Creating life-long Jewish connections,
one
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happy camper at
Annual Report | 2014
a time
J CAMP RAMAH ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 1
2 | CAMP RAMAH ANNUAL REPORT 2014
HOW LOVELY are your tents…
ָ מַה־ט ֹּבּו א ֹ ָהלֶיך
Dear Friends, As Pesach arrives and we reflect on the accomplishments of Camp Ramah in the Poconos, Ramah Day Camp and our Tikvah programs over the past fiscal year, we are truly in awe. 2014 was a banner year in terms of enrollment at all three of our summer programs. Tikvah Family Camp, serving families who have children with disabilities, was once again at capacity; Ramah Day Camp experienced another summer with nearly
Some of our proudest moments as President and Executive Director over the past fiscal year have been due to our devoted Board of Directors and talented full-time staff. Not only have we revamped our mission statement, but we’ve also developed a three year strategic plan. Our new mission statement, “Creating life-long Jewish connections, one happy camper at a time,” truly defines our goals as Conservative Jewish overnight and day camps.
300 campers; and at the overnight camp, for the first time in
As Pesach heralds the coming of summer 2015, we are
over a decade, our second session was completely sold out,
committed to redoubling the efforts of the past several years
thereby, serving over 500 campers during the course of the
shepherding Camp Ramah in the Poconos, Ramah Day Camp
summer.
and Tikvah Family Camp into the next stages of success. With
Our first Annual Chai Campaign in November 2013 surpassed our expectations, raising over $118,000 for scholarships
your support, we are certain that we can achieve these, and any future goals.
benefiting all of our programs. Additionally, our Tribute Benefit
Thank you for your help in creating this holy community of
and Silent Auction held in February of 2014 grossed $140,000.
campers, parents, alumni, and stakeholders. We wish you and
As a result, nearly $225,000 of the $300,000 distributed in
your families a chag kasher v’sameach, a happy and healthy
scholarship funds were dollars raised by the support of our
Passover.
community during the past fiscal year. L’shalom,
Lee Sussman, President
Rabbi Joel Seltzer, Executive Director
CAMP RAMAH ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 1
Strategic Plan Our thanks go out to Michael Wachs, Senior Vice President and Chair of our Strategic Planning Committee, and the dedicated group of volunteers who worked with him. They gave their valuable time over the course of the past several years towards the completion of this important document. This strategic plan outlines some of the key objectives for our organization over the next three years.
Completion of a comprehensive Development Plan for the
Establishing a task force on session length, with
organization
recommendations to be implemented for the 2016 season
IN PROGRESS
Renewal of a long-term lease for Ramah Day Camp
Evaluating staff housing options, needs, costs and timing, including the possible impact of the residential
IN PROGRESS
Tikvah program
IN PROGRESS
Conducting general improvements to existing buildings at Ramah Poconos, including painting, landscaping, replacing
Establishing a task force to evaluate Ramah Poconos
floors and roofs of bunks and buildings to be done at a
and Ramah Day camp staffing numbers and ratios
rate of 25% per year
IN PROGRESS
Studying potential financial incentives for current 100% participation by Members of the Board of Directors
Ramah Day camp families choosing Ramah Poconos
in financially contributing to Ramah events and
for the first time
fundraisers
COMPLETED
Freshening programming at Ramah Poconos; Completion of the Edah Captain Program; identifying
including adding a theater specialty track, as well as,
alumni from different edot throughout the years and
adding daily programming options on both land
tasking them as Ramah representatives, specifically
and water
IN PROGRESS
targeting those alumni who have lost contact with Ramah Renovating the Guest House at Ramah Poconos over Solicitation training for Members of the Board of Directors
the period of the next three years
COMPLETED
IN PROGRESS
Exploring options for a new Mercaz at Ramah Poconos, Hiring a Development Assistant
2 | CAMP RAMAH ANNUAL REPORT 2014
COMPLETED
including plans for a 2018 capital campaign
The rainbow appeared about an hour after we left Camp. I had the feeling that God had seen to it that from the beginning of the rainbow (1950) to the end of the rainbow (that day) we were united no matter what the age of the camper in all of us. I knew that MY Ramah was everyone else’s Ramah, and that the burning bush would continue to glow absorbing all of us in its magic.
Susan Paznik Levine
Alumna, Reflections from the Camp Ramah in the Poconos 1950’s Reunion
As you can see, there is a lot to be done! The good news is that progress towards many of these objectives is already underway, and a newly established implementation committee will see to it that these objectives are achieved over the course of the next three years.
