INSIDE - Camp Ramah

K O L O T R A M A Hv n r , u k u eFrom Rabbi Mitchell CohenNational Ramah Commission DirectorThis has been a wonderful year of celebrationfor Ramah camps. California’s 50th,Wisconsin’s 60th, and Darom’s 10th anniversariesare all being celebrated this year, and ourother camps have much to celebrate as well.More children than ever attended a Ramah programlast summer, as over 8,500 campers andstaff benefited from the 2006 Ramah experience. Andwe are growing!Ramah in the Rockies, merely a dream for manyyears, is closer than ever to reality, as 360 gorgeousacres have been purchased near Denver, and we arenow working closely with Jewish community partnersto build support for this venture and to hopefully openour eighth Ramah overnight camp in 2010. As I speakabout this new Ramah camp with our ConservativeMovement families and rabbis in Texas, Colorado andother parts of the mid-continent/southwest regions ofthe United States, as well as Mexico and the Rockymountain section of Canada, it becomes clearer to methat Ramah camping can have such a positive impactnot only on the individuals attending, but on the synagogues,youth groups, day schools, and other Jewishinstitutions in each community.What started in Conover, Wisconsin in 1947 with90 campers has had such an incredible impact on worldJewry! We will commemorate the 60th anniversaryof the Ramah camping movement with a major conferenceand celebration at JTS on October 14, 2007.For a new publication on Ramah camping, we havebeen analyzing the impact of Ramah on our alumni ingeneral, and on specific segments of our community.We find, over and over, that Ramah camping leads togreater positive Jewish identity, increased levelsof religious observance and better educatedJews. We also know, among other findings, that(1) so many families of our special needs campershave drawn closer to Jewish life; (2) hundreds ifnot thousands of couples fell in love and marriedsomeone they met at Ramah; (3) fundershave become inspired because of the impact they seefrom their generous donations to Ramah camps; (4)Zionism at Ramah has created deeper and longer-lastingconnections with Israel, and (5) so many formerRamah shlichim lead more religious lives in Israel dueto their Ramah experiences!As we begin the next 60 years of Ramah camping,we must not pat ourselves on the back, but we mustface today’s challenges with strength and ingenuity. Wemust continue to build excellence into every aspect ofour camps’ educational and recreational programming,we must rebuild and renovate more of our facilities, wemust train our staffs to be even more skilled in dealingwith the wide range of issues our campers present, andwe must sharpen our message to the Jewish communitythat Ramah camping is the absolute best option formore and more Jewish families.The Torah describes in Exodus 14:8 that the Childrenof Israel left Egyptian bondage b’yad Ramah - withtheir heads held high, proud to identify as a free nation.Thousands of years later, Ramah still signifies pride.We are proud to continue pursuing our vision of a passionateyet open-minded commitment to religious observance,and we are especially proud of our uniquebrand of creating intensely Jewish camp communities.Ramah Celebrates60 Years of CampingSunday, October 14, 2007The National Ramah Commission is hosting a celebrationof the 60th anniversary of the Ramah Camping Movement onSunday, October 14, 2007 at The Jewish Theological Seminary.Onward from 60vtkvu vba ohaaVisit www.campramah.org for more information and to register.From Dr. Arnold EisenChancellor-elect ofThe Jewish Theological SeminaryAs I prepare to assume the leadership of The JewishTheological Seminary, I am excited about workingwith all the Ramah camps, which have contributed sosignificantly to the leadership of our movement. OurRamah camps are shining examples of inspiring ConservativeJewish communities which continue to motivatethousands of young people each summer. CampRamah is among the best experiences available to ouryoung people. Ramah is one of the great achievementsof JTS, and I look forward to helping our camping systemgrow and thrive in the coming decades.From Morton M. SteinbergNational Ramah Commission PresidentMy term as president of the National Ramah Commissionwill conclude in the beginning of October,just as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of thefounding of Ramah. Serving as president over the pastfour years has been a true privilege. Ramah has beena major influence throughout my life. It is good to beable to give back to an institution from which so muchwas received.The NRC has made great strides over the pastfour years. Here are a few highlights:• Ramah in the Rockies, with great commitmentfrom its leadership in Denver, is well on the roadto becoming our eighth overnight camp;• the Israel Seminar, and indeed all of the RamahPrograms in Israel, are stronger than ever with fullenrollments;• the Ramah Day Camp in Nyack is at capacity andmajor capital improvements are being made annually,all under the guidance of its dynamic director,Amy Skopp Cooper, who also serves as theNational Assistant Director;• our new international programming has been exceptionallywell received, with counselor/staff tripsto Germany and Argentina and plans for furtherexpansion;• NRC is now a member of the Leadership Councilfor Conservative Judaism, giving Ramah greaterexposure to the senior leadership of our movement;• our warm relationship with The Jewish TheologicalSeminary, and in particular the DavidsonGraduate School of Jewish Education, has beenenhanced and has matured professionally; and• we are developing programs in cooperation withall of the Ramah camps to focus on national fundraising opportunities, marketing and recruitment.Our camps are healthy; the outlook is very good.Ramah will continue to provide inspiration and, in thewords of Himnon Ramah, a pathway through life forour campers and staff. The credit for these accomplishmentsmust be shared with the officers and directorsof the NRC, all of whom are devoted to the successof Ramah. And none of this would have been possiblewithout the inspiring leadership, tact,diplomacy and vision of our NationalDirector, Rabbi Mitch Cohen, and hisprofessional staff, with whom, withoutexception, it has been a pleasure towork. May they continue to go fromstrength to strength in the years ahead.Editorial StaffNancy B. Scheff, EditorAleeza Paul, Assistant EditorSarah Chabon, Graphic DesignerNational Ramah CommissionMorton M. Steinberg, PresidentDr. Charles T. Mann, Senior Vice PresidentRabbi Mitchell H. Cohen, National DirectorAmy Skopp Cooper, National Assistant DirectorJeffrey M. Goodman, National Business ManagerKolot Ramah is published by theNational Ramah Commission, Inc.3080 Broadway, New York, NY 10027(212) 678-8881, fax (212) 749-8251www.campramah.orgRamah Wisconsin celebrated its 60th anniversarywith an alumni Shabbaton and a festive community-wideSaturday night event on March 10, 2007. Standing beneaththe banner in the photo below are (l-r) Rabbi BurtonCohen, Wisconsin Director 1960-74 and National RamahDirector 1974-89; Rabbi Hillel Silverman, WisconsinDirector 1949-50; Rabbi David Soloff, WisconsinDirector 1975 - present; and Rabbi Mitchell Cohen,National Ramah Director 2003 - present.Directors from 50 years of camping at Ramah Californiawere the honored guests at a gala celebration in Ojai onDecember 3, 2006.Spring 2007 2

