Reflections on Our Year 2024
This was a tumultuous, sad, and scary year, but our decades of educational leadership, community building, and vision positioned National Ramah to guide the larger Ramah family through the turbulence. We were ready to meet the many challenges and we did not lose hope.
This has been a historic period of resilience, growth, and profound impact. More than 11,000 campers and young adult staff members immersed themselves in Ramah summer camps and Israel programs, and over 6,000 individuals joined our National Ramah year-round initiatives.
From college campuses across North America to the vibrant life at camp and inspiring solidarity missions in Israel, every Ramah experience deepened our commitment to Am Yisrael and Medinat Yisrael.
Thanks to the generous support from foundations, philanthropists, alumni, and friends,who share our values and passion, the National Ramah Commission (NRC) achieved remarkable milestones this year. We are deeply grateful for your belief in the transformative power of Ramah. This past year, NRC distributed over $3,000,000, including:
$1,515,388 to camps to support affordability, mental health for campers and staff, security enhancements, Tikvah, and staff retention, among many others;
$1,465,677 for expanding our year-round fellowships and training programs, engagement programs from Ramahniks of all ages, opening new camps, and creating a new Israel curriculum; and
$750,000 in RootOne funding to offset tuition for teens to spend their summers in Israel.
Together, we have ensured that Ramah remains a vibrant, inclusive home where children, teens, and young adults build lifelong friendships, form their Jewish identities, and gain the tools to live with Jewish pride. Ramah alumni value Jewish community and are valued for what they bring to their Jewish communities.
Thank you for being our partners on this journey. Every program, every camper, and every connection contribute to the vibrant legacy of Jewish living. Together, we are shaping a resilient future and empowering the next generation of Jewish leaders.
Arnie Harris President
Amy Skopp Cooper CEO
National Ramah Commission, Inc. of The Jewish Theological Seminary
ISRAEL
Ramah Staff and Young Alumni Missions to Israel Israel
Leading 300 Ramahniks in Israel for Volunteering, Learning, and Connection
May 14–21 and May 22–29, 2024
In May 2024, 300 young adult staff members, primarily college students representing every Ramah camp in North America, gathered in Israel for two powerful back-to-back one-week missions to volunteer, learn, bear witness, and build community. Our North American staff members were joined by shlichim (Israeli staff members) working at camp this summer. Participants spent mornings picking loquat fruit and afternoons in dialogue at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. They walked the streets, talked to Israelis, and witnessed firsthand how Israel is coping and mourning. Through facilitated workshops, participants were taught how to structure environments at camp where teens, staff, and shlichim could continue to dialogue with one another.
Throughout the trip, participants delved into critical discussions on current events in Israel, the rise of antisemitism in America, and their roles as educators in their camps this summer and advocates for Israel upon returning to their college campuses and within their local communities. These conversations fostered a sense of renewed pride in their Jewish and Zionist identities.
As we usher in a new year with all of its challenges and uncertainties, we hold onto hope. Our fervent prayer as we begin 5785.
“Having spent this year as a first-year college student in the United States, I often felt helpless — not only by being overshadowed by the larger anti-Israel crowds but also by not being able to be in Israel at a time of need. This trip allowed me not only to fulfill my desire to volunteer and learn in the Jewish homeland, but also to create a community of Ramah staff who share a love for Israel. I believe that this trip will follow me throughout my college experience.”
We are deeply grateful to Birthright Israel Onward, Israel Experience, the Shalom Hartman Institute, philanthropists, foundations, donors, and The iCenter, who all contributed to this experience.
Read More: “Leading 300 Ramahniks in Israel for Volunteering, Learning, and Connection”
“B’Yad Ramah” Winter Break Volunteer Experience for College Students
December 19, 2023–January 3, 2024
B’Yad Ramah, NRC’s winter break volunteer experience in Israel for college students, brought together 28 college-aged Ramahniks representing the Ramah camps for a transformative two-week service trip to Israel.