CAMP RAMAH ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 3
Ramah Day Camp Since 1996, we have provided a fun and enriching Jewish day camp experience to children in pre-K to 7th grade and their families in the Philadelphia area. Today, Ramah Day Camp also offers specialized summer programs for older children and teens: our Etgar leaders-in-training (LIT) program for current 6th and 7th graders, and our counselors-in-training (CIT) program for
RENA & ARI
(pictured right)
When the time came for our children, Rena and Ari, to go to day camp, we wanted the best of both worlds; the sports, arts & crafts and swimming, plus the values driven, caring Jewish community, whose counselors go above and beyond the call of duty.
current 8th-10th graders. We have also successfully included
“Today I tried a tomato off a plant,” Rena told us
children with a range of disabilities that can be accommodated
when she got off the bus one day. At our house
within our Tikvah Track program.
that would never fly, but at Ramah she feels able to
In addition to sports, swimming, performing arts, outdoor
venture outside of her comfort zone.
adventure and more, in 2013 a five-day soccer clinic, in
But there was one moment, in particular, when we
partnership with UK Elite, was added.
knew that we had made the right decision in sending Ari and Rena to Ramah Day Camp. It was a fall morning as we passed by our 4 year-old son’s bedroom and heard him singing, as usual. But when we listened closely, we began to hear the words of the Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem. We were overcome with emotion. We knew that he had learned those words at Ramah Day Camp and that now, he was a Ramahnik, too. SHIRA AND COBI Ramah Day Camp Parents and Ramah Alumni
4 | CAMP RAMAH ANNUAL REPORT 2014
400 campers and staff participated in
A highlight of summer 2014
the care of the organically-grown Ramah
was our incredible camp-wide
Day Camp Community Garden this year.
musical t’filot. Our young
In ten years, it has grown to half an acre,
campers participated with loads
yielding 1,300 lbs. of produce.
of ruach (spirit). CAMP RAMAH ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 5
with each new friend I make at camp, I become a better person, taking and learning something from each and every one. That is a priceless gift, and I sincerely wish every adult, and kid can experience that in their lifetime.
Gefen
14-year-old camper
Gefen and Eden (pictured) clearly enjoyed Maccabiah. Examples of everlasting Ramah friendships, they are part of the more than 500 campers that were served throughout the course of last summer. Thanks to remarkable recruitment efforts, the number of campers has risen significantly including 17 new campers from the greater Baltimore area. As a result, three edot were full by last November. 6 | CAMP RAMAH ANNUAL REPORT 2014
Camp Ramah in the Poconos Since the summer at Camp Ramah in
Thanks to anonymous donors, Camp has
the Poconos ended on August 10,
acquired a SeaDoo Challenger 200 power
2014, camp has been anything but
boat that resulted in the purchase of a new
quiet. It has been buzzing with the
EZ Dock, enhancing the entire waterfront
sounds of hammers, saws, and
program for summer 2015.
bulldozers as major renovations are underway to prepare the grounds for campers and staff to enjoy in June. In fact, more off-season work has been done in the months following the end of Camp than any other period of time in our 65-year history; from literally changing the ground that we walk on to create a leveled soccer field, to replacing the lakeside port-o-potties with a poolside showerhouse, to repaving the grounds and building landscaped steps from the pool down to the lake. Securing a $36,000 grant from JFRE, raising capital donations, and using designated operational funds has brought Ramah into a new era of growth and improvements.
30 mishlachat members brought Israel to life this summer. Whether speaking Hebrew, celebrating Yom Yisrael, or sharing personal experiences during last summer’s war, the bonds created by the Israeli staff and the campers not only tied them together, but also connected them to the people and the land of Israel.
To me, the definition of a Ramah friendship is being yourself. My camp friends and I accept each other for who we are with all of the wackiness that goes along with it. The results are a lot of laughter and love!