3Parachute unites the former organizations of Safe CommunitiesCanada, Safe Kids Canada, SMARTRISK, and ThinkFirst Canadainto one leader in injury prevention.! Company Fleet/Transportation Coordinators ! Municipal Transportation! Teachers and school administration ! School Advisory Council/PTA! School Boards ! Local police/EMS! Municipal Officials ! Traffic/Transit authority! Neighbourhood Association reps ! Service Clubs! Local businesses! Injury Prevention Organizations! Neighbours/community membersFind a few individuals or a group willing to champion the program – peoplewho feel strongly about it and will inspire others to get involved. Providing thesupport to get the Pace Car program rolling is not a huge time commitment(approximately 5 days), but it can significantly improve the program’s success.Step 3: Gather and Distribute InformationGather Speed DataMeasuring speed in your neighbourhood before and after the program isessential to assess how well the program is working in your community. It willpave the way for more buy-in once the program is established. Work with yourcommunity police to set up a speed trailer before your program starts. Aboutthree to four months after the program starts, the police can measure the speedsagain to compare the difference. Use this information to monitor the success ofthe program in your community.Distribute InformationDevelop and circulate a flyer, send letters to community groups or present theprogram at a community forum to let the people know that a Pace Car programis starting in their area. This might result in new members for your team. Thefollowing description of the program can assist you in developing content foryour materials:The Pace Car program helps stop speeding on neighbourhood streets. It’s simple – driversin your community sign the Pace Car pledge, and then proudly display the official PaceCar emblems on their cars. By agreeing to drive within the speed limit, cars become“mobile speed bumps”, slowing the traffic behind them. Drivers also agree to be moreaware of and courteous to other road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists. ManyPace Cars can effectively calm traffic throughout your neighbourhood. The more peoplewho participate, the better it works! Community organizations are encouraged to sign-uppace car drivers in their communities who will take part in the program for one year.36 Eglinton Avenue W., Suite 704, Toronto, Ontario, M4R 1A1 info@parachutecanada.orgT 647.776.5100 F 416.596.2721 Charitable number: 13308 8419 RR0001

K O L O T R A M A Hv n r , u k u eWhat I learned as rosh dramaLessons from my first summer at Ramah BerkshiresS H I R A F R E I D LINThis entire summer was an eight-week learning experiencefor me. I came in with very little idea ofwhat to expect, especially when it came to the dramadepartment. What would it mean for me to teach dramaat Camp Ramah in the Berkshires? What isJewish about drama?I learned I can make things happen and that peoplereally do come together to see things through. I learnedthat children have natural reserves and will work hardif they feel that the outcome is worthwhile. The confidenceI gained this summer is due to the confidencethat the camp leadership had in me to make my programsrun effectively.I worked with some really great kids this sum-I learned that childrenhave natural reserves andwill work hard if theyfeel that the outcome isworthwhile.The outdoor amphitheater at Ramah Berkshires sets the stage for Tzeirim’s production ofMachazemer, the Hebrew-language version of High School Musical.mer. I was impressed bytheir Hebrew and theirunderstanding of Jewishtradition. They worked ontheir own, choreographingmusical numbers, memorizinglines, and trying tofit bulky Hebrew translationinto songs written for English syllabification.I discovered, not to my surprise, that Ramah campsare important. They create a Conservative Jewish cocoonthat engenders Jewish feeling and practice incampers and staff alike. It sparks and kindles interest inJewish subjects of all kinds. I overheard conversationsabout Judaism that I doubtI would hear at a secularsummer camp or a publicschool: Three staff members,lounging in a hammockby the agam, readbooks from three differentperiods in Jewish history;a boy practices his Torahportion on the bleachersduring a baseball game; aconversation initiated by acamper leads to a discussionof the lack of Jewishvalues displayed in Disney’sThe Little Mermaid.I like Camp Ramah.I fit in. Issues that concernme and a way of lifethat I find meaningful areRamah Wisconsin’s basketball program received a greatboost when Ramah Wisconsin Committee member DavidSherman arranged a visit to camp by NBA player MarkMadsen of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mark shared withstaff his experiences in the NBA as a devout Mormon andled a fantastic basketball clinic with campers.practiced here. At Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, onVisitor’s Day, when the first-month campers were goinghome, I realized that I wanted to buy a camp sweatshirt.I realized I am invested. I’m proud to be part ofthe Camp Ramah in the Berkshires community, to beinvested in improving the experience for campers andstaff for years to come.Shira Freidlin was a Shapiro Fellow at Ramah Berkshireslast summer. She is currently studying at The ConservativeYeshiva in Jerusalem and will begin studies at the Universityof Judaism’s Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angelesthis fall.A special reunion on the shores of Skeleton LakeRamah Canada alumni reunite after 40 yearsExcerpted from articles by J A N E PA ZNIK- BONDA R I Nn June 2006, an extraordinary reunion took place atI Camp Ramah in Canada, as alumni from the 1960’sgathered at camp to reminisce and reflect…About a year ago, a friendly but unknown voice onthe telephone asked, “Is this Janie Paznik?” I laughed.It’s been a long time since anyone called me that, andeven then, mostly at home.The voice belonged to Johnny, now Jonathan; actuallyRabbi Jonathan Panitz, USN, Retired. We’dattended Camp Ramah in Canada together in 1960 and1962, an experience I remember fondly if