Ramah Begins Its 78th Summer of Excellence
At this moment in time, our children and young adults need Ramah. They need Jewish joyfulness; caring friends and role models; safe, nurturing and kind communities; and spaces for productive and meaningful dialogue. They need to bond with Israeli campers and staff. They need space to wave Israeli flags with pride. And they need to celebrate Shabbat, and to sing, play, pray, and dance with gusto. More than 11,000 campers and staff will join us this summer—and we are ready to welcome them home.
Today, Camp Ramah Darom in Georgia welcomed the first Ramah campers of 2025. Next week, several of our camps will welcome staff for shavua hachana (staff training week). By the end of June, all of our North American overnight and day camps and Seminar (with 233 total teen participants) will have begun. Our Ramah Jerusalem Day Camp and Israel overnight camp open in July.
This summer, we look forward to:
the second season of our first West Coast day camp, Ramah Day Camp LA.
sharing the Ramah experience with almost 250 Israeli teens, including those from the NOAM youth movement and the Campers2Gether Initiative, which offers respite to teens who have been affected by the war.
the third season of the Ramah overnight camp in Israel, located at the Hodayot Youth Village (east of Haifa).
renewing the connections made among the North American staff members and incoming shlichim who were among the 150 summer 2025 staff members who participated in our two extraordinarily powerful back-to-back Ramah Birthright Israel Onward missions. Please read reflections on these trips in "Shlichut in Both Directions: What We Bring and What We Take Home."
welcoming 560 Israeli shlichim: our largest delegation of Israeli staff members ever!
This summer, we are also grateful for the support of many Federations, foundations, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation / JCamp180, Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC), and our partner synagogues, as well as the extraordinary efforts of our camps' professional leadership, boards of directors, and individual donors, helping Ramah to meet the financial needs of the overwhelming majority of families seeking a Ramah experience for their children.
As we begin our 78th summer of intensive Jewish identity-building within the fun, informal atmosphere of excellent summer camping, all of us at Ramah feel privileged to have the opportunity to contribute to the powerful experiences that influence the lives of more than 11,000 participants in our camps and programs.
Along with our wishes for a safe, enjoyable, and meaningful summer for those in our Ramah community, we pray that this summer will bring enduring peace and security for all.
Arnie Harris, Board Chair
Amy Skopp Cooper, CEO
National Ramah Commission, Inc. of The Jewish Theological Seminary