Eden, 14-year-old camper CAMP RAMAH ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 7
Tikvah Family Camp Tikvah Family Camp provides Jewish children with developmental disabilities and/ or social learning disorders, their parents, and their siblings the unique opportunity to experience the magic of Jewish summer camp together. Over the past five years, the 5-day program has grown and was at capacity this summer with 15 families in attendance. 11 of the families had attended previously. Each child with special needs was paired with a chaver, or friend, who acted as his/her buddy throughout the program. Siblings were given the opportunity to discuss the joys and challenges of having brothers and sisters with special needs. Parents, in addition to taking part in all that camp has to offer (boating, swimming, ropes course, etc.) were encouraged to partake in
SAMUEL’S EXPERIENCE Before coming to Tikvah, Samuel had no experience in a pool. Having had a tracheotomy for the first four years of his life, the thought of putting him in water deeper than his ankles terrified us. But then we met Nava. From the first minute we met her, she assured us that not only would Samuel be safe with her in the water but he would thrive. We had our doubts, but trusted in her, trusted in Tikvah, and before we knew it we had a fish on our hands!
a social event each night after their children went to bed while
Samuel loved the pool from the moment he
counselors served as babysitters.
entered it—the freedom, the weightlessness, and
Everyone loved Ooey Gooey Stickiness on Friday afternoon; a program designed to help desensitize those children who do not like to get messy, a common feature of autism. Stations included bubbles, goop, paints, water, and even a quiet area to relax. It was fun getting messy right before Shabbat!
the joy he felt were all evident. However, more significantly, perhaps, was the bond he formed with Nava. Never before had he shown such trust in another adult; never had he smiled so widely or connected so fully with anyone other than one of his parents.
With an eye towards summer 2016, we hope that our Tikvah
SARA AND JASON
Family Camp will be a proving ground for our fully-inclusive
Tikvah Family Camp Parents
residential Tikvah program at Camp Ramah in the Poconos.
8 | CAMP RAMAH ANNUAL REPORT 2014
Kids rode on horses, milked goats, and petted cows when they arrived at Tikvah Family Camp this summer. The hands-on petting zoo was a wonderful sensory experience.
Not one, but two campfires lit up the night at Tikvah Family Camp 2014, complete with singing and s’mores. One campfire was for parents and their special needs children, the other was for siblings to socialize.
Samuel is a non-verbal 11-year old on the autism spectrum. Along with his parents, he attends Tikvah Family Camp with his twin brother, Isaac, younger brother, Asher (age 8), and younger sister, Nili (age 5). CAMP RAMAH ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 9
520 446
242.5
233
2013
2014
Full Camper Equivalent*
300
290
313.5
2013
2014
2013
Total Served
Day Camp ENROLLMENT
$3.8 M
$4 M
350
2014
Full Camper Equivalent*
2013
2014
Total Served
Overnight Camp ENROLLMENT
*1 First Session Camper + 1 Second Session Camper = 1 Full Camper Equivalent
10 | CAMP RAMAH ANNUAL REPORT 2014
$4.5 M $3.9 M
2013
2014
Organizational
Revenue
2013
2014
Organizational
Expenses
Financials
October 1, 2013
  September 30, 2014
2013
2014
Revenue $3,992,215
Revenue $4,530,490
Highlights
Highlights
Tuition and Fees
$3,468,507
Tuition and Fees
$3,896,358
Donations $205,434
Donations $295,235
Family Capital Improvement Contribution
Family Capital Improvement Contribution
$49,500
$56,700
Expenses $3,826,004
Expenses $4,057,975
Highlights
Highlights
Programs and Operations
$3,468,801
Scholarships Given:
Programs and Operations
$3,739,398
Scholarships Given:
Camp Ramah in the Poconos
$177,940
Camp Ramah in the Poconos
$211,341
Ramah Day Camp
$72,635
Ramah Day Camp
$87,315
Tikvah Family Camp
$1,050
Fundraising $33,383
Tikvah Family Camp
$1,250
Fundraising $34,984
Revenue
Scholarship Expenses
In 2014, there was an 11% increase in revenue due to
With an increase in revenue, comes great reward in our ability
more campers at all three camp programs including
to give out scholarships to those Ramah families in need of
sold out edot at Camp Ramah in the Poconos. In
assistance. $299,906 in scholarships were distributed in
addition, income from grants, donations, and retreat
2014 to Camp Ramah in the Poconos, Ramah Day Camp, and
revenue contributed to 9% of Camp Ramah’s total
Tikvah Family Camp constituents. That is a 16% expansion over
revenue, a 2% gain from the previous year.
the amount of scholarship dollars distributed in 2013.
CAMP RAMAH ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 11
Legacy Society For 65 years, Camp Ramah in the Poconos has been central to the lives of our campers, families, alumni, and staff. Ramah is the place that people often refer to as their second home–eagerly counting down the days for ten months until their return each summer.
