Israel Update From Ramah

The ongoing war, misery, and anxiety in Israel and Gaza stand in sharp contrast to the incredible joy appropriately taking place at all of our camps.

Sandwiched between both these worlds are our 250 shlichim and our 250 participants on Ramah Seminar in Israel. Our shlichim are doing an incredible job continuing to plan programs, teach, and share their love for Israel with our campers, even as they closely monitor their families' safety under missile fire and the lists of the dead and wounded IDF soldiers who may be their friends, comrades, or relatives.

Israel and HebrewNRC WebmasterJuly 31, 2014Israel, Summer 2014

Summer Camp, Life Skills and Confidence

We have all heard that Jewish summer camp is one of the most valuable experiences a parent can give their child to ensure a strong Jewish foundation. If you think of it as a construction project, the footings beneath the foundation is community and together, this community builds the foundation they share. As each child grows into an adult, the shared experience of community-building in a Jewish context continues to strengthen his or her Jewish foundation.

Tikvah/Special NeedsNRC WebmasterJuly 31, 2014Tikvah, Wisconsin, Summer 2014, Voc-Ed

Itineraries change, but Israel trips go on

Noah Silver, 16, had looked forward to Camp Ramah’s summer trip to Israel for several years; his sister, who went two years ago, raved about it, as did other past participants. But his trip turned out to be very different.

Israel and HebrewNRC WebmasterJuly 30, 2014Israel, Summer 2014

Coming Home Different

I didn’t expect to cry when I picked my kid up from camp.

When I dropped him off at the bus? Totally. I skulked past the more experienced parents doing the hora in the parking lot as the bus pulled away, got into the front seat, shut the door and started crying.

Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterJuly 29, 2014Summer 2014

Ramah Stands with Israel

“This summer my head is here at Camp Ramah, but my heart is at home in Israel.”

– Nava Isseroff, Ramah Poconos Shlicha and Rosh Mayim

Members of the Ramah community are deeply concerned about the current fighting in Israel, and are struggling to cope with the situation on many levels. Three groups immediately come to mind.

Blog/Reflections, Israel and HebrewNRC WebmasterJuly 23, 2014Israel, Mitch Cohen, Summer 2014

JTS Leaders Reflect on Visits to Ramah

"Ramah is perhaps the best incubator for passionate, modern traditional Judaism. We need more and more of our young people attending existing camps and we need to seek ways to build new ones."- JTS Chancellor Arnold Eisen

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterJuly 18, 2014JTS, Summer 2014

Getting Over My Fear of Sending My Daughter with Special Needs to Sleepaway Camp

For most parents, the decision to send their children to sleepaway camp is made with little hesitation. But whenever my husband and I considered sending our youngest child, we balked.

Tikvah/Special Needs, Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterJuly 17, 2014Tikvah, Summer 2014, Canada

A Year of Hopeful Trends in the Inclusion World

As a teacher of Jewish Studies and b’nai mitzvah training children with a wide range of disabilities, and as a long time director of a disabilities program which is part of an 800+ camper Jewish overnight camp, I am immersed in the Jewish disabilities world and am part of dozens of year round conversations, conferences and panel discussions on various aspects of inclusion. I would like to share three exciting trends in the disabilities/inclusion world that I have noticed:

Tikvah/Special Needs, Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterJuly 17, 2014Tikvah

JTS Chancellor Eisen Inspires Ramah Campers and Staff; Instills Conservative Jewish Pride

I was privileged to travel with JTS Chancellor Arnold Eisen to Conover, Wisconsin, this past Shabbat, where he served as scholar in residence, speaking with many groups of staff as well as Nivonim, the oldest campers. In a packed staff lounge (“the Kopin”) Friday night, Chancellor Eisen made a powerful case for why he is a proud Conservative Jew, and why the teachings and theology of Conservative Judaism are authentic and dynamic for so many modern Jews (whether or not they actively affiliate). He gave some very specific advice regarding improving our communities in synagogues, on campus, and in our camps and schools. As he often states, “Ramah is perhaps the best incubator for passionate, modern traditional Judaism. We need more and more of our young people attending existing camps and we need to seek ways to build new ones.”

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterJuly 16, 2014Wisconsin, Mitch Cohen, JTS, Summer 2014