Saturday, July 4 -Ritual, a Non-sectarian Tradition

It was the first Saturday of camp, AND July 4th, 1959. This confluence of dates was the equivalence of hitting the tradition jackpot. (Actually more akin to the High Holidays...) Saturday mornings brought a number of unique activities. First, we had to wear our camp uniforms. Green shorts and white shirts. Then, after clean-up and inspection, we waited for a bugle call to line up in front of our bunks. We had to form a line, two-by-two, and then march as a group to the area in front of the Lodge. As we drew closer, we could hear someone in the band shell playing on the piano, "The United Nations Song" (It was also a White team song: "Though we all come from different locations...") Once we got to/near the flagpole, with something approaching military precision, a counselor would split our pair: one girl would turn left walking alongside the tennis courts, and the other would continue straight, walking on the far side of the lawn, to create an enormous camp circle around the flag pole. It was really pretty impressive. Once we were all assembled, a color guard of senior girls, wearing all white and sporting red pageant-like banners marched out with the flag. A bugle recording played the appropriate call., and the flag was raised. We all then said the "pledge." (I don't recall if there was more to the program. Help?) After the flag was raised, we reversed our formation, met our bunk partner at the top of the circle, and headed as a group to the Senior Social Hall for something called, "Ritual." Although the camp's founders, directors and majority of campers were Jewish, there was no huge or overt religious emphasis to the camp. "Ritual" was the one nod to the Sabbath. To a new camper, the first Ritual experience made quite an impression. First, we all stood in unison and sang a very solemn introductory song, "All the Notes." Then, we all sat in unison. Then, a counselor, clad in a white robe, entered with a large book, and stood on a stool in the back of the room. The curtains on the stage opened, and revealed campers clad in musty burnooses and other biblical costumes. The big deal here was that no one on the stage spoke. The counselor in the back did all the narrating. So, the campers on stage did a sort of melodramatic biblical story pantomime, set to music. I don't remember what the very first Ritual story was that I saw, (there was quite a repertoire: Ruth and Naomi, David and Saul, Finding Baby Moses,) but, like everything at Lenore, I was determined that one day I, too would be wearing one of those moldy costumes. Once the story was over, and the curtains closed, we again all stood as a group and sang, "These Things Shall Be..." We then exited in formation, row by row.
The 1963 Lenorlog contains an article called, "Ritual Reminiscing", where the camp founder, Mrs. Spectorsky, explained the origins of Ritual. "The second year (the camp was in existence), Lenore was fortunate to have Mrs. Fry, who had a beautiful speaking voice. On Saturday mornings, she would read a portion of the Bible. Then, it was decided, to make it more effective, it could be set to music. They carefully chose the songs we hear now, making sure that the notes built up to the same climax as the words. Then, they had another idea. Why not dramatize the Bible tale? In that way, all could appreciate the stories and learn about them in an interesting fashion. The first Ritual was "Ruth and Naomi." (Other stories were) chosen from the Old Testament, which reaches all faiths and beliefs..."
Ritual over, we now went about our daily rountines. Since it was also July 4, other special activities were planned, among them a scavenger hunt, and a special campfire. The climax, however was the huge sheet cake that Albert, the camp baker, made in the shape of an American Flag! (More on the camp's food another time...) The day definitely ended on a high "note."
In that spirit, here are the lyrics to "All The Notes"

All the notes of all the earth make one great song!
Passion, Sorrow, all the cries of right and wrong!
All that has been, all that is and yet shall be.
They who listen, hear as one great harmony!