Thank you to the Members of our
The Legacy Society recognizes friends who have made arrangements to leave a Legacy Gift to Camp to perpetuate their generosity beyond a lifetime and
Anonymous (21)
Joshua Landsburg
Jon Rothschild
Nona Levin Abrams
Michael Landsburg
Lori Rothschild
Deborah L. Albert
Robin Sue Landsburg
Sion Segal
Susan Ansul
William Landsburg
Eliana Katz Seltzer
Amanda Balakirsky
Zach Landsburg
Rabbi Joel Seltzer
Samantha Balakirsky
Sharon P. Levin
Rabbi Jay Stein
Talia Balakirsky
Jonathan L. Levin
Karen Stesis
William J. Chertok z”l
Leslie Molder
Louis G. Stesis
Arielle Davis
Rebekah A.Z. Monson
Max Sugarman
Rachel Devor
Uri Monson
Melissa Sugarman Kleiman
Amy B. Dorsch
David Oppenheimer
Michelle Sugarman
Rabbi Daniel Dorsch
Mindy Oppenheimer
Alison Sussman
Cheryl G. Dorsch z”l
Mary Relles
Lee Sussman
Jay A. Dorsch
Nathan Relles
Aliza Zeff
Rabbi Joshua Dorsch
serve as an inspiration for others to
Matthew Dorsch
do the same. A Legacy Gift will live on
Carol G. Einhorn
long into the future helping Camp to
Jules C. Einhorn
grow and flourish while fostering future generations of Ramahniks. Join us in becoming a member of your Legacy Society by contacting our Development Director, Missy Stein,
Deborah-Jo Essrog Glen Feinberg Rela Mintz Geffen Emily Goldberg Akiva F. Goldstein David Goldstein Harold Grinspoon
at missys@ramahpoconos.org or
David I. Haas
215-885-8556.
Donna G. Haas Judith Hess Jason A. Kreisman Sara Seltzer Kreisman Brooke F. Laken Benjamin A. Landsburg
12 | CAMP RAMAH ANNUAL REPORT 2014
LEGACY SOCIETY:
Rabbi Todd Zeff
DONORs
September 30, 2014
The Woronoff Family (Alan, Shira, Jason, and Brandon)
Rachel and Eric Schwartz
Apple Matching Gift Program The Arking Family
Heidi, Jeff, Ariel, and Avi Gordon
Rabbi Joel and Eliana Seltzer
Steve and Louie Asher
Gray-Raff Family
Ken and Susie Shear
Heather Bogdanoff Baker and Felix Baker
Judith and Roger Hess
Brett Seitz and Susan Sherr-Seitz
Meredith and Jonathan Hoffman
Len and Lynne Barrack
Jewish Communal Fund
Joshua, Ilana, Jared, and Eden Skoff
Bruce and Sara Berger
Ruth and Mark Joffe
Marcia and Steven Smith
Julie Berger and Matthew Closter
Fran and Rabbi Michael Katz
Kathy and Richard Soloff
Andrea and Scott Bernstein
Charles and Rachel Korman
Stevens International
Beth Sholom Congregation
Amy and David Kritz
Ali and Lee Sussman and Family
Norma and David Blecker
Debra and Stanton Lacks
Sima E. and Stephen C. Sussman
Jerome and Judith Caplan
Robin Sue and Bill Landsburg
Lauren and Matt Tanzer
Mark and Harriet Chertok
Sharon and Jonathan Levin
Lisa and Daniel Davis
Joseph Levine
The Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester
$10,000+
Susan Styler DeLong
Dr. and Mrs. Michael Lippmann
Martin Wachs
Jay Dorsch and Deborah-Jo Essrog
Toby and Ivy Marwil
Rabbi Gary and Laya Charlestein
Bruce and Jo Ann Chalal Engleman
Shelley and Bruce Menkowitz
Diane and Michael Wachs and Family
Hannah S. Cohn and Samuel A. Cohn Memorial Foundation
Vicki and Gary Erlbaum
Gail and Elliot Norry
Amy and Steven Erlbaum
National Ramah Commission
Marlene and Jonathon Graub
Dana and Mark Fallick
Eve Coulson and Nelson Obus
Bruce Goldberg and Terri Hartman
Rabbi Micah Peltz and Rachel Zivic
Susanna and Mark E. Manstein
Rabbi Adam Feldman and Sara Bucholtz
Mary and Nathan Relles
David, Marcy, and Emily Fish
Marty Pollak
Judy and David Wachs
Debbie and Bob Fleischman