faintly. Ramahis an educational camp run under the auspices ofThe Jewish Theological Seminary, “the camping armof Conservative Judaism.” You could learn to swim andto speak Hebrew at the same time. As I remember, onehad to do the latter in order to do the former. Thecamp did a good job then, as I hope it still does, inculcatinga pride in identity that shaped lives.We returned on a Sunday in June, trekked up thehill to the Machon bunks in a drizzle that became arain, found the staircase that was only being built towardthe end of our summer, and walked into our tzrifim(bunks).We came on a pilgrimage to find ourselves, and wedid. We go all the way back, back to the first year ofcamp, 1960. Might as well be 1860, right? We know…it’s a long time ago. We were your age then, and nowwe have turned into your grandparents. Scary. And ithappens so fast. Trust me on this one: You’ll look in themirror one day, and the person staring back at you willbe a lot older than the person looking out.We were between fourteen and sixteen years old,students at public schools and yeshivas (they were notcalled “day schools” yet). Americans who’d attendedCamp Ramah in the Poconos, we knew the “ropes,”so the camp director, Levi Soshuk, and the educationaldirector, Aryeh Rohn, asked us to join with thenew Canadian campers to start this new place.For most of us, it was the longest trip we’d yettaken, and to the most beautiful place we’d ever seen.That place—the campsite and the lake—has stayed inour hearts for nearly half a century. We wondered ifthey would look as big and beautiful as they had whenwe were young. They did. We have traveled to manyplaces, exotic places, but this place is still one of theplaces of our hearts.Our voices from 1960 join yours in 2006.Ramah Day Camp in Philadelphia’s three oldest edot experienced Pennsylvania’s natural surroundings while camping out inHickory Run State Park in the Pocono Mountains. Campers, staff and mishlachat are pictured here in the park’s Boulder Field, taking abreak from rock climbing and hiking within the 16 acres of boulders created by glacial remains in the area.At Ramah New England, camper Daniel Spektor relaxesin Kfar Nivonim, playing the guitar.Spring 2007 5

K O L O T R A M A Hv n r , u k u eRebuilding in New OrleansPoconos Gesher campers journey to perform mitzvotTOur trip began with a drive to Columbus, Ohio, wherewe stayed overnight. Along the way we stopped inLouisville, Kentucky and toured the Louisville SluggerMuseum. We drove for a few more hours until wereached a small, hospitable synagogue in Chattanooga,Tennessee, where we were served a wonderful BBQdinner. The next morning we woke up early to delivernumerous books to a synagogueattempting to rebuild its lost library.We also had the opportunityto meet with a representativefrom the local JCC and hearabout the Jewish community inNew Orleans. Although we havespent a great deal of time aboardthe bus, it has proven to be fantasticbonding time and each ofour stops have provided memorieswhich add to our Gesher experience.—Sam BalakirskyOne of the highlights of Ramah Day Camp in Chicago’s2006 summer season was the debut of brand newsports courts. Adjacent to the already existing sportsfields, the courts were constantly in use and allowedfor concurrent games of basketball and tennis. Campersalso enjoyed playing hockey on the courts. The overallsports program, which includes baseball, football, kickball,newcomb, and a myriad of other sports and games, wasgreatly enhanced by the addition of the new courts.he Gesher edah (entering 11th grade) from CampRamah in the Poconos spent nine days thispast summer traveling from the Poconos through the southernUnited States and back again. After a stop in Whitwell,TN to visit the Children’s Holocaust Memorial &Paper Clip Project, Adat Ha’Gesher continued to thedeep south. The journey culminated in a three-day volunteerproject with Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans,where campers learned how to clear some of the damage fromHurricane Katrina and assisted in rebuilding homes. On theway back to Poconos, the Gesher edah experienced the warmhospitality of Ramah Darom for a relaxing Shabbat.Two Gesher campers write about their journey:Today was a very busy and rewarding day down inNew Orleans. We began our day at the crack of dawnand quickly left our hotel to begin our first day workingwith Habitat for Humanity. As soon as we got tothe site, we all knew that we were in for a day of hard,yet rewarding work. At the site, we split up into twogroups: One group organized the warehouse, and onegroup painted bunk beds for future volunteers to usefor later projects. Although we were hard at work formost of the day, we still found time to make our ownfun with our Ramah ruach at hand.—Brandon DeShieldsKol Ramah, the cutting edge media outlet for camper and staff creativity at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, broadcaststhroughout each program day, filling the camp airways with fascinating interviews, modern and traditional Hebrew music, andimportant public announcements. Shown here are campers broadcasting from the radio station studio of Kol Ramah.Tisha B’Av: An opportunity for inspirationProgramming at Ramah Palmer creates a powerful learning experienceBEN HERMANDuring my first summer at Camp Ramah in NewEngland, I gained great insight into the Ramaheducational approach, particularly on Tisha B’Av. Inprevious years, the only way I had observed Tisha B’Avwas reading Eicha in synagogue. At Ramah, however,we had a very powerful day of programming thatgreatly moved me and which I will remember for yearsto come.We began with the Ma’ariv service and Eicha reading.Each edah was given candles and when it was timeto read Eicha, the lights were turned off and the candleswere lit. I generally do not cry, but I did after this Eichareading because it enabled me to empathize with thehistory of my people and the communal mourning.The following morning, the hinuch (teaching) staffCampers celebrated Ramah Wisconsin’s 60th seasonwith t-shirts proclaiming “60 in ’06.”did a simulation of the 1492 expulsionfrom Spain. We divided the staff intothree types of individuals: cardinals,to speak for conversion; Jewish rebels,to speak for going into exile; andcrypto-Jews, to speak for becomingMarranos. Each tzrif heard presentationsby the cardinal, rebel and crypto-Jewand decided at the end whichto join. They then received a fate carddescribing their group’s fate.In the afternoon, we showed thefilm Remember the Titans to the olderhanichim. We saw the sinat hinam (baselesshatred) depicted among the African-Americanand Caucasian membersof the football team in the movie,and how individual players really hadto struggle to come together to make a successful team.We had breakout discussions