Under the Same Summer Sky

Despite the soaring temperatures—and certainly due to them—our camps marked the pre-July 4th Shabbat with plenty of water activities, extra swims, and ice cream. It is a delight to see directors, who carry so much on their shoulders, jumping into the agam (lake) and staffing ice cream trucks and water stations. Kol Ha’kavod to our remarkable tzevet (staff) members, who kept campers safe and happy while navigating this prolonged heatwave. My recent journeys have taken me to the DC and Philly day camps, Ramah Poconos, and Ramah in the Rockies.

The Blessings of White Shirts—And New Beginnings

The blessings of white shirts not yet muddied, stained, or wrinkled; fresh haircuts; and lost-and-found bins that are not overflowing. Another summer begins. Many of our camps have welcomed their first campers, who are experiencing the joy of coming home. We feel profound gratitude as we watch our communities open their gates each summer. Our early stops have included Ramah Darom, Ramah Wisconsin, and the Chicagoland Day Camp, as well as staff week at Ramah Canada.

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterJune 23, 2026Chicago Day Camp, Darom, Canada, Wisconsin

A Transformative Journey: Reflections on Our Teens’ Experiences on TRY

A letter from Amy Skopp Cooper, National Ramah Commission CEO, to the parents of the 33 teens who are participating in Tichon Ramah Yerushalayim (TRY), the Ramah high school spring semester program based in Jerusalem.

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterMay 7, 2026Israel, TRY

Celebrating JDAIM 2026: Advances in Year-Round Disability Programming

To mark the end of JDAIM 2026, we are pleased to share reflections from NRC’s 2025–2026 parent and Tikvah alumni initiatives.

Blog/Reflections, Tikvah/Special NeedsNRC WebmasterFebruary 26, 2026Tikvah

Floating in an Ocean of Gratitude at Ramah Galim

At camp, core Jewish memories are imprinted so that Ramahniks may live with wonder and gratitude, courage and responsibility.

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterAugust 26, 2025Ramah Galim

A Journey of Ruach, Community, and Partnership

Walking through the familiar yet transformed grounds stirred a rush of memories from my formative years. What struck me most, however, wasn’t nostalgia, but the vibrant continuity of the Ramah ruach (spirit)—an evolving yet enduring expression of the values that have defined Ramah for generations.

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterAugust 22, 2025Ramah California, Ramah Wisconsin

Shabbat Nachamu at Ramah in the Rockies

As we drove up the mountainous road to Ramah in the Rockies, leaving urban civilization and cell phone service behind, I felt a sense of relief. While the air was getting thinner, the temptation (and ability) to constantly check the news slipped away.

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterAugust 22, 2025Ramah in the Rockies

Distinguishing Between the Kodesh and the Chol, The Sacred and the Regular

Something is happening all around us. A reawakening to the power of adding the holiness of Judaism into our lives; not at the periphery, but at the center; and the young people I talked to are leading the way.

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterAugust 4, 2025Poconos

Young Leaders, Deep Conversations, and the Beauty of Ramah

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.

Blog/ReflectionsNancy ScheffAugust 1, 2025Ramah Nyack, Ramah in the Rockies