A March Through History

By Ben Wong, URJ Camp Newman Communications Coordinator

 

Every summer, Camp Newman’s Avodah marches in San Francisco’s PRIDE Parade. The details of transporting around 50 people from camp to “the city” are all worked out in the offseason, long before Avo arrives.

But this year, on Friday before PRIDE, news broke that would change America forever. Due to a one vote difference in the Supreme Court, Americans of all orientations could be legally married in every state in the union.

Instead of marching for equality and change, Avodah was now going to be marching in celebration of equality and change. As noted in an earlier blog about their reactions, Avodah was overjoyed at the news and eager to participate in the first PRIDE Parade of its kind.

However, Avodah’s march through history did not get off to a fast start.

“We didn’t even get out of the gate. We were so hyped and ready to go.” – Hannah R.

“Erin Mason had just given us this speech about enjoying PRIDE and having the best time ever and literally, when she got off, we started the bus and it didn’t go anywhere.” – Elle G.

There sat Avodah, on the precipice of history, in a broken-down bus on Porter Creek Rd.

Eventually, the bus restarted and Avodah was moving toward their destination: the first SF Pride Parade to take place in an America where people of all orientations can be married.

“I remember seeing a lot of people dressed up. Everyone was dressed up in their group.” – Elle G.

“We got a lot of interested looks.” – Hannah R.

“I got in a lot of other people’s pictures.” – Zoe P.

As it became closer to marching time, the significance of the moment began to set in. It was about two hours before Avo was set to march, so there was a lot of time to think and take in the moment.

“The energy was different.” – Elle G.

“Everyone was even more there to be themselves. It was perfect timing that we got to go.” – Hannah R.

Before Avodah left, Executive Director Ruben Arquilevich had some words for them on the significance of the day.

“Have a beautiful memorable day, really soak it all in, couldn’t be anything more meaningful than what you’re about to do.”

“The last 12 years, I believe, that Camp Newman Avodah classes and staff and faculty who have joined you, have all been a part of this. We all know that the work that each and everyone of us does in our lives, has an impact on the whole universe. We, Camp Newman, Avodah, has helped create what we have today, and today you get to continue that, celebrate with it, and be a part of it. The journey.”

At around one o’clock, Avodah began their march. Cutting through the mass of rainbow flags, human beings painted from head to toe, and thousands of smiles and cheers, was a group of dancing Jewish teens.

“We were right by NASA and Coca-Cola and Levi’s, all of these big names.”

“We were practicing our dance and all these people from NASA and Levi’s were looking at us (laughs). I felt like a celebrity.”

“Golden Boy,” the hottest Israeli dance hit of the summer, blared into the San Francisco streets.

“We did Golden Boy 15 times,” said Elle G.

The crowd enjoyed Avodah’s Israeli dancing so much, they were awarded the “Best Street Act” of the 2015 PRIDE Parade. Also, they were seen dancing through the streets on local television.

But a day of award winning dancing, taking pictures with the adoring public, and being a pink blur of positivity does not come without a price.

“None of us danced at Shabbat.” – Zoe P.