Here is a nice story about Ramah and its positive effects on people's lives. 

In the summer of 2000, I was privileged to work as a Madrich for Ramah Seminar in Israel. My Rosh Kvutza was Aviva Marvit (now Aviva Vismus), the Moreh Derech was Moshe Gold and my co-Madricha was Anat Moshe. We all got along instantaneously and worked well together. Despite the long hours and some tough campers, we had a great time together.

There was a lot of chemistry between Anat and I, but professionalism and the long hours prevented anything of a romantic nature from developing (although the campers were still more than delighted to tease us and tell us that we were "going out").

Two days after the seminar ended I had to return to the U.S. (I had been in Israel a year). Although I knew I was going to make Aliyah (I'm a Zionist), I was very sad to leave my friend Anat and told her so. She agreed that it was sad and that something nice could have developed. She drove me to the airport and we were both quite sad. 

We stayed in touch (via emails and a few calls) for the eleven months I stayed in the U.S. (I stayed to work and save money), and we became very close as friends. When I returned to Israel (to make Aliyah), Anat and I started dating after only 3 weeks had passed. 

Now, almost 3 years later, Anat and I just got engaged! We will get married next Spring, and we owe it all to Ramah. Sometimes we reminisce about how we never would have met if we hadn't both decided to work at Ramah...

One of the first people I told after getting engaged this weekend was Moshe Gold (who was our moreh derech). He is one of my closest friends in Israel. Aviva will also be getting an invitation to our wedding, although she now lives in Brooklyn. Anat has already emailed some of our former campers and we hope some of them will be able to make the wedding!

Thank you Ramah, you make a positive difference in the lives of your chanichim and your madrichim! Forward this letter to as many people within Ramah as you want and have a great day. 

Eric Danis