Ruach Across a Continent: Reflections on My Summer Visits to Ramah

This summer, I had the profound privilege of visiting all nine of our overnight Ramah camps, and Ramah Day Camp in Nyack—an experience that carried me from the lakes of Canada, Wisconsin, Poconos, Berkshires, and Palmer to the peaks of the Rockies, from the heart of the South to the shores of California, and back home again to the Ojai Valley, where I worked for eighteen years. It was a summer of movement, but also, in a deeper sense, a summer of stillness: the chance to slow down and simply witness the Ramah ruach (spirit) as it lives and breathes in each of its distinct communities.

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterAugust 18, 2026Nyack, Canada, Wisconsin, JTS, California, Rockies, Berkshires, New England, Galim, Darom, Poconos

Gratitude and Hope, From Tikvah to the Sea

Whether we are gathered along the rocky cliffs of the Pacific or sitting together in a makom tefillah, these moments remind us of what makes Ramah so extraordinary. Seeing our campers embrace gratitude, build deep connections, and find joy in the world around them fills us with immense hope. As we cling to the last weeks of summer, we carry these blessings with us—thankful for the vibrant, inclusive communities we have built together.

NRC WebmasterJuly 31, 2026Tikvah, Canada, Galim

“Historic Summer”: A 2024 Journey Across Ramah

Reflections on a “historic summer” throughout the Ramah Camping Movement from Dr. Daniel Olson, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Research, National Ramah Commission.

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterAugust 20, 2024Wisconsin, New England, Darom, Poconos, Chicago Day Camp, seminar, Galim, California, Berkshires

7 Ukrainian teens will get a break from war at a Jewish sports camp in California this summer

Seven Ukrainian teen athletes will be welcomed thius summer by Ramah Sports Academy, a program of Camp Ramah in Northern California, thanks to a collaboration with Maccabi USA and Maccabi Ukraine.

Partnerships, Ramah in the News, Sports, UkraineNancy ScheffJune 29, 2023Summer 2023, RSA, Galim

Mentor Relationships Provide Calm During the COVID-19 Storm

Through this program at Camp Ramah in Northern California, we noticed the barriers between teens and mentors, whether rabbi, cantor, rosh edah, or others, were lessened. Teens realized their mentors cared about them, made themselves available to them, and that they treasured having one-on-one conversations with them – our teens mattered.

Blog/Reflections, Staff Leadership TrainingBecca Stern-ShockAugust 23, 2020Galim, Summer 2020

The Fifth Child at Seder This Year

In telling the story of the Exodus, we will read about four children: the wise, the wicked, the simple, and the one who does not know how to ask. This year, amidst the uncertainty that has come to be our new norm, we also feel the presence of a fifth child.

Blog/ReflectionsNancy ScheffMarch 30, 2020Galim

From Organic Farming to Composting: Ramah Campers and USYers Get Hands-on Lessons in Sustainability

In the last decade, campers have also been coming away with a heightened awareness and deeper understanding about where their food comes from, and how their eating choices impact their bodies and the environment.

Ramah in the NewsNancy ScheffNovember 27, 2019Rockies, Darom, Galim, Berkshires

Camp Ramah Up Close and Personal

“One of the highlights of my summers is the chance to visit several Ramah camps and to see, up close, what happens when young people experience Jewish living that is joyful, meaningful, and entwined in all they do. I am proud that JTS not only founded the Ramah Camping Movement, but continues to play an integral role in leading and developing this inspiring program.” - JTS Chancellor Arnold Eisen

Blog/ReflectionsNancy ScheffAugust 30, 2018JTS, Galim, California

For Ramah Campers, It’s Time to Play ‘Wheel! Of! Torah!’

Wheel! Of! Torah!” That’s what campers were shouting at Camp Ramah in Northern California, their eyes fixed on the one lucky kid who got to spin the brightly colored rainbow wheel in front of the crowd. Well, it was actually “Galgal! Shel! Torah!” but the energy was the same, as kids last summer got ready for a camp activity that turns analyzing Torah portions into something very much like a game show.

Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterFebruary 5, 2018Galim