where we talked abouthatred we have faced in our hometowns and if we havetried to combat that hatred.Perhaps the most moving program of all on TishaB’Av was a ceremony that took place at sundown. Wesat on the beach and listened to several Israeli shlichimdiscuss the ongoing war with Lebanon. Then we sawa video of Jewish musicians singing Hazak, Hazak, asong about being strong in times of conflict. Finally,we saw boatloads of people on the far side of the agamcreate fire over the water. It was an extremely powerfuleffect. The ceremony only lasted twenty minutes, yet ithad a great impact.One last aspect of Tisha B’Av at Ramah thatamazed me was seeing how many people fasted andCampers pray in the grove at Ramah Palmer.attended the learning sessions that were held duringbreakfast and lunch. There were so many hanichim atthe lunch session that Rabbi Josh Kulp had to makeextra copies of his materials!These programs enabled me to experience TishaB’Av at Ramah in a fuller way than ever before. Ilearned that at Camp Ramah, Tisha B’Av is not only aday of mourning but also one of reflecting on how tomove ourselves from despair into hope, from sorrowinto joy. I feel privileged to have been able to take arole in raising the awareness of these hanichim and inworking with a dedicated staff.Ben Herman is a JTS Rabbinical School student andwas a Shapiro Fellow at Camp Ramah in New England lastsummer.Spring 2007 6

K O L O T R A M A Hv n r , u k u eTza’adah at lastCalifornia Machon camper reflects on her final summerN ATA LIE K AT Z Excerpts reprinted with permission from the LA Jewish JournalIhad been waiting seven years, and my Machon summerat Camp Ramah in California was finally here. Itwould be different from every other summer, becausewe would finally be the oldest group. I looked forward tomaking every moment of this incredible summer count.There is one program in particular that embodiesall of the emotionalism and meaning of the Machonsummer: Tza’adah. Tza’adah is a five-day, four-nightovernight trip that takes campers far from the boundariesof camp and into the nature of Northern California,where we bond with friends while experiencing theoutdoors. We drove for what felt like a lifetime to BigSur in Northern California. The next morning, I set offwith the rest of the adventurous campers on a hike. Wetrekked all the way up abeautiful cliff overlookingthe ocean, singing songs topass the time and admiringthe scenery. Later thatevening, after arriving atLake Casitas, our campsiteEven though I will neverbe a camper again, thememories I created thissummer will last forever.for the next three nights, we sat around the bonfireand sang camp songs, aided by packets of the best songshand-selected by our wonderful counselors. I will keepthe songbook forever as a memento of this journey.The last day, we were given a choice betweenkayaking, rock-climbing and mountain-biking. Ichose kayaking. The group leader gave us the taskof fitting as many people in one kayak as possiblewithout it tipping over. This may not seem to bedifficult, but it was unbelievably hilarious and so hard!On our last day, we hiked eight miles back to campfrom Lake Casitas, singing, laughing and stopping forPowerade on the way, a necessity in the sweltering heat.Tza’adah had finally come to a close, but we werenot going to finish without our last hurrah. As istradition at Camp Ramah, the Machon campersrun into the hadar ochel, the dining hall, at theend of lunch, giving hugs to friends and family.We formed platoons and began to march to thehadar. The platoons lined up at different entrances. Icould feel the adrenaline pulsing through my veins.The counselors yelled, “Charge!” and we sprintedfor the doors. It was complete pandemonium inside.I ran around yelling, cheering and hugging allmy friends, making sure to squeeze extra tight.Tza’adah defined my camp experience, and Iknow that even though I will never be a camper again,the memories I created this summer will last forever.Natalie Katz, a 10th grader from Manhattan Beach,CA, has attended Camp Ramah in Ojai for seven years.Solelim campers (entering 8th grade) at Ramah Berkshirestake a break from an exciting bicycle excursion inthe lower Berkshire Mountains.Seven summers of transformationA Ramah Darom camper speaks on her last Friday night at campL AU R E N M E N D E LIgrew up here. As far as I’m concerned, my childhooddidn’t really start until my first summer at RamahDarom. I was a very shy, very scared Sollelimer—thefirst Sollelim in camp. I could not yet embrace the familyin all of the friends, counselors, and Rabbi; and Icould not yet see the memories created at any givenmoment.But by Cochavim, I understood completely; mylife timeline adjusted accordingly from B.C. (BeforeCamp) to A.C. (After Camp); and I had been changedbecause of it.Ramah Darom Gesher campers enjoy each other’s company.That summer in Cochavim was a complete turnaroundfor my camp experience. I don’t know what did it, butI returned to camp the next year with excitement anda love for camp that had not been there in previoussummers. Camp had transformed from just somethingto do for the summer to a second home full of silliness,fun and best friends.I cannot pinpoint any moment as the most meaningful,as the instant that affected my life to the greatestdegree. It is the culmination of all my summers hereat Ramah—and the experiences which they broughtme—that have made me who I am today.My friends from home think that practicing Judaismis a burden because of all the rules and regulations.Camp has instilled in me a love of Judaism that I couldnot have gotten anywhere else. It has taught me thatthere is more to being Jewish than halakhah. Judaism isfun, interesting and thought-provoking. After camp Ibring home with me everything I’ve learned here andcontinue to observe kashrut, go to services and look foropportunities to learn more about Judaism.Camp is my getaway from the real world. Home isso fast paced and at camp we have the time to enjoy thelittle things that aren’t as important at home, or evenpossible sometimes.So, to the camp: Never take a moment for granted.Every moment you waste being mad at a friend, skippingprograms or complaining will be moments of yoursummer that you can never get back. When you get toGesher, and it’s your last days as a camper, you will lookback and treasure every moment you spent here.To the younger edot:Keep coming back tocamp, because every yearit gets better and better.The bonds you will makehere are impossible tomake anywhere else.The culmination of all mysummers here at Ramahhave made me who Iam today.To all my tzevet: Our Gesher counselors have madeso many sacrifices for us and worked so hard all summer.I want to let you guys know that your dedication,hard work, love and friendship has made