Participants engaged in a variety of service projects, including agricultural work in Kfar Truman, food packing at Tachlit for Israeli soldiers and displaced families, and volunteering at a farmers market in Jerusalem that sold produce from farms near the Gaza border. These activities were coupled with meaningful interactions with Israeli citizens, including a group of Israeli teens on their Mechina gap year, and visits to significant sites including Kikar Hatufim (Hostages Square).
Throughout the trip, participants delved into critical discussions about current events in Israel, the rise of antisemitism in America, and their roles as advocates for Israel upon returning to their college campuses and local communities. These conversations fostered a sense of renewed pride in their Jewish and Zionist identities.
“It was an incredibly difficult fall semester at NYU. However, going to Israel has absolutely wiped away the burnout I was sitting with and reinvigorated my passion for next semester. I felt healed and am absolutely ready for next semester. I have gained a network of 22 new friends and allies in the fight against antisemitism, and know that whenever I am experiencing my next challenge on campus, I have a sounding board of Ramah family to reach out to.”
Read More: “To Give Is to Receive”
- Oren, Ramah Wisconsin - Jake, Ramah Darom
Ramah Mishpacha Solidarity and Service Trips
Israel
Since December 2023, Ramah Israel Institute has run dozens of solidarity missions. Participants have volunteered in the fields, planted gardens, painted homes, and barbecued for soldiers. We have visited Hostages Square and met with families. We have mourned with other families. We have been active listeners as a traumatized nation tells its story. We have been fully present. As Israel faces perhaps her greatest challenge in 75 years, we are proud of our community’s response and Ramah’s deep and enduring commitment to Am Yisrael. We stand together during these dark days and will be there when the sun rises again.
Mishlachat Training Seminar
Israel
In April 2024, more than 20 Ramah professionals from North America gathered in Ma’ale-Hachamisha to lead an intensive training program to prepare over 350 shlichim for their roles at camp. Many of those who joined us had returned directly from the front line in order to attend this seminar. This annual seminar is our first opportunity (of many) to thank our shlichim for their dedication and commitment to Am Yisrael, and for their willingness to serve as ambassadors in our North American camps.
Among the goals of the seminar are to enable camp leadership to begin to form relationships with shlichim, to provide an orientation to Ramah’s core values and best practices in areas such as camper care and supervision, and to encourage these young adults to consider the profound impact of their shlichut. The training program is a collaborative effort with the dedicated staff of the Jewish Agency, fostering a dynamic and enriching experience for all participants.
Read More: “We Stand Together”
Israeli Campers Israel
This summer, eight Ramah camps welcomed 99 rising 10th and 11th graders, primarily from the NOAM youth movement in Israel, marking our third consecutive year of this initiative. In addition, Ramah camps hosted 76 Israeli campers through the Campers2Gether initiative of The Jewish Agency for Israel, Mosaic United, and the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism.
Quotes from campers:
“On a climbing trip we had a night climb. It was very scary and my knees were shaking. In the end I was able to climb with everyone and I feel that this is the experience of success that will stay with me forever from the camp.”
Quotes from rashei edot (division heads):
“The impact that this group of Israeli teens had on us was profound. Between the educational impact that they left on us, teaching us about their culture and life at home, the Jewish impact they had on us, teaching us about the traditions and customs back at home, and the impact they had on us as friends, playing games and enjoying the silly parts of camp all helped make this community strong.”
Campers were warmly welcomed into their peer groups. Israeli campers were able to share their experiences with their peers, and many expressed gratitude for the opportunity to attend camp after a challenging year in Israel. The campers arrived with an open mind and adapted well, which resulted in a positive and, in many ways, normal camp experience despite the expected emotional challenges related to the war in Israel.
“It was challenging but fun to experience something else. It gives you the place to breathe without being worried about the war. It’s different from home and I had a lot of fun.”
“The Ramah Camp experience gave the Noam participants the opportunity to be immersed in a supportive environment of Jewish values, traditions and culture. Especially this year, they felt the solidarity and support of their North American counterparts, who were anxious to be there in friendship and support after the year of horror, violence and uncertainty. The campers had the opportunity to “just be kids,” to play and sing, dance, and even cry - helping them to begin the process of healing.”