Adrienne Price and Gene Wexler
Harriet and Philip Freidenreich
Michal and Robert Rabinowitz
Beth Gansky and Family
Dina and Daniel Relles
Morris and Alice Garten
Joshua and Alexandra Romirowsky
Judy Cohn Gilberg
Diane and Reuben Romirowsky
Nona L. Abrams
Amy Goldberg
Jill and Brian Rosen
Rachael, Josh, Sam, and Ben Abrams
Rachel and Jeremy Goldberg
Leah Rosen and Peter Konwerski
Laura Sklar and Daniel Goldstein
The Adar Family
Jeremy Sable
David and Pearl Graub Goldstein
Debbie Albert and Glen Feinberg
Melissa and Doug Sayer
Paula and Cliff Goldstein
Larry and Carole Schaffzin
$250,000+ Ruth and Philip z”l Davidoff Toby and Henry Susskind
$36,000+ Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia Real Estate Division The George, Joan and Jack Shuster Foundation SJCC B’nai Aaron
$1,000-$9,999
Flossie Albert
October 1, 2013
Pitney Bowes
Susan and Eric Schwartzman
Philip Wachs and Juliet Spitzer Margie and Brian Wargon Warmflash Family Rabbi Eric and Dava, Aiden, Ezra, and Avi Yanoff
$500-$999 Anonymous Anonymous (Gesher ‘90) The Abella Family Meg and Seth Akabas Aryeh and Allison Batalion Cindy Goldfarb Blum and Family Dr. Louis and Miriam Capecci
CAMP RAMAH ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 13
Any person whose HEART so moves them…
Jacob Cohen and Sarah Waxman
Eve and Jim Orlow
Carol and Sidney Cohen
Tina, Michael, Mara, and Max Rettig
Brandy and Mario Conlin
Gila and Randy Robinson
Harris and Debra Devor
Rona Rosen and Mark Cohen
Jules and Carol Einhorn
Miriam and Rabbi Arthur Ruberg
The Einhorn Family
Leah and David Schutzman
Congregation Beth El, Norfolk, VA
Sonya and Ernest Simon
Sarah, Ricky, Julia, and Rena Gratz Rachel Gross and H.P. Baker
Ruth, David, Jacob, and Eliana Steinman
Drs. Jay and Sheila Grossman
Betsy and Lewis Sternthal
Guess Who’s Coming to Shabbas?
The Stesis Family
David I. and Donna Goldblum Haas
Richard and Susan Birenbaum Stone
Marci and Robert Hackel
ָכּל־אִיׁש אֲשֶ ׁר י ִדְ ּבֶּנּו לִּבֹו
$100-$499 Anonymous (4) Seyna and Larry Abel Jake Abraham Shapiro Ackerman Family Joel B. Albert Anita and Michael Alberts Elizabeth Alpern and Michael Berkwits Rabbi Robert Alpert Linda and Cary Aminoff
Mark and Charla Sussman
Hannah Angert
Jen Thomas
Harriet B. Ansul–Grams
Bernice Tomases
Marcia and Larry Arem
Helen and Roland Victor Turk
Deborah and Andrew Aronson
Barbara, Eric, and Pearl Victor
David and Tami Astorino
Carrie and Larry Walinsky
David J. Axelrod
Jo-Ann and Howard Waxman
Rebecca Baron
Aaron, Stacey, Jacob, Lily, and Zach Weinberg
Jaime and Barak Bassman
Ivy, Joshua, and Nathan Weingram
Gail and Robert Belfer
Jody and Rabbi Steven Wernick
Pamela and Robert Benedon
Jennifer and Michael Willner
Rachel Berger
Barbara and Bart Mellits
Milton Wohl
Michelle and David Berk
Jeremy and Lauren Menkowitz
Adam, Shira, Tamar, and Hana Wohlberg
Steven Berman
Violet and Richard Zeitlin
Beth David Synagogue
Cindi and Yakir Hasit Hersch Family Lynn and Ivan Horn Zelda and Irving Joffe Mark and Heather Kramer Naomi Less and Cornerstone Faculty Rabbi Steven and Jane Lindemann Kay and Fred Lokoff Rabbi Alan and Edy Lucas Mid-Atlantic Region - Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs
Nancy and Stu Messinger Deborah Miller Roe and Don Miller
Bruce Baylson
Penny and Sheldon Bernick Julia Sivitz and Matthew Bieber Tahlia and Jordan Bliss
14 | CAMP RAMAH ANNUAL REPORT 2014