a huge differencein all of our summers. I can’t wait to be back ontzevet so I can make an impact on campers’ summerslike you all have done for me.In ten years, when we all look back on our Gesherexperience, we might not remember specific peulot erevor y’mei meyuchad, but we will all remember how thesummer made us feel. We’ll remember the excitementof the first day, the ruach we had on Friday nights. Andwe’ll all remember the sadness we’re feeling this Shabbatand the tears we will shed when we have to leaveour home.We aren’t the first Gesher, and we won’t be the last.But we are Gesher ‘06 and we have a bond that no onecan take from us, a bond we will never forget. Mondaymorning will be one of the hardest things I’ll ever gothrough. But as much as it hurts, I know that this is ourCampers enjoy tubing fun at Canada Ramah.time to close one door at Ramah Darom while we waitfor another door to open. We’ll be back in two years asthe best tzevet ever.I started camp seven years ago knowing no one,and I’m leaving with the best group of friends I’ll everhave. Shabbat Shalom, Gesher 2006.Lauren Mendel was a Gesher camper (entering 11thgrade) at Ramah Darom last summer.Nevonim campers (entering 5th grade) at Ramah Nyackshare the experience of reading Torah, many for the firsttime.Spring 2007 7

K O L O T R A M A Hv n r , u k u eStaying close during adversityRamah Wisconsin connects with IsraelThe effects of the warlast summer werefelt throughout CampRamah in Wisconsin.There were senior stafffrom Israel whose childrenwere serving in theIDF, shlichim whose unitswere called up, and campstaff and campers withfamily and friends calledup or living in the northof Israel.After July 12, RamahWisconsin invested a greatdeal of attention informingits camper and staffcommunity about dailynews events in Israel. Thecamp administration facilitatedcommunicationAmbassador Dennis Ross (right) with Ramah Wisconsin director Rabbi David Soloff.with home for 35 shlichimand 12 Israeli campers, and designed programs for eachcamper division about the impact of the events.For many, every day began with checking the internet.Special tefillot were added to the daily morningminyanim. A centralized information board located inthe entrance to the Bet Am summarized daily newsfrom Israel. Programming staff developed appropriateoptions for each age group. The camp establisheda phone link with the Ramah Israel Seminar group,enabling the Wisconsin Nivonim campers to ask theirSeminar friends about their experiences.Dennis Ross, former U. S. Ambassador to theMiddle East, spent a Shabbat at Ramah Wisconsin,sharing his experiences and insight into the situationunfolding in Lebanon and Israel. He met with the oldestcampers and taught several sessions for Americanand Israeli staff.Most importantly, Ramah Wisconsin came togetheras a community to support its Israeli families.Magshimim and Bogrim campers (entering 8th and 9thgrades) at Ramah New England participated in a programentitled “So You Think You Can Israeli Dance?”Sub-groups of each edah choreographed Israeli dances withspecific criteria. Each group performed its dance and eachedah picked its own champion to perform at a Tzad Bet(B-side) performance. In addition to dancing, each edahmade signs and decorations to support its winning team atthe main event.hj ktrah ogRamah Nyack held an Israel solidarity gathering for campers and staff this past July. Children created posters to demonstratetheir support of and love for Eretz Yisrael.My friend from NahariyaA Ramah Berkshires camper learns important lessons when her bunkmate’s hometown is bombedS Y D N E Y A P PELBAU M Excerpts reprinted with permission from the New York Jewish Week (www.thejewishweek.com)What was so indescribable about my summerwas that on the bus to Camp Ramah in theBerkshires I had no idea what was in store for me.I had no clue that rockets would rain on my closestfriend’s town and when she returned to Israel, shewould have to live miles away from her home in thenorthern town of Nahariya.Ayala has been my best friend since we were 10years old. I became friends with her because she slepton the top bunk as my bunkmate at Ramah Berkshires.We never felt a language barrier because even whenshe would speak in fast Hebrew, I seemed to understandher anyway. Ayala says that part of the reason herEnglish is decent is because I helped her.I will never forget the day Ayala told us about therockets fired by Hezbollah. My whole edah, all 38 ofus and some counselors, was on a six-hour bus ride toCanada, our big trip. After hearing from a counselorthat Hezbollah had fired rockets into Nahariya, Ayalarose from her seat and sat in the back of the bus whereRamah instills Zionist feelings among campers and staff.there were three empty seats. I heard muffled cries andsome of my friends suggested that I go over there andtalk to Ayala. I walked over expecting to talk about herboyfriend, who had broken up with her, so when shetold me what happened, I was shocked.It proved hard to connect with our devastated bestfriend because we couldn’t experience anything closeto what Ayala was going through. We tried our bestthough. We tried to reassureAyala when she wasterrified of the thought thather brother and sister werefighting in the army andThis summer, I learnedIsrael is my home too.wondered if her home was still standing. It was such anawful thought to try and put myself in Ayala’s shoes.Ayala felt tragically helpless since she was safe inAmerica. I then realized that from safety we couldhelp Israel’s soldiers. I knew that I had an unopenedbottle of soap and that my other best friend had twoclosed bottles of shampoo and conditioner so I couldonly imagine how much the rest of camp must havehad. Ayala and I talked to our counselor and the directorof camp about starting a supply drive for the IsraelDefense Forces. It was very rewarding to be able tosupport the troops in Israel with our Venus razors, BurtBees lip balm and Crest toothpaste. But it was evenmore rewarding to be a good friend to Ayala.When Ayala left camp a week early (she leavesearly every year to return to Israel), I was so upset thatI almost wanted to leave too. The Upper East Side ofManhattan is my home. This summer, I learned Israelis my home too. Ayala taught me that her brother is inthe IDF not only fighting for Israel but for us, for me, asan American Jew. Watching my best friend go throughsomething that most lucky people haven’t faced in theirlifetime changed me. Not only did it make me feelthankful for my home but it made me realize that theworst thing in life is to feel helpless and the most preciousthing is to try and overcome that.Ayala returned home on August 15, days beforethe cease-fire. Her life is as normal as it can be for now.I learned many things from Ayala; I have her to thankfor the Land of Israel. We are certainly dreamers; wedream our generation will be the first to live in Israelin peace.Sydney Appelbaum was a Machon (entering 10th grade)camper at Ramah Berkshires last summer.Tamir Goodman, who plays professional basketball inIsrael, spent three days at Camp Ramah in the Poconoslast summer. Here he is teaching Notzetzim campers(entering 4th and 5th grade) basketball drills. Tamir alsospent time talking with Poconos campers about how hejuggles being religious and playing professional sports. In2007, Tamir will help launch the new Ramah BasketballAcademy at Ramah Poconos.Spring 2007 9