Israeli Campers
Israel
Dear Ramah Friends,
I hope this email finds you well and winding down after an incredible summer.
I think you may still be stateside, but wanted to reach out to you in any case, just to say thanks. Maayan is still in the states, visiting with my family in California, so we have yet to sit with her in person and hear even more about her experience at Ramah Galim. But till she returns later in the month, I simply could not wait any longer to write to you, and to everyone at Ramah who contributed to this incredible program in partnership with Noam, and thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Maayan’s experience at Ramah Galim this summer was nothing short of lifechanging. I know that may sound over-the-top, but it could not be more true. She’s on the phone with her newfound friends every day, both from Israel and from the U.S., and continues to reminisce about every tiny, magnificent little detail that contributed to, and I quote, “the best summer of her entire life.”
Especially after such a painful, terrifying year for teens here in Israel, what Ramah and Noam have offered them is a tremendous breath of fresh air, a reminder of all that is good and fun and meaningful in life, a transformative experience that they will carry with them into their adulthood and always look back upon with the hugest of smiles and with bursting hearts. What a gift.
So, from all of us Rosenbluhs, thank you Ramah, and thank you Noam, and thank you Ramah Galim specifically, for giving our daughter what she needed most this summer. You do a fantastic job, and you literally make dreams come true.
With tremendous appreciation, Keri and Chaggai Rosenbluh, and most importantly, Maayan
P.S. Please do pass this on to all who are relevant!
Letter from a NOAM family to Ramah Galim
Overnight Camp in Israel
Israel
After Camp Ramah Israel’s successful first summer in 2023 at the Ben Shemen Youth Village in Central Israel, Ramah ran a winter camp for teens who were impacted by the October 7th attack. Fifty-five teens from the city of Ofakim spent five magical and fun days in the Hodayot Youth Village. For some, it was their first time leaving Ofakim in the months after October 7th. One of the parents said, “You gave me back a new child... I was very emotional and cried; this time it was tears of joy.”
In 2024, its second summer season, Camp Ramah Israel served 120 campers, twice the number who participated in the inaugural season. The camp provided solace and joy to Israeli teens from across the country, including many who had been displaced from their homes. Participants returned home having formed new friendships, and feeling more mature and empowered.
Israel Education at Ramah Israel
Leading up to Kayitz 2024, as the situation in Israel, college campuses, and around the world was evolving, we recognized the need for our camps to have access to age-appropriate, up-to-date Israel educational resources. . The National Ramah Israel Curriculum was designed specifically for staff seeking to incorporate Israeli culture, history, politics, and more into their curriculum. This curated online collection offers simple yet impactful programs to enhance understanding and engagement with diverse aspects of Israeli society.
Staff members and educators can browse by target age group and topic or follow the suggested program sequence by age cohort. Each program includes a digital page and printable version to allow for ease of use.
National Ramah Israel Curriculum
View Online Curriculum
Israel Education at Ramah Israel
NRC-Sponsored Research: “The Stories of Israel at Ramah, Kayitz 2024”
The goal of our post-summer research for 2024 was to be able to tell the stories of how Israel showed up at Ramah camps this summer. To do this work, we surveyed all program/education staff, North American and Israeli. We received over 300 responses. We also conducted 30 interviews with directors, rashei mishlachat, senior Israel educators, and staff members who participated in the NRC May volunteer trips to Israel.
The key takeaway from our study: “We found that across Ramah camps there was a shared, primary story about Israel. It’s a story of providing a safe and supportive environment to Israelis and North Americans alike. It’s a story of memorializing various aspects of the past year in deeply moving ways. It’s a story about sensitivity to the emotional readiness of different parts of the camp population, due to age or personal experience, to encounter potentially difficult material related to Israel.”
Zionism and Pedagogy: Teaching During Difficult Times
Amy Skopp Cooper and Dr. Daniel Olson participated in a JTS panel that examined the opportunities and challenges that North Americans face when teaching about Zionism.