Ira Blum The Blum Family Samantha Blum Caren and Nathan Bosk Stephen and Alison Bosk The Bramson Family Eric Braverman Susan and Robert Braverman The Bridger Family Selma and Peter Brothman Harriet and Craig Caplan Capra Enterprises, LLC Eytan Chasan Shifra and Nachum Chasan Rachel Cogan Barry Cohen Cantor Jen Cohen Nicole and Jonathan Cohen Joshua Cohen Rabbi Mitchell and Cari Cohen Robyn and Adam Cohen and Family Talia A. Cohen David Cole Emily Cook Amy and Adam Cuker Jules Cwanger and Family Mitch and Nicole Cwanger Arielle Davis and Benjamin Landsburg Debbie and Stephen Davis
Sarina and Stuart Davis Jack Dembowitz
Josh Gajer and Lonni Romirowsky Gajer
Laurie and Eric Grossman
Danielle and Alan Kaufman Idit and Jordan Kendall
Aaron S. Gaynor
Rabbi Joshua, Elissa, Sam (Gesher 2021), and Kayla (Gesher 2023) Gruenberg
Jill and Rep. Ted Deutch
Judith and Dr. Leonard Galler
Cathy and Bert Distelburger Rabbi Daniel and Amy Dorsch
Dr. Rela Mintz Geffen
Phyllis Haas
Rachel and Josh Dunaief
Ilene and Jonathan Gershen
Har Zion Temple
Adam J. Elster
Lisa and Bruce Giles-Klein
Arie Hasit and Sara Tova Brody
Jonathan Elster
Amy and Seth Gillston
Michele Hasit and Adam Waxman
Rachel Engleman
Allison Raskin Glass
Rabbi Eliezer Havivi
Jaime and Warren Epstein
Micaela and Richard Gold
Sharon and Jeffrey Herbst
Adina Mermelstein Konikoff and Ari Konikoff
Amy and Daniel Erlbaum
Michael and Sandra Goldberg
Sheri and Howard Herzberg
Korin Family
Dr. Craig and Denise Feder
Frederic Goldfein
Beth Kotek
Lisa Friedman and Ron Feingold
Katy and Neil Goldman
WebLinc, Corp. (in memory of Ivy R. Cohen)
Randi and Rick Feld
Rachel, Jonathan, Max, and Asher Goldman
Adina and Baruch Feldstern Sarah Ferst Debbie Aron and Joel Fish Elana and Jonathan Fishbein David Fisher Jill and Mark Fishman Alan Fogel Michele G. Forman Zev, Naomi and Betty Forman Eric and Suzann Frantz
Ronnie Silver and Bernard Hoffman Erica, Ray, and Hadley Holman
Sharon and Joseph Kestenbaum The Kidorf/Sitkoff Family Donna and Andrew Kirschner Marnin Kligfeld Roy Klinghoffer Adira and Rabbi Michael Knopf
Nicole Kraus Bernice Kravitt Sara and Jason Kreisman
Andrew Goldstein
Honesdale National Bank
Craig M. Goldstein
Elana Elster and Jordan Horvath
Julie, Josh, Lily, and Maya Goldstein
Naamah and Koby Imir
Hillary and Rabbi Judd Kruger Levingston
Rabbi Nason and Carole Goldstein
Jewish Community Foundation of Metrowest New Jersey
Jeremy Lacks
Michele and Curt Golkow Avra and Elie Gordis Richard and Andrea Gottlieb and Family Debi and Marc Graboff
Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley Aviva Joffe Debra and Howard Johnston Kahnnect IT, LLC
Allan Freedman
Aaron, Ben, Emma, Ari, and Josh Greenberg
Meredith and Josh Friedman
Aurora Greenberg
Elizabeth and Matthew Kanoff
Michal and Uri Friedman
Judy Groner and Ron Eisenberg
Deborah and Robert Kaplan
Jan and Mark Frisch
Renae Gross
Larry (AJ) Kaplan
Rabbi Aaron Gaber and Sharon Bromberg
Harry and Ilene Grossman and Family
Drs. Marsha and Darin Katz
Howard Kaminsky
Doug and Tracy Katz
Rabbi Jonathan and Ellie Kremer
Matthew, Sarah, Zehava, and Ophira Lacks Melissa Lacks Michael and Emily Landsburg Zach Landsburg Bernice Laufer Faye Laveson Rebecca and Philip Lawson Michael and Jennifer Laytin Avi, Dena, and Dalia Lebovic Miriam Miller Lefkowitz
בּה שָ ׁלֹום ֶ ְ מַר,בּה צְדָ קָ ה ֶ ְמַר If you increase tzedakah—you INCREASE PEACE.
