Mahjong and Memories

Why would a rabbi go to camp, you ask? It’s a question that comes up a lot. As a child, I never really crossed paths with a female-identifying rabbi. But it never dawned on me that being one was off-limits. Shoutout to my time at URJ Camp Coleman – those were the formative years that did the trick. Picture this: cool rabbis and rabbinical students everywhere, woven into our camp crew.

So, I set off on my own rabbinical and Jewish educator path, with one goal in mind: to infuse Jewish tunes into my days and work with youngsters from tots to teens. I wanted to sprinkle a little love for all things Jewish. Cue the music, the Jewish shenanigans, b’nai mitzvah tutoring, and a medley of fun activities from mahjong to Pilates. Yep, now I’m that female rabbi who’s all in. Think of me as a combo of a teacher, role model, facilitator, and buddy – that’s the secret sauce for building tight bonds at camp and showing how awesome Judaism can be.

This past summer I had the privilege of participating as a faculty member at the URJ Camp Coleman during the first session. There, I was reminded how relationships made with children and teens in informal experiential settings (like at a camp or retreat) are deeper, genuine, and lead to greater trust. Sharing a communal experience where we pray and learn together cannot be easily replicated throughout the school year. The competing priorities, from sports to homework, are removed when immersed in the camp experience. Hanging out with the rabbi, cantor, educator, or youth advisor at the dining hall or on a field is a lot easier to do at camp; it is organic. These interactions foster greater connections as conversations develop around Jewish spirituality and practice instilling a sense of Jewish identity that will last a lifetime.

Now, my rabbi journey has been a bit off the beaten path – serving as a Major Gifts Officer at the URJ, and before that the Director of Lifelong Learning at a congregation. Catch me at camp, you’ll spot me in a quirky getup or gym gear, hair probably in a ponytail, setting up games like mahjong or Pilates sessions, and strumming a guitar for good measure. Just like how we teach Torah, rabbis are not all the same. We seek to find cool ways to spark inspiration and make connections.

Huge thanks to URJ Camp Coleman and HUC-JIR for helping to always make this wild ride possible!

Rabbi Melissa Stollman ’08, ’10 serves as the major gifts officer for the Union for Reform Judaism.