Read More: “The Stories of Israel at Ramah, Kayitz 2024”
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Leadership Development
Annual Leadership Conferences and Travel Experiences Leadership Development
Bert B. Weinstein Leadership Institute
January 4–7, 2024 | Camp Ramah in California
Over 100 Ramah tzevet (staff) members came together for the 2024 Bert B. Weinstein Leadership Institute. (View full schedule and program tracks.) Weinstein always comes at a time of year when our college-aged staff members yearn for their Ramah community, but this year’s program was particularly meaningful, as it provided a sense of community and healing following the events of October 7th and their impact on college campuses.
“Weinstein was so necessary and so healing…This is the time when we need a camp Shabbat and general experience most.”
Year-round Ramah professionals led sessions and modeled leadership strategies, focusing on fundamental skills such as Jewish education, community care, and programming. In addition, there was an emphasis on Israel and confronting antisemitism on college campuses. Participants were fortunate to learn from Dr. Jonathan Golden of the Shalom Hartman Institute, who provided frameworks for processing recent events and moderating conversations between diverse community members who may not always agree.
“One of the most beautiful moments of the weekend was singing slow songs at Seudah Shlishit. I alternated between closing my eyes, allowing all of the voices to wash over me, and looking around at everyone in the circle, reaffirming the power of the Jewish people and the communities we create.”
- Yossi, Ramah Galim - Noa, Ramah California
This year, both Tikvah counselors and vocational training participants attended Weinstein, learning what disability support looks like at different Ramah camps and joining in as active participants in all sessions. Weinstein concluded with a day of service and learning about the intersection of Jewish learning and environmentalism, led by Marci Greenberg, a marine biologist and Jewish educator at Ramah Galim.
Read More: “A Time for Healing, a Time for Learning, a Time for Ramah Community”
Our annual Louis & Shoshanah Winer Institute for Rosh Edah Training took place in two locations this spring: in Jerusalem between our two May mission trips and at Camp Ramah in New England in early June. All together, 34 rashei edot from 11 Ramah camps gathered in preparation for their roles as leaders, educators, supervisors, and care providers.
Participants discovered tactics to elevate their tefillot, structured their individual staff week sessions, committed to holding one another accountable for practicing self-care throughout the summer, and were introduced to the new National Ramah Israel Curriculum.
“I love coming to Winer because every year I not only get to meet new people who are doing the same job I am over the summer, but I also get to see new perspectives on challenges I’ve had in the past.”
Louis & Shoshanah Winer Institute for Rosh Edah Training May 21–22, 2024 | Jerusalem ● June 3–5, 2024 | Camp Ramah New England - Lily, Ramah DC Day Camp
Every year, rashei edot leave Winer valuing the relationships they build with other participants across the Ramah movement. On the last night, as part of a beautiful tradition and highlight of Winer, rashei edot were encouraged to share their “Ramah story” with the group around the medura (bonfire). Our participants are eager to return to their camps equipped with practical skills to provide another incredible summer for our campers.
More: “2024
& Shoshanah
Read
Louis
Winer Institute for Rosh Edah Training”
Annual Leadership Conferences and Travel Experiences
Leadership Development
Ha’dor Yizkor: A Reshet Ramah Poland Journey
May 19-26, 2024
Ha’dor Yizkor was created in response to the interest expressed by several Ramah alumni in their 20s, seeking to honor the lives lost in the Shoah, reconnect with significant sites in their families’ histories, and explore both the historical and contemporary Jewish life of Eastern Europe. This journey was designed to provide young adults with a profound and communal experience, grounded in the values and traditions of the Ramah community that has been integral to their Jewish education.
On May 19, 2024, 14 young adults, including 12 Ramah alumni – s even of whom are emerging Jewish professionals or lay leaders – began this journey in Warsaw. Over a week, participants engaged deeply with the vibrant history of Jewish life in Poland, bore witness to the atrocities of the Holocaust, and grappled with the complexities of modern Jewish existence in Poland. Throughout the journey, participants led tefillot, shared personal stories, and words of Torah, and reflected on their experiences through journaling and group discussions.