S P E C I A L N E E D S P R O G R A M Svnrc vue,A special arrival and first day in JerusalemRamah Wisconsin Tikvah grads travel to IsraelR A B B I E LYS E W I N I C KTen of the 17 travelers on this year’s Taglit-birthright israeltrip for young adults with Asperger’s Syndrome were graduatesof the Ramah Wisconsin Tikvah Program.This trip was organized through the cooperative efforts ofKOACH, Hillel, Taglit-birthright israel and RamahWisconsin. The following is excerpted from an email writtenby Rabbi Elyse Winick, associate director of KOACH, whoaccompanied the group and provided families and friends backhome with daily updates about the group’s travels.We are finally here!!After multiple delays onthe ground and even inthe air, our group has arrived,safe, sound andcheerful. They were realtroopers under circumstanceswhich would makea seasoned traveler chafe.“This was the best serviceI ever went to. No onemade me feel stupid and Ieven got to put on tefillinfor the first time.”Arriving late on Wednesday, we checked into the ShalomHotel, our base for the next several nights, in timefor dinner and well-earned rest. In addition to RoseSharon, co-director of the Ramah Wisconsin TikvahProgram, who is overseeing the program, our group isstaffed by Wisconsin Tikvah staff members Lior Baruch,Emilie Botbol, Ari Gleicher and Tal Michaelis.(Rabbi Jonathan Schnitzer made a surpriseappearance to say hello, too.) D’ror Kidron of Israel isserving as their very gentle and able tour educator.Bright and early they joined the other KOACHgroup for Shaharit at the Haas Promenade, overlookingJerusalem. Marvelous and uplifting davening followedtwo parallel siddurim, Siddur Sim Shalom and the siddurof the Ramah Wisconsin Tikvah Program. The seamlesscalling of pages led to a truly inclusive davening.In the daily journal, one student wrote: “This was thebest service I ever went to. No one made me feel stupidand I even got to put on tefillin for the first time.” Forus on the staff, these are days of smiles and tears.Following Shaharit, the group descended the mountainto tour the Old City of Jerusalem, a breathtakingexperience for everyone. They seem to know all theanswers to the obscure historical trivia questions D’rorasks and they soak up new information with a beautifulthirst. Visiting the Kotel, two girls commented that asthey touched the wall they felt a direct connection tothe past.It was a full and exhilarating day. After dinner,those who liked were able to participate in a discussionwith Dr. David Mendelsson of Hebrew University,learning about the current political situation. The restmade an early night of it, preparing for another day’sadventures tomorrow.It is glorious here in Jerusalem, even though theair is filled with winter’s chill. And we can think ofnowhere better to be.Twelve inspiring daysNew England Tikvah trip to IsraelAdozen members of the Tikvah Program at CampRamah in New England and their chaperonesvisited Israel from December 20, 2006 – January 3, 2007.Howard Blas, director of Ramah New England’s TikvahProgram, expressed his feelings about this special experience.“The trip was a dream come true. This was my thirdTikvah Ramah Israel trip, and the 10th trip to Israel inthe history of our Tikvah Program. We enjoyed seeingplaces of historical significance, davening in so manydifferent places—the Kotel, outside of our guest housesin the Negev and Galil, and at different synagogues,purchasing souvenirs for ourselves and friends, andsupporting the Israeli economy. But, most of all, weenjoyed seeing our many Israeli friends. Our group waslike a magnet, and the Israelis were like iron filings— drawn to us everywhere we went. I am pleased thatour campers and program alumni (age range: 17-31) feltcomfortable in Israel and will return to their homes,schools and communities as great shlichim and hasbaramembers for Israel.”An image from Camp YofiRamah Darom’s inspiring program serves families with children with autismR A B B I LO R E N S Y K E SIn Summer 2005, Ramah Darom established CampYofi, a five-day family camp for 20 families of Jewish childrenwith autism. Ramah Darom’s executive director, RabbiLoren Sykes, was recognized by the Covenant Foundationfor Darom’s work with this innovative program.It is Shabbat afternoon at the Mar’gam, the lakesidepavilion at Ramah Darom. A light rain falls on thelake as the geese swim along, undisturbed. Everyonewatches as Zeev approaches the bimah. Zeev reads hisbar mitzvah speech, written with the help of his mother,adorned in a tallit hand-woven by his mother. Hisfather smiles broadly. Zeev’s mother reads one wordin Hebrew, from the Ashrei, and then Zeev repeats theword, leading the entire congregation. It is not silentduring the service; in fact, there is a cacophony of talking,singing, shouting, sometimes in sentences, sometimesjust fragments. Nobody blinks nor glares norgives a “shush;” there is an understanding that theseseemingly random voices are the voices of God onearth, to be shouted and not silenced, to be loved andnot rejected. There are free flowing tears throughoutthe service.A year ago, I watched a conversation betweenZeev’s father and another parent. They were participatingin a seminar about bar mitzvah ceremonies forchildren with autism. One parent expressed fear thather son might never be able to have a bar mitzvah.Zeev’s father looked that parent in the eye and said, “Ifall Zeev can do is say the one word of Shema, that willbe enough and that will be his bar mitzvah!” The otherparent melted, sank to the couch in the Mercaz Aryehand cried. I did not ask why. I did not have to. I justunderstood.We have images of what the bar mitzvah is “supposedto be.” If a child does not fit that mold, then wefeel—or worse, are led to believe—that they cannothave such a ceremony, that we cannot joyously markthe level of “adulthood” that they have reached, thatthey are somehow inferior. The truth is that a childturns bar or bat mitzvah on a specific birthday. Theceremony, an invention, can and should therefore beR A M A H B E R K S H I R E SB R E I R A B ’ R A M A HP RO G R A MBreira B’Ramah at Camp Ramah in theBerkshires is a system of supports providedto