Levi Stein Reflections From the Shores
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Levi Stein. This is my ninth year on the shores and my third on staff.
In my favorite book, Red Rising, the main character Darrow AU Andromedus says, “Man is no island. We need those who love us. We need those who hate us. We need others to tether us to life, to give us a reason to live, to feel, to be proud.” There are so many powerful messages in that quote, but today, I’d like to focus on the last part, “to be proud.” I ask all of you today as I deliver my sermon to ponder this question: “What makes you proud?”
It’s safe for me to say that I would not be the man I am today without Kawaga. Kawaga has changed me into a person that seemed unimaginable to the 2018 Levi living in Sioux City for his first summer. Kawaga is one of the very few places where every summer on the shores sets your life on an upward trajectory. But I’m not here to talk about why Kawaga is special. We all know it is more than just special. I’m here to talk about why I am proud to be a part of the Kawaga nation.
Every year during pre-camp, Ty asks the staff, “Why are you here?” My answer has been the same since I was a camper. I am here because of the people. The campers, the staff, and my fellow 2023 CITs are what make Kawaga so incredibly impactful every summer. The people are what enable Kawaga to act as a second home for not just me but to all who find themselves on the shores for another summer. I am proud to be a member of the Kawaga family and what makes Kawaga special.
Last summer during visitors weekend, Sean Gooze shared an idea that I have adopted. He shared that he keeps a Kawaga Ideal card in his wallet every day. Wherever he goes, Kawaga is with him and is a part of him. The next morning I grabbed an Ideal card and started doing the exact same thing. It is a constant reminder to me to make choices that would make camp proud. It reminds me that I proudly represent the ideals instilled in Braves from day one on the shores. I am proud to know that wherever I am, I’ll always have a piece of Kawaga with me.
During my Bar Mitzvah service, I made sure to include the Kawaga Ideal. I invited all Kawaga alumni and Braves to stand and recite the Ideal with me. I was proud to see the multiple generations of grandparents, cousins, uncles, and siblings standing to share and appreciate the 13 lines of text that Kawaga Braves live by.
Every morning, when I wake up, I see my headband on the top of my dresser. I chose to bring my headband to camp this summer, which is not something that staff usually do. I am proud to know that my achievements have culminated in my Sachem name and feathers.
If you couldn’t tell by now, I love Kawaga. I’m not just talking about the summer version of Kawaga that we get to experience for two months out of the year, but all parts of Kawaga. The parts of Kawaga that you don’t always notice; the parts of Kawaga that impact not just your summer, but who you are as a person; the parts of Kawaga that keep bringing me back every summer, every year; the parts of Kawaga that have shaped me into someone I’m proud to be.
I understand that all of you sitting in this room are eager and ready to start your first game of Double Leagues today. Trust me, when I was a camper, I was too. Before you leave, I want you to reflect once more on the pride Kawaga instills in you. Be proud to be here; be proud that you get to spend two amazing months of your life at the greatest place on earth. Be proud that you get to wake up and jump in the lake; be proud that you get to play against your friends in sports every day; and be proud that you get to sleep in a cabin with your boys and connect with more people every day. My favorite poem that we say at every Shabbat service is “The Man in the Glass.” Every line has its own meaning and message, but one stands out in particular to me. “Just go to a mirror and look at yourself, and see what that man has to say.” In my case, that man would say, “I am proud to be a Kawaga Brave.”
Thank you, and Shabbat Shalom.