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It is customary to meet together at the conclusion of camp in preparation of your return home and your return to school where you will live as true Jewish children, studying G-d's Torah.

Torah must be studied at all times, increasing one's study each day. Just as your bodies grow each day, so, too, the soul which gives life to the body must grow each day. This is accomplished through the study of Torah.

These ideas must be shared with others. In fulfillment of the mitzvah, "Love your fellow man as yourself," efforts must be made to influence other children to increase their study of Torah and fulfillment of the mitzvos. The best way of doing this is by serving as a living example. When the members of one's family see a child increasing his Torah study, this will motivate them to increase their own studies.

The above is particularly relevant after the 15th of Av which is connected with an increase in Torah study. This will bring about an increase in G-d's blessings which will, in turn, give the potential for further increases in the study of Torah and the fulfillment of the mitzvos.

This is particularly true when an increase is made in tzedakah. For the recipient of the tzedakah, this represents an increase in life in a most tangible way. (This is especially true when tzedakah is given by children who give with genuine joy, happy to be able to help another Jew.) This will motivate G-d to increase the blessings to the children -- and through them, to their parents and teachers -- including the ultimate blessing, the coming of Mashiach.

Tzedakah is connected with the present day, a Tuesday, the day on which the expression "And G-d saw that it was good" was repeated twice. Our Sages explain that this refers to a twofold good, "good to the heavens" and "good to the creatures." This is reflected in giving tzedakah which is a mitzvah, "good to the heavens," and benefits the recipient, "good to the creatures."

This is also related to the beginning of this week's Torah portion, Parshas Re'eh, which states, "See that I am giving you..." A Jewish child must look and (meditate, at which point, he is promised that he will actually) see that G-d is turning from all His other affairs to provide a Jewish child with everything that he needs. (This is particularly true when this comes in response to the children's increase of Torah and mitzvos, especially, the mitzvah of Tzedakah.)

The above also relates to the date, the 21st (Çï) of the month. Reversing the order of those letters produces the word èÇ which brings to mind the verse îÇÿÖëî üàê èÇ, "Only good for Israel." G-d promises that He will bring the Jews "only good."

This is relevant in the present days which approach the month of Elul and when it is customary to begin wishing each other a kesivah vachasimah tovah, that we be inscribed for a good and sweet year. This is particularly true since the coming year, É"ÖÜ, will be "a year of miracles," including the greatest miracle, the coming of the Messianic redemption.

This is also related to another verse which begins with the word èÇ, ...àâàë ìëùëâû èÇ which relates how "the righteous will extol Your Name, the upright will dwell in Your presence," alluding to the Messianic redemption when the Jews will gather in the Beis HaMikdash, "in Your presence." We will conclude this gathering by distributing money to be given to tzedakah, and this will hasten the coming of the time when, "the upright will dwell in Your presence."