Ilana & Mark Meskin - Camp Ramah
Ilana & Mark Meskin - Camp Ramah Ilana & Mark Meskin - Camp Ramah
PAGE 6 Letter from the Development Committee Chair Dear Friends, I am writing to you with a deep sense of gratitude, to Camp Ramah in particular and Jewish camping in general. I recently returned from the East Coast, where I attended the Foundation for Jewish Camp Leader’s Assembly conference, along with the senior staff and other lay leaders of our camp. After attending many informative workshops it was heartening for me to learn what I already suspected to be true— namely, that our camp is in the very forefront of Jewish camps in the United States. Yes, we have been doing a great job. But there is still much more to do. I agree with the many researchers who have demonstrated and educators and parents who believe that Jewish camping is the optimum life experience that can reinforce a child’s perspective on Judaism and solidify their Jewish identity. Towards that end, we all need to support two very important goals: continuing to make our camp financially accessible to as many campers as possible, and making certain that our facilities and our programming remain the best they can possibly be, now and in the future. Thank you for supporting those goals in 2007 with your generous gifts towards annual operating needs, capital improvements, programs and scholarships. I am especially grateful for your support of the annual fundraising dinner in December, when we joined together in a ruach-filled evening to celebrate raising over $520,000 towards the new swimming pool and waterslides. Construction is now well underway! This summer will be first that all three of our girls will be at camp for both sessions – two as staff and our youngest anticipating her Machon summer. I now realize that all the years they spend at camp are the building blocks which culminate in their love and appreciation for Judaism. Certainly Aaron and I, as well as our synagogue and day school, have had a significant influence. But we believe most of the credit goes to Camp Ramah – this is the reason why I initially got involved as a lay leader and why we continue to give of our time and our financial resources. We know the importance of Camp Ramah and Jewish camping, and especially the importance of your own support and involvement. Thank you all for sending your campers to Camp Ramah and for keeping our camp in your hearts and minds throughout the year with your generous donations. B’Shalom, Sheila Leibovic 2007 Philanthropic Contributions
Dear Camp Ramah in California Community, We are so blessed by an outstanding Jewish community that grows stronger with the passing of each year. Camps have risen to the top of the national Jewish agenda as parents and community leaders increasingly recognize them as the most effective institutions to instill within children and young adults a strong Jewish identity and education. As Jewish camps gain more attention the demands for excellence also rises, and I feel proud to report that Ramah has responded to these demands by evolving its program to be more innovative and more accessible to all Jewish children. Programmatically our camp has enjoyed much success this past year. Ramah continues to address core values such as Shabbat, Israel, Hebrew, prayer and tikkun olam through activities planned by a talented staff. We also engage campers in summer recreational activities such as surfing, kayaking, biking, and rock climbing. Through the generous gifts of our many supporters, campers have built trails, recorded a CD of their rock and a cappella music, and, this coming summer, will enjoy an expanded swimming program with a second pool and two waterslides. Plans will soon be underway for a new ropes course and a multipurpose building to house a Beit Midrash, gym and media arts center. The great Ramah programs and facilities are also now accessible to more families! In addition to a large scholarship fund made available by the generosity of many donors, Camp Ramah in California now offers first time campers four different financial incentive programs. Each program reduces the cost of camp by a minimum of $1,000, making the costs of a 4-week session as low as $975 for certain first time families. These incentive programs are made possible through the pioneering contributions of two generous Ramah families and the leadership efforts of our own Board Chair, Julie Platt. JewishLiving magazine recently named Camp Ramah in California one of the Top 10 Best Jewish Summer Camps in North America. We are so proud of this distinction, and excited to work hard to maintain this reputation. B’ahavah, Zachary Lasker Letter from the Assistant Director PAGE 7
- Page 1 and 2: Camp Ramah in California vhbruphkec
- Page 3 and 4: Our Mission Camp Ramah in Californi
- Page 5 and 6: 2007 Expenses Dear Community of Cam
- Page 7: Albert Observatory in memory of Dav
- Page 11 and 12: ages four to fourteen, along with t
- Page 13 and 14: Expanded Ropes Course to Enhance Te
- Page 15 and 16: Deborah Kattler Kupetz and David Ku
- Page 17 and 18: Marie Ellen Mazzone and David Israe
- Page 19 and 20: ROPES COURSE continued from page 11
Dear <strong>Camp</strong> <strong>Ramah</strong> in California Community,<br />
We are so blessed by an outstanding Jewish community that grows stronger with<br />
the passing of each year. <strong>Camp</strong>s have risen to the top of the national Jewish agenda<br />
as parents and community leaders increasingly recognize them as the most<br />
effective institutions to instill within children and young adults a strong Jewish<br />
identity and education. As Jewish camps gain more attention the demands for<br />
excellence also rises, and I feel proud to report that <strong>Ramah</strong> has responded to<br />
these demands by evolving its program to be more innovative and more accessible<br />
to all Jewish children.<br />
Programmatically our camp has enjoyed much success this past year. <strong>Ramah</strong> continues to address core<br />
values such as Shabbat, Israel, Hebrew, prayer and tikkun olam through activities planned by a talented<br />
staff. We also engage campers in summer recreational activities such as surfing, kayaking, biking, and<br />
rock climbing. Through the generous gifts of our many supporters, campers have built trails, recorded<br />
a CD of their rock and a cappella music, and, this coming summer, will enjoy an expanded swimming<br />
program with a second pool and two waterslides. Plans will soon be underway for a new ropes course<br />
and a multipurpose building to house a Beit Midrash, gym and media arts center.<br />
The great <strong>Ramah</strong> programs and facilities are also now accessible to more families! In addition to a large<br />
scholarship fund made available by the generosity of many donors, <strong>Camp</strong> <strong>Ramah</strong> in California now offers<br />
first time campers four different financial incentive programs. Each program reduces the cost of camp<br />
by a minimum of $1,000, making the costs of a 4-week session as low as $975 for certain first time<br />
families. These incentive programs are made possible through the pioneering contributions of two<br />
generous <strong>Ramah</strong> families and the leadership efforts of our own Board Chair, Julie Platt.<br />
JewishLiving magazine recently named <strong>Camp</strong> <strong>Ramah</strong> in California one of the Top 10 Best Jewish Summer<br />
<strong>Camp</strong>s in North America. We are so proud of this distinction, and excited to work hard to maintain this<br />
reputation.<br />
B’ahavah,<br />
Zachary Lasker<br />
Letter from the Assistant Director<br />
PAGE 7
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