“My trip to Poland felt like the missing piece of my Jewish education. As a Jewish professional, I returned from this trip feeling better equipped to meet this moment of Jewish community thanks to my Ramah educators and peers.”
- Jessica, Ramah Wisconsin
Year-Round Training Programs
Leadership Development
Kerem Young Professionals Cohort
Kerem is a track for emerging Jewish professionals working full-time at Ramah camps. The cohort provides support, mentorship from senior Ramah professionals, and ongoing training during the first three post-college years. The current cohort consists of 10 young professionals who meet on a regular basis and gather in person once or twice each year.
Highlights from 2023–24:
From February 2-4, 2024, Kerem celebrated Shabbat in Riverdale, NY, where they had the opportunity to reflect on working full-time for Ramah, bond with other members of the cohort, and gain insights from other camps.
Matt Goldstein, an associate at Tempus Financial Group and a proud Ramah Canada alumnus, provided personal finance tips to Kerem members.
Members of the Kerem cohort participated in the May Israel trips.
Read More: “When I Go To Poland, I Want To Go With Ramah”
Ten college students received Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) certification through either virtual or in-person training.
Twelve Shapiro Fellows worked at seven different Ramah camps in summer 2024, teaching children, crafting innovative curricula, and inspiring love for Israel and the Jewish people.
Sixteen members of the Ramah community participated in SLBC, enhancing their music, tefillah, and leadership skills.
Amitei Ramah Fellowships for Young Ramah Alumni Leadership Development
This year, 247 Ramah Service Corps Fellows developed and implemented approximately 300 programs impacting over 3,500 individuals. They organized holiday and Shabbat programs and retreats, managed social media, contributed to future educational programming, provided ongoing Tikvah calls, organized teen leadership opportunities, and engaged with the wider Ramah community through various events and celebrations. Through partnerships with local synagogues and other organizations, Fellows established a strong presence in the community, building important relationships with families.
“I was responsible this past year for engaging with alumni of the Tikvah and Atzmayim programs from Ramah Wisconsin throughout the year with social Zoom calls. Participants of the calls took a bigger role with leading conversations with each other which was really fun to see. People enjoyed being able to talk directly to their friends they haven’t seen in a while. I enjoy my role with keeping this community connected and realize that it’s very appreciated amongst the participants and their families. I’m grateful for the opportunity to hang out with a bunch of people who I love and care deeply about.”
With the support and guidance of the National Ramah Commission, Fellows receive resources, programmatic assistance, and education to empower them to create a meaningful difference within their communities. By appealing to exceptional young talent and encouraging them to pursue careers in Jewish communal service, the Fellowship fosters a new generation of Jewish leaders.
Ramah Service Corps Fellows
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Rabbi Alexander M. Shapiro Fellowship
Songleader Boot Camp (SLBC)
Sam, Ramah Wisconsin
Read More: Amitei Ramah Fellowships
TikvahNet Vocational Training and Socialization Leadership Development
TikvahNet, Ramah’s virtual vocational training and socialization program designed for current Tikvah participants (ages 18+) and Ramah alumni, continues to thrive, engaging over 110 Ramah alumni with disabilities from across North America on a bi-weekly basis. The program fosters leadership opportunities and encourages participants to be changemakers within their communities.
Here’s what our participants had to say:
“I enjoy when TikvahNet participants lead activities. The guest speakers are showing us something that they want other TikvahNet participants to know about.”
“They all did a phenomenal job leading as well as the guest speakers. I really got to learn alot from them. Hopefully more guest speakers for the future.”
“TikvahNet sessions meant a lot to me. This year has been a hard year. There have been so many twists and turns that happened this year that I wasn’t expecting. TikvahNet helped me get distracted from what was going on and I focused on what was going on during TikvahNet. Thank you to all of the staff for an amazing year. Can’t wait to see what is in store for next year.”
