respected.
The people I know from Mosh are not just friends, they are family. When I think of visiting old friends, I don’t think of people from high school or college, I think of camp friends. Our relationships have evolved over the years, but the foundation of support and love keeps it relevant.
Now, 18 years later, Mosh is still there for me. I am so touched and amazed by all the love and support and rallying that’s been done for me. I know you love me, but I guess I didn’t realize how much.
Thank you. Thank you to all the members of Hashomer Hatzair, past and present. Thank you to the ones who know me and the ones who do not. Thank you for showing me what love without boundaries means. Thank you for holding my hand in these trying times.
We can do whatever we believe we can do. Thank you for showing me that.
With love and amazement,
Healey
Mosh 1993-2007
Posted by aya on December 12, 2011 at 3:17 pm
i love you healey, and cuddle puddles, and so much of this resonates for me too
Posted by omri on December 12, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Hi Heals,
Thank you for writing this. I think about Mosh a lot and my Mosh friends are still my closest friends. Even those that weren’t in my kvutzah feel like family. But I often have negative associations with Mosh. It ended up being a difficult place and I had a lot of growing pains there. This was a great reminder that Mosh made me who I am and taught me the eternal lessons of community, justice, and love. So, thank you Mosh. And thank you Healey for reminding me.
~o
Posted by gillian on December 12, 2011 at 5:34 pm
love this post and love you! if it weren’t for mosh i would have never known you, i remember when we became friends….ah, childhood
Posted by Sigal on December 12, 2011 at 6:04 pm
Hi Healey,
Ori just mentioned your blog in an email, so here I am for the first time. Sending you a huge mosh cuddle puddle. (I can do that, because even though its been years since we’ve crossed paths, Mosh is like that, eh?)
Sigal
Posted by -- on December 14, 2011 at 12:39 am
I dont know you but I know exactly what you mean. That amazes me that mosh can mean the same thing to people years apart. Thank you for writing this and I truly hope that you are healthy and happy soon. Maybe you wil come to visit someday when you get the chance. Chazak Ve`Ematz.
Posted by adi maoz on December 16, 2011 at 5:24 pm
Heally,
I wish you health and happiness.
With love
Adi