A Summer of Meaning
Our Ramah Israel Seminar and Eastern Europe Journey have now concluded, and our participants are back home. We are tremendously grateful and proud that the overwhelming majority of our rising high school seniors had a powerful Ramah experience this summer, whether in Israel, Eastern Europe, or at one of our camps.
I had the opportunity to spend the final days with our Ramah Israel Seminar participants as they mourned together at Nova, danced throughout Kabbalat Shabbat, and transitioned to Tisha B’Av in Jerusalem. These teens will never forget this summer on Seminar and will share their stories as they return to serve on staff at their home camps. I hope you will read Jonathan Madoff’s charge to Seminar participants below.
Participants on our two-week Eastern Europe Journey spent the final days of their program in Budapest reading Eicha at the Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial. They too had a remarkable experience as they traveled through Poland and Budapest.
I’ve also enjoyed my time at the Ramah Jerusalem Day Camp. Housed at the Chavat Ha’Noar (the Chava), the day camp brings together over 400 campers daily for a full Ramah experience. Some of the children had just returned from a field trip, while others had had their first overnight at camp and were now preparing for their pre-Shabbat program.
Hopefully, many of these day campers will transition to our Ramah Israel overnight camp, now in its third season. Close to 200 campers attended this summer and the feedback about this year’s program, held in Hodayot, has been remarkable. The sounds of Ramah were all around—tefillot, Shabbat celebration, even the same Israeli dance music heard at all of our North American camps!
It is poignant to end my summer journey in Israel. I am exceptionally proud that this summer, we said YES. As soon as Israel opened its gates, so did we. In doing so, we fulfilled our mission of creating enduring connections with the land and the people. A collective kol ha’kavod to everyone who made that happen.
Shalom,
Amy
Final Remarks from Jonathan Madoff to the Chanichim/ot of Seminar 2025
What an honor it is to be with you all, after all we have been through to get to this point including the past incredible 5 and a half weeks. This was my fourth Seminar I’ve directed. But for so many reasons, this year was special. Both because of the circumstances of this summer but even more, because of you. You are a truly special group.
I think I speak on behalf of everyone here, including you all, when I say this summer was a זכות - a privilege. In many ways, you shouldn’t be here. It was such a pleasure to be together with you beneath the Roaring Lion near Kiryat Shmonah, in Hodayot, at the majestic Sachneh outdoor pools, overlooking Jerusalem when we sang "Yerushalayim shel Zahav" together, at the Kotel on the first Shabbat, in Hostage Square and with Harel Sharabi (the niece of Eli and Yossi), at Yad Vashem and in the Chava with Rachel Goldberg (Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s mom), at Har Herzl, in Jaffa with that insane magician (Uri Geller), on Yam L’Yam and on Gadna, at the Ethiopian village and in Kibbutz Ketura, when meeting Mia Mizrahi’s family (Varda and David from Kfar Aza) and then at Nova with Atir and Yunis. With Itamar in Ofakim and at your naps in Sde Boker when you “learned” by osmosis about Ben Gurion. While you floated in the Dead Sea and when we sang in a bomb shelter because not even the Houthis can ruin a Seminar Kabalat Shabbat. And again at the Kotel and now, at our final farewell.
We are in the book of Devarim—Deuteronomy—literally translated as “words.” As Moshe Rabbeinu is denied entry into the Land of Israel, he passes the torch to Yehoshua and, as Sophie Diamond taught us, he recounts the Exodus from Egypt.
Devarim - WORDS. I believe in the power of words—devarim. And I believe you experienced that power on this trip. The devarim of Rachel Goldberg and Rina Quint (the Holocaust survivor), and of Harel Sharabi, the 17-year-old who spoke with such wisdom, echo in your souls. As did the words of Atir, Yunis and Itamar—words of bravery, of miracles, and even the value of not judging the “other.” But also, I valued the words of your guides: Yoni, Orna, and Blumy. And your roshes/madrichim: Ziv, Hila, Noa, Noam, Shaked, Adi, Harel, Michal, Naama, Sagi, Gilad, Liel and Liel.
I believe in the power of your words too—your questions, your comments. I saw how your words built people up, and at times, how they could also hurt. I saw how your words could uplift, express kindness, and show thoughtfulness.