To further address the evolving needs of Tikvah families, we launched the Tikvah Family Speaker Series. This series brings together guest speakers, including professionals and parents, to address key topics such as adulthood, financial planning, housing, and employment for individuals with disabilities.
Read More: National Ramah Tikvah Network— Virtual & Alumni Programming
RESHET RAMAH YEAR-ROUND ENGAGEMENT
Ramah College Network Reshet Ramah Year-Round Engagement
The Ramah College Network (RCN) has achieved continued success in its mission to harness the leadership, creativity, and passion of young adults, empowering them to strengthen both the Ramah alumni and the wider Jewish communities on their respective campuses. During the 20232024 school year, 42 Ramah College Network Coordinators on 28 campuses, planned over 274 programs engaging 1,688 students, primarily Ramah alumni. Each campus program was promoted through social media, group and individual outreach.
This year’s events included Ramah Shabbat dinners, holiday programs, social action events, picnics, Ramah t-shirt day events, Ramahchiattos (coffee chats), hikes, Israel events, and social gatherings. By fostering Jewish leadership on campus, Ramah strives to create a pipeline for future leaders in Ramah community-building beyond college.
Sample RCN Coordinators:
Jacob Bengelsdorf | Darom | New York University
Jake is a senior at New York University studying Business and Political Economy. He is from Nashville, Tennessee and has been going to Ramah Darom since 2011. Jake loves bringing the Ramah ruach to Jewish life at NYU and connecting w ith other Ramahniks in lower Manhattan. Outside of RCN, Jake is president of the NYU Hillel, serving on the Hillel International Student Cabinet, in NYU’s premier (only) Jewish a cappella group, the NYU Israel Journal, and Hillel laser tag. Jake cannot wait to work with the Ramah community for another year at NYU and the downtown schools!
Nora Feinberg | California | Tulane University
Nora Feinberg is a sophomore at Tulane, where she is double-majoring in Jewish Studies and Musical Theatre and minoring in Sports Leadership and Management. This past summer was Nora’s 10th Ramah kayitz (including Seminar, a Zoom year, and Weinstein), where she was a second-year madricha! Her favorite parts of camp include swimming, Kabbalat Shabbat, and “chilling on the hill.” When sh e isn’t thinking about Ramah, Nora can be found in her a cappella group (NJBeats), APO, SDT, at hot yoga, or on the stage. She is so excited to bring the Ramah magic to New Orleans this year!
Sample RCN Events:
Bracelets for Israel, Rutgers University
On October 16, just after the war in Israel-Gaza began, RCN Coordinator Rachel Z. hosted “Rutgers Bracelets for Israel.” At this event, students made blue and white beaded bracelets to raise money for the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Center. Throughout their time together, Rutgers’ Ramahniks discussed camp and built relationships. This event provided a comforting, stress-relieving environment during a challenging time on campus.
Shabbat Across Ramah
Over November 3-4, 2023, National Ramah held its annual Shabbat Across Ramah weekend. Every RCN Coordinator planned an event for Ramahniks on their campus to celebrate and honor Shabbat together. This included Shabbat dinners, Shabbat lunches, Shabbat onegs, challah bakes, making Shabbat-o-grams, and Havdalah events.
RCN Shabbaton: Responding to Antisemitism
Over the weekend of February 9–11, 19 Ramah campus leaders gathered at Orangetown Jewish Center for a Shabbaton focused on responding to antisemitism. They explored this difficult topic from many angles, including how antisemitism sometimes operates as an invisible oppression, its relationship to anti-Zionism and criticism of Israel, and the powerful role of living joyfully as Jews to combat antisemitism more effectively. Throughout the Shabbaton, our young adults embraced this joyful Judaism engaging in spirited tefillot, uplifting singing, meaningful reflections on personal experiences, and a fun evening at one of the best all-kosher supermarkets in the country.