campers with learning and social challenges.Breira campers are able to participateand benefit from all aspects of the Ramah experience.Each child’s Breira program is unique anddepends on his or her individual needs. Campersenrolled in the Breira B’Ramah programare supported by counselors and specialists incamp who receive training and supervision by alicensed psychologist. Over the years, the presenceof Breira at Camp Ramah in the Berkshireshas changed the camp community in its acceptanceof individual differences and its awarenessthat we are all created B’Tzelem Elokim (in God’simage).what is appropriate to the child with autism, not tosome ritual committee standard. But realizing that, forthe parent, for the committee, for the clergy, for thecommunity, is far from simple or obvious. If it were,there would be no need for Camp Yofi.We return to Aleinu, standing in the Mar’gam,watching Zeev exceed expectations, his smile fromcheek to cheek, read a Devar Torah, stand and be blessed.We cry with pride embracing Zeev, his radiant smile,and Zeev’s family as our own. The rain, which Zeevloves, stops just long enough for all of us to walk to thehadar ochel for se’udah shelishit, the third Shabbat meal,where a bar mitzvah cake and celebration awaits.Spring 2007 10

S P E C I A L N E E D S P R O G R A M Svnrc vue,A wonderful place to stayRamah New England’s guesthouse is staffed by Tikvah “Post-Voc Eders”H OWA R D B L A SThortly after I began my first summer working as aJudaics teacher at Camp Ramah in Canada, mywife and I were approached by Dr. Mitch Parker,director of the Tikvah Program. Mitch informedus of a dilemma with a former Tikvah camper namedBrian, who had participated and thrived in the TikvahProgram since its inception 13 years ago. For the lastfew years, Brian had been too old to attend Ramahas a camper and had been participating in the AvodahVocational Education Program, helping staff in the hadarochel, in the laundry room, etc. This past summer,Brian had once again returned to camp. After less thanone week, he had missed some of his work shifts andhad been observed wandering around camp. Mitch informedus that the camp was considering sending Brianhome unless it could find someone to assist and supportBrian.My wife and I agreed to allow Brian to move outof staff housing into our cabin, and to undertake the responsibilitiesof guiding him to his various jobs and acheTikvah Program at Camp Ramah in NewEngland, now celebrating its 37th year, continuesto grow and evolve, offering the Ramah experience topeople of many ages with a wide range of special needs.Last summer, we initiated a program to hire “post-voceders” — graduates of our Tikvah Program — as salariedemployees to work in the newly-dedicated Herband Barbara Greenberg Tikvah Guesthouse, asix-unit motel-quality facility. The guesthouse notonly offers meaningful work opportunities for Tikvahcampers, Vocational Education Program participants,and Tikvah graduates, but also allows guests to experienceShabbatot and y’mei ragil at camp.This summer, our guesthouse welcomed its firstguests — and it was filled to capacity every Shabbatand many mid-week days (for Y’mei Iyyun, the boardmeeting for the Foundation for Jewish Camping, visitsby rabbis in our communities, etc.) Each room is airconditioned,with two double beds, a bathroom, and asitting area. The hallmark of the Tikvah guesthouse isthe fact that it is 100% Tikvah run and operated. Whilea Tikvah staff member serves as overall supervisor, hermain role is to run daily staff meetings, oversee assignmentof jobs, help workers figure out how to solveproblems, and serve as a liaison to the camp directorand to the office staff member responsible for bookingguests.Each morning, following the staff meeting, the“post-voc eder” assigned full time to the guesthouseopens the building for work. He and his staff (one totwo members of the Vocational Education Program)begin the day by finding out how many rooms will beoccupied that night. The team then moves into action!Guesthouse workers strip beds of dirty sheets, collecttowels, and clean each room. They sweep the floors,clean the bathrooms, do all laundry, make up eachroom, clean the porches and water the beautiful hangingflower baskets on the porches.Our Voc Ed supervisor was instrumental in securinga cleaning and room preparation protocol from amajor international hotel chain, and our in-camp headof the laundry volunteered his time to model and teachproper techniques and steps for cleaning and makingup a guest room. Guests consistently raved about theservice and overall quality of the guesthouse.We are proud that guests of Camp Ramah in NewEngland can now experience the beauty of camp inthe finest of accommodations, lovingly prepared andHerb and Barbara Greenberg stand at the entrance to theguesthouse run by Ramah New England Tikvah graduates.maintained by some of “Palmer’s Finest.” And many ofour Tikvah families pray and dream that we will oneday become a year-round guesthouse — one that offersquality service and a place of employment and camaraderiefor their children.Howard Blas is the director of Ramah New England’sTikvah Program.Reflections on BrianA special friendship develops at Ramah CanadaDON CO LLERMAN - E LIASSRamah Canada Tivkah campers and staff enjoy special time together.Don Collerman-Elias (left) with Briantivities. While we expected this to result in more workfor the two of us, which it certainly did, we did notexpect that taking care of Brian would be so rewardingfor us. Yet, along the way we came to realize what aremarkable man Brian is.First of all, Brian has an infectiously warm personality.He was almost always happy with a smile onhis face and a hug for everyonehe encountered.Moreover, the enthusiasmand friendliness that heextended to others wasnot dependent on theirstatus or stations in life.To Brian, everyone wasJewish tradition teachesus that every person iscreated in God’s image.Brian actually lives asif that were true.important and worthy of a smile and a kind greeting.Every encounter was an opportunity to make or renewa friendship. Jewish tradition teaches us that every personis created in God’s image. Brian actually lives as ifthat were true.Secondly, Brian always takes pride and experiencesjoy in his work. Throughout the summer, Brian wasunquestionably the happiest when he was helping others,always helping to the absolute best of his abilities.Once a task was explained and demonstrated to Brian,he would consistently perform it correctly and meticulously.He understood that each task, however small,was necessary for the good of the Ramah community.Brian was also often the first to offer unsolicited help.He demonstrated a strong sense of community responsibility.Finally, Brian celebrates life, viewing each day asspecial, as