I traveled to Ramah in the Rockies and Ramah Day Camp in Nyack this past week, concluding a North American trek that has taken me to our 15 overnight and day camps. These are powerful visits and while I only have a glimpse of the magic unfolding, I am grateful for the opportunity I have at each site to form relationships, soak in joyful Judaism, and marvel at programmatic and educational innovation. There is so much to be proud of.
Read MoreAll of our camps have now reached the second half of their seasons—with it, the sweet satisfaction of all that has been accomplished and the fervent desire to take advantage of every minute of every day. I’ve visited 14 of our camps (so far) and this past week, I had the opportunity to spend time at our Philadelphia and Los Angeles day camps, Ramah Galim in Northern California and Ramah California in Ojai.
Read MoreWe are settling in: all of our North American camps are now open, 560 shlichim have arrived, and 92 teens have begun their journey on Ramah Israel Seminar. There is a sense of optimism: the joyful Jewish energy of children, teens, and young adults is palpable. This season, we will not take any of this for granted.
Read MoreKama tov she'batem ha’bayta: Welcome home, dear shlichim. You are our heroes. You bring us yontif!
Read MoreThose who have spent any time at a Ramah camp know that Shabbat at Ramah electrifies the soul. Last weekend, Ramah Wisconsin's Shabbat delivered an especially potent spiritual charge. Early Friday night, the weather cooperated beautifully, with clear blue skies, and a calm breeze coming off the agam.
Read MoreOver the course of our Shabbaton weekend, whose theme was spiritual resilience, each of the 20 participating college-aged students shared a personal reflection about times they drew on spirituality to get through a challenging moment in their lives. Many reflected on post-October 7th campus life and how they’ve relied on community, song, and teaching children as b’nai mitzvah tutors or religious school teachers to cope.
Read MoreIn January 2025, we welcomed a record number of participants on our vocational training track, with 10 participants from seven of our Ramah camps. This is our third year running this track, which focuses on developing leadership and vocational training skills for adults with disabilities who will return to work at camp in 2025 as part of vocational training programs or as staff members.
Read More"My JTS colleagues and I were struck by one similarity of our Ramah visits this past summer—our teenage campers and our college-age staff are all yearning for pathways to deepen their knowledge base and their connection to Judaism." - Reflections from Rabbi Joel Seltzer, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement, The Jewish Theological Seminary
Read More"This may have been the most important year in Ramah's history. I am grateful to have spent the summer visiting 17 Ramah overnight and day camps and Ramah Israel Seminar. Each visit afforded me the opportunity to speak with our young adult staff members and listen as they shared reflections from the past year. …Their stories were filled with determination and hope and watching them experience joyful Judaism at Ramah camps has been proudly uplifting." - Reflections from Amy Skopp Cooper, CEO, National Ramah Commission
Read More