See All RCN Coordinators
Read More: “Ramah College Network: Igniting the Jewish Future”
Reshet Ramah Ba’Ir
Reshet Ramah Year-Round Engagement
Reshet Ramah Ba’Ir, our city-based programming for young adults in their 20s and 30s, engaged alumni and friends through impactful gatherings. This year, coordinators organized 26 events across seven cities, engaging 1,200 participants. These programs offered Ramahniks nationwide the chance to celebrate Shabbat and holidays, participate in meaningful learning, and find connection and support during a challenging year for the Jewish community.
See All Ba’Ir Coordinators
Reshet Ba’Ir Coordinators (Selected Profiles)
Molly Auerbach | Los Angeles
Originally from Denver, Colorado, Molly graduated from Emory University in 2020 with degrees in Mathematics and Hebrew. Molly served as the Springboard Innovation Fellow at Hillel at UCLA before joining the Ramah California year-round team as the Program Coordinator. Having spent a semester of college studying abroad in Jerusalem, she has an extreme love for Israel and is passionate about the Ramah kehillah she has formed over the years. Molly has spent 16 incredible summers at camp, five of them as a madricha and two as a Rosh Edah. In her free time, you can find Molly going on her weekly Shabbat walks, busting her moves in rikkud, and uncontrollably laughing. She is so excited to add the responsibility of Reshet Ramah Ba’Ir to her role with Ramah California.
Talia Feldman | New York City
Talia is a nursery school teacher on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. She has spent many summers at Ramah Poconos and one at Ramah Berkshires. She always loves coming together with the Ramah kehillah and can’t wait to do so this year in NYC!
“Gathering in the vibrant Ramah community during this time of uncertainty and pain for the Jewish community was powerful, meaningful, and reassuring. From tasty food to new friends and Shabbat Zmirot, it was a Shabbat filled with Ramah Ruach.”
- Simon Luxemberg, Reshet Ramah Ba’Ir Coordinator in Boston
Read More: “The Ramah Connection Lives On With Reshet Ramah Ba’Ir”
Virtual Programs and Networking
Reshet Ramah Year-Round Engagement
This year, we held 45 networking programs, including those specifically connected to Israel. During the events, attendees had the opportunity to hear from expert speakers, participate in interactive workshops and panel discussions, and engage in small group conversations and networking opportunities. The series allowed attendees to build their professional network and develop new skills and strategies.
Movement-Wide Signature Programs Reshet Ramah Year-Round Engagement
Each year, Ramahniks far and wide celebrate their Ramah pride during Ruach Ramah Week. On Wear Your Ramah T-Shirt day, they wear their favorite Ramah swag, post a photo on social media and tag @campramah. Over the years this day has become a highlight in schools, cities, and homes spanning generations of Ramahniks!
Leading up to Wear Your Ramah T-Shirt Day and Shabbat Across Ramah, Ramahniks connect online to share photos, stories, and moments from their Ramah experience. This week of online engagement energizes the community and creates hype for the biggest days of movement-wise engagement.
Wear Your Ramah T-Shirt Day
Ruach Ramah Week
SUPPORT FOR CAMPS
Mental Health Support for Counselors and Campers Support for Camps
The NRC deepened its commitment to mental health and camper care this year through robust offseason initiatives. Specialized training, seminars, monthly collaborative meetings, and Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) certification equipped young adult staff with the tools needed to support both campers and their peers effectively. Throughout the camp season, NRC invested in diverse staff wellness initiatives across camps, providing structured activities like yoga, candle-making, and social events to foster community, relaxation, and resilience. Enhanced mental health resources, dedicated relaxation spaces, and thoughtful staff appreciation programs contributed to a camp environment where staff felt valued, supported, and energized.
To further support camper well-being, NRC partnered with experts to deliver targeted mental health education and training for staff, alongside expanded mental health personnel at each camp. New resources, such as telehealth services, sensory gardens, and wellness cabins, were introduced to help address the unique needs of campers, fostering a safe, nurturing environment for emotional growth and stability.
Additionally, Israeli mental health professionals were hired to support Israeli campers and staff. These professionals offered a deep understanding of Israeli culture, essential in helping campers and staff adjust to camp life, navigate homesickness, and manage emotional challenges.