the start of something new and another opportunityfor more joy, laughter, and friendship. Thejoy he experienced even when participating in whatmost of us would consider mundane activities remindedmy wife and me to recognize and appreciate aspectsof our lives that we often take for granted.As we spent an increasing amount of time withBrian, we were gradually drawn into Brian’s world— a world in which one saw and treated life with love,kindness, and compassion. And we knew that our relationshipwith Brian was making us better people.Don Collerman-Elias, a JTS Rabbinical School student,was a Shapiro Fellow at Camp Ramah in Canada last summer.Building skills for the futureRamah California has great success with Ezra ProgramRamah California’s Ezra Program is a vocationaltraining and independent living program forteens and young adults. “Café Ezra” is a college-stylecafé at which Ojai staff members can spend their freetime. By working at the café, Ezra participants havethe opportunity to develop their vocational and socialskills. In particular, participants learn essential skillsfor working in the food service industry, includingcash register operation; preparation and service of iceblendedcoffee drinks, snow cones, and soft pretzels;and set-up and cleaning.Spring 2007 11

K O L O T R A M A Hv n r , u k u eNew perspectives and warm community in the summertimeFeeling connections at Ramah NyackS A R A H LO PATINAs clichéd as it sounds, the past four summers havebeen the best of my life. I followed a pretty traditionalUSYer track — Wheels, Pilgrimage and twosummers working at Camp Ramah in Nyack. Eachsummer was a totally different experience for me. USYon Wheels was my first real USY program, Pilgrimagewas my first group Israel trip, and my first summer atNyack taught me a work ethic and responsibility. Thissummer taught me something more: I learned aboutthe intensity and importance of community.Ramah Nyack, like most Ramah camps, placesincredible importance on bringing an amazing mishlachat,Israeli staff, to camp each summer. This summer,there was an especially remarkable group of Israelistaff. While an incredible mishlachat is always an enormousbenefit to camp, this summer it had a particularlylarge significance. As the situation in Israel changed,the presence of the mishlachat impacted the atmosphereand greatly improved the way American staff membersunderstood the problems in Israel.The day that the problems in Lebanon began happenedto coincide with our Zimriyah, when the campersperform songs about peace for parents, grandparents,siblings, etc. It is a huge celebration that everyonelooks forward to every summer. Because the tensions inLebanon started, there were some questions over howto deal with Zimriyah, primarily, was it right to have acelebration the day a war began? In the end, we continuedwith Zimriyah because we were singing songs ofpeace and trying to send a message that we were standingstrong in support of Israel. It was a beautiful night.After all the campers were picked up, the staffstayed behind to clean up. As we tried to gather to-gether for a staff picture, spontaneously, we formed agiant circle, hundreds of staff huddled together. Someonebegan singing Acheinu, and slowly but surely, hundredsof staff were singing together. We felt the mostunbelievable sense of community and interconnectedness.The community I joined this summer truly changedmy understanding of togetherness. This is the beautyof summer: the opportunity to branch out, reach newpeople and change your perception of a community.Sarah Lopatin, a counselor at Ramah Nyack last summer,was the 2006 USY Religion/Education Vice President.This article was originally published in the Fall 2006 issue ofthe USY news magazine, Achshav!Hanichim engage in group building activities atRamah Poconos“Siddur Wars”An innovative educational program at Ramah PalmerJ E R E M Y RU B E RGAt Camp Ramah in New England, siddurimare a very common sight. They seem to appearall over the place. It is almost guaranteed that if onewere to walk into a moadon, tzrif, binyan (building),perhaps even the hadar ochel, one would find at leastone siddur lying around. This is because Ramah is aliving Jewish environment, an environment in whichprayer takes place in a variety of settings and not just“in synagogue.” While it is true that almost everyoneat Ramah can identify what a siddur looks like, familiarwith its exterior, sadly, not all become familiarwith its interior, the words, and the tefillot. We learn inPirkei Avot, “Al tistakel b’kankan, ela b’ma sheyesh bo,”“Don’t look at the jar, but rather what is contained init.” Therefore, in true Ramah fashion, the hanhallahof Tzad Bet at Ramah New England decided to createa peulah for all of Tzad Bet with the goal of familiarizinghanichim with the contents of the siddur. We calledit “Milchamot Hasiddurim,” or “Siddur Wars.”There were two extremely successful aspects toSiddur Wars: the development and the implementation.Although planning peulot can at times be stressful, planningSiddur Wars was extremely fun. Since this peulahwas intended for the entire tzad, all the members ofthe hanhallah of Tzad Bet worked together. We laughedthe entire time as we created some of the wackiestquestions, scenarios, and activities all using the SiddurSim Shalom. We couldn’t help but laugh as we thoughtabout how funny it would be when a hanich would needto rap the Ashrei, or perform an interpretative danceof the prayer for dew. Additionally, we eagerly awaitedwhat promised to be beautiful original compositionsof Adon Olam as well as original versions of a halleluyahpoem which we hoped would eventually be includedin daily tefillot. Planning Siddur Wars was not only fun;it was inspiring. However, never in our wildest dreamsdid we actually imagine the incredible success that wasSiddur Wars.When we brought the hanichim together and toldthem that they all needed siddurim, we had no ideathat after an hour and a half, almost all the hanichimwould be begging us to keep going. The peulah was atremendous success. Although one tzrif technically didemerge victorious, in the end everyone won becausewe all came out knowing more about the siddur andhad fun doing so.Jeremy Ruberg, a JTS Rabbinical School student, wasRosh Nivonim and a Shapiro Fellow at Ramah Palmer lastsummer.R A M A H C A N A DAL OV E S T H E G R E ATO U T D O O R SRamah Canada’s unique outdoor trippingprogram includes extended canoe trips atsome of northern Canada’s most beautiful provincialparks. Teenage campers choose from avariety of trip opportunities up to six dayslong, developing outdoor skills and inspiring alove for nature and spiritual development.The entire Nivonim edah gathers at the entrance to “Kfar Nivonim,” the village for Palmer’s oldest hanichim.Spring 2007 13