Ken Gadol Recap

Ken Gadol: Gilboa’s First “Ken for Everyone”

In place of Winter Seminar this year, Gilboa piloted a new type of event in March: Ken Gadol, a larger gathering open to chanichimot (campers) of all ages and their families and friends. The goal was to create an inclusive space where everyone could come together for a fun afternoon filled to the brim with candy and chinuch (education).

Laila and Sebastian, two of our madrichimot (counselors) from Workshop 73 and 75 respectively, set the tone by organizing the day around their imaginary joint 10th birthday party as "twins." In the lead-up to the event, campers were asked to bring candy to contribute, and when they arrived, the space was decked out with tablecloths, balloons, and all the makings of a Sunday park birthday celebration. 

The morning started with bracelet-making, name games, and a lively skit in which Laila and Sebastian argued over the best birthday cake flavor - which was settled by everyone mixing together their favorite candies instead! After that, chanichimot moved through different activities, rotating between making the giant "candy salad" (and packing yummy goodie bags to take home), bobbing for apples (except the apples were tied on tree branches with strings for covid safety), face painting, and a classic three-legged race.

While the theme kept things light, the educational component tackled serious topics. In small groups, chanichimot learned about key Executive Orders recently issued and revoked by the Trump administration. They focused on areas like deportation policy, the Department of Education, and the rollback of DEI initiatives. Campers worked together to understand the impacts of these orders and explained them to each other in a peer-led format.

The group also explored different forms of protest—discussing real-world examples, the distinction between peaceful and violent protest, and what makes certain actions effective. Using a human thermometer activity, where chanichimot shared their opinions by standing along a spectrum of “agree” to “disagree”, chanichimot debated their views in thoughtful conversation.

The day ended with a group filming a silly video summarizing their fun at Ken Gadol, and, before heading home, everyone grabbed a cupcake and a goodie bag. The event was a successful experiment in blending education and fun in a local space that welcomed everyone. We’re excited to build on what we learned and look forward to offering more opportunities like this in the future!