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

What Makes Ramah....Ramah

"Although I wish I could spend more time at each camp, I am grateful that each stop affords me the opportunity to talk with campers and staff, express gratitude to my colleagues, and get a glimpse of the Jewish joyfulness that makes Ramah….Ramah." - Reflections from Amy Skopp Cooper, CEO, National Ramah Commission

Reflections from JTS Visitors to Ramah Camps, Summer 2023

“May Ramah continue to evolve in ways that embrace its core values while pushing the boundaries of its programming to meet the needs of today’s Jews and tomorrow’s.” - JTS Chancellor Shuly Rubin Schwartz

Blog/ReflectionsNancy ScheffAugust 23, 2023JTS, Wisconsin, Berkshires, Nyack, Rockies, Darom

Plan for the Unknown

As we set into the winter month, families are facing months of unknowns. Will their children stay in virtual school, or return to in person learning? When will they next see grandparents and cousins? What will the summer look like? No one has all the answers.

Blog/ReflectionsBecca Stern-ShockDecember 10, 2020Rockies

Ramah in the Rockies Averts Layoffs with a Federal Grant

The staff at Ramah in the Rockies got a rare bit of good news on Tuesday: Just days after applying for a grant designed to help small businesses weather the coronavirus-induced financial crisis, the Jewish summer camp had been approved.

Ramah in the NewsNancy ScheffApril 30, 2020Rockies

4 Ramah Camps Selected as First-Ever “Yedid Nefesh” Grant Recipients

Ramah California, Ramah Canada, Ramah Nyack, and Ramah in the Rockies are among the 32 recipients of the Foundation for Jewish Camp's Yedid Nefesh Grant, designed to help camps address the mental, emotional, and social health (MESH) needs of both campers and staff.

AnnouncementsNancy ScheffJanuary 16, 2020FJC, California, Canada, Nyack, Rockies

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

Start a Fire - BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy at Ramah in the Rockies

What if therapy and recovery also encompassed exploring the wilderness, plus a deep connection to Jewish spirituality? BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy is doing just that, cultivating a safe, inclusive, and diverse environment for young people within the wider Jewish community.

Ramah in the NewsNancy ScheffMay 15, 2019BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy, Rockies

Reflections on Visits to Ramah Camps, Summer 2018

“Camp Ramah is truly a wonderful part of the Conservative Movement. We should all be proud of the dedicated professionals and staff who bring Ramah to life each summer. ” - Cantor Nancy Abramson, Director, H.L. Miller Cantorial School and Director, Women’s League Seminary Synagogue, JTS

Nancy ScheffOctober 17, 2018JTS, Wisconsin, Berkshires, Nyack, Rockies