This past Wednesday, Camp Mesorah hosted its annual Yachad 5K Color Run. The entire camp was involved in the run to support Yachad. Camp Mesorah is proud to partner with Yachad and hosts 20 participants in camp this summer. Two fantastic Yachad programs are offered in camp; the Yachad Camper-Integrated Program has its members, along with the help of shadows, integrated into mainstream bunks; in the Yachad Vocational Program, Yachad members live in their own bunk with specially-trained counselors and participate in a variety of jobs around camp.

Many of Mesorah’s staff, campers, and Yachad members, have been training since the beginning of camp for this major event. On the day of the run, the youngest divisions—Nitzotzot, Younger Nerot, and Older Nerot—assembled at the main dining room. They ran to the front of the camp where they were greeted by the Shalhevet and Teen divisions as well as staff who were participating in the run. As an added bonus, Yachad programs from Camp Morasha and Camp Lavi joined the Color Run this year. A tremendous amount of unity and togetherness was displayed amongst the nearly 1,200 participants, and it conveyed an important message especially during the Nine Days.

After the color run, there was an award ceremony, followed by a siyum and a delicious barbeque. Team Yachad prizes were given to the top three race winners on girls’ and boys’ campuses, and those who raised significant funds for the race were awarded bunk prizes such as an ice cream trip to Hoppies.

Chani Herrmann, Program Director for Yachad at Camp Mesorah and Director of Yachad in New Jersey finds that the Color Run in particular is a great mechanism to teach mainstream campers to become more sensitive to others who are different and to help them become more aware of what it means to be inclusive. After months of preparation, this Yachad fundraiser brought in close to $40,000—enabling future campers to have an enjoyable and meaningful integrated summer.

Camp Mesorah thanked the Guilford town supervisor, George Seneck, who permitted the public roads outside of camp to be closed off for the 5K run. It was also wonderful for the camp to welcome Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman, international director of Yachad, to Camp Mesorah for this year’s Color Run.