Disabilities and Inclusion Programs Support for Camps
This year, funds raised for the Tikvah programs at Ramah camps supported key initiatives that enriched the camp experience for participants with disabilities. Several camps expanded their vocational training programs, sensory support tools, and enhanced staff training aimed at fostering inclusivity.
In the second summer of its Tikvah program, Ramah Berkshires held a full session for boys and piloted a new program for girls. At Camp Ramah Darom, vocational training participants opened Cafe Darom, a coffee shop for staff members. Additional inclusion counselors and job coaches were employed to provide dedicated support for campers and staff members with disabilities, ensuring that everyone could fully engage in camp life. Funds were also allocated for sensoryfriendly initiatives, including the creation of sensory spaces, visual schedules, and personalized supports to help campers with unique needs thrive in a supportive and accommodating environment.
In September 2024, twelve participants, alumni from Ramah’s Tikvah disabilities inclusion programs, embarked on an eightday service trip to Israel as part of the first-ever Birthright Israel Onward volunteer mission for adults with disabilities. The group comprised adults ages 21 to 41. Participants engaged in meaningful volunteer work, from packing food for those in need to preparing tzitzit for Israeli soldiers while also visiting important cultural and historical sites.
Despite the challenges presented by the ongoing conflict, the participants demonstrated resilience and adaptability, forming deep connections with Israel and its people. The trip highlighted the value of providing inclusive opportunities for individuals with disabilities to engage in Jewish life and contribute to their communities.
Ramah Expansion and New Initiatives Support for Camps
Expansion - BIG IDEA at Ramah Day Camp Greater DC
This year, Ramah Day Camp LA opened for three weeks with 47 campers from 1st to 4th grade and 32 staff members.
Ramah Day Camp Greater DC expanded in summer 2024 with the introduction of a specialized camp in partnership with the Israeli-based technology camp BIG IDEA, which enrolled 46 campers.
Affordability and Staff Retention Support for Camps
NRC is deeply committed to supporting families who face financial challenges, ensuring that a transformative Ramah experience is accessible to all children, regardless of economic background. Your support provided vital camper scholarships to families in need, enabling their children to participate fully in the vibrant, immersive world of Jewish life that Ramah camps and Israel programs offer.
In addition to our broader scholarship initiatives, we were grateful to receive a special grant designated to assist Jewish professionals in sending their children to Ramah camps. This support ensured that children from these families could benefit from our unique environment of Jewish living and learning, deepening their love for Israel, the Hebrew language, and the broader Jewish community.
NRC is also focused on staff retention. This year, camps saw higher retention rates, aided by a grant incentivizing camp to recruit more college-aged staff members. It was especially important to have staff at camp after the difficult year many had faced on college campuses. Being surrounded by their Ramah family offered them a much-needed environment of support and healing and gave them renewed energy and a sense of purpose.
Los Angeles
DC
(BI-RDC)
Acknowledgments 2024
We are deeply grateful to our generous donors, whose support has made this historic year possible. Each gift fuels our mission to shape future generations of Jewish leaders, augment the power of the Ramah experience, and strengthen our collective Jewish future. Thank you for investing in this legacy, sharing in the journey, and helping us build a stronger, more connected Jewish community for generations to come.
NRC Officers
Arnie Harris
Keath Blatt
Ellen Brown
Sheldon Disenhouse
Rob Hirsch
Jeffrey Kopin, M.D.
Cliff Nerwen, M.D.
Sue Och
Jay Reisbaum
Jonathan Sherman
Jerry Silverman
Skip Vichness
NRC Full-Time Professionals
Amy Skopp Cooper
Jess Baden
Marni Cherrin
Erez Davids
Maya Klareich
Matt Levin
Daniel Olson, Ph.D.
Nancy Scheff
Michael Vayda
NRC Part-Time Professionals
Rabbi Mitchell Cohen
Maya Albin
Howard Blas
Adina Scheinberg
Dena Tolkin
Hadassah Turk Tolub
For more information or to donate now, please visit campramah.org/support-ramah or email Marni Cherrin, Development Director.
Donate Now