CAMP RAMAH ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 15
Rachel Lefkowitz
Barbara and Louis Nivert
Phyllis and Larry Schachter
Temple Israel of Wilkes-Barre
Dr. Jack and Donna Levin
Jill and Jon Oletsky
Michelle and Lee Schachter
The Sara and Steven Levin Family
Dave and Arline Olim
Dr. and Mrs. Michael Schatz
The Jewish Community Foundation, Inc.
The Fein/Levin Family
Mindy and David Oppenheimer and Family
Marla and Larry Schimmel
Tiferet Bet Israel
Mindy and Bernard Levinthal
Josh Schoenberg
Helene and Jeff Tigay
Adam and Melanie Lewin
Susan Switzer and Dan Orlow
Rabbi Moshe and Aviva Schwartz
Jacqueline and Robert Tillman
Nancy and Neil Lewis
Adam Pollack
Arielle Schweitzer
Barry Toiv
The Lieber Merwin Family
Robert Posch
Suzanne and Jared Sclove
Traust Sollus Wealth Management
Rachel T. Light
Hannah and Jonathan Rabinowitz
Seed the Dream Foundation
Hadassah Turk Tolub
Jill Linder
Leza Raffel and Mark Rake
Sue Ansul and Dr. Sion Segal
Elanah Uretsky
Francine and Robert Lipstein
Judah and Susan Rand-Lakritz
Renee Waas
Lori Lovitz
The Ravitz Family
Matthew, Stacy, and Gabrielle Seltzer
Nadine and Neil Lubarsky
Lizabeth Raynes
Seymour Simon Charitable Trust
Michal Wachs
Ari Lucas, Talya Oberfield, and Gideon
Tara, Jay, Max, Ari, and Dani Reisbaum
Gladys Shubin
Matthew Wallach
Laurie and Isaac Silverman
Jessica and Alex Weinberg
Cheryl and Barry Magen
Jessica Remstein
Lenore and Melvin N. Sirner
Stefanie and Avi Weiner
Jordyn and Jonathan Makar
Haleh and Jeff Resnick
Ramona and David Sitko
Raenee and Andy Wetstein
Stuart and Martha Malina
Jon and Jen Rodack
Joshua and Ilana Skolnick
Julie-Anne and Jeremy Wohlberg
Adam Mamelak
Aliza Romirowsky and Sam Kerbel
Donna and Jerold Slipakoff
Benjamin and Michele Yogel
Lisa Randy Maniloff
Karen Pinsky and Sam Romirowsky
Bonnie and Michael Slobodien
Joan and Hillel Zaremba
Helen and Aaron Mansheim
Shai and Abigail Romirowsky
Juli and Glen Sloves
Michael Zielenziger
Andrea Felzer Marmon
Lauren and Peter Rose
Sandy Solomon
Katie and Robert Zimring
Rabbi Nogah and Scott Marshall
Debby and Barry Rosen
Joelle Spector
Steven and Helaine Zlotnick
Hilton and Alisa Maze
Carol and Martin Rosenblum
Cindy and Jeff Stein
Caroline and Robert Zuritsky
The Meagher Family (in memory of Avi Concool)
Cheryl and Philip Rosov
Debbie Stein and Isaac Brumer
Debra and Mark Zweben
Wendy Rosov
Missy Tick Stein
Barbara Medoff Cooper, Marc, and Jordan Cooper
Sally Rotenberg
Amy and Randall Stein
Lori and Jon Rothschild
Dan and Deena Messinger
Jane and Harris Steinberg
Eric and Mandy Rothstein
The Millrood Family
The Sternthal Family
Cynthia and Robert Ruberg
Sara Rothschild and Jeremy Monsky
Susan Weiss Sternthal
Brandi and Jed Rubin and Family
Michelle Sugarman
Jennifer and David Rubin
Rhonda and Steve Sugarman
Susan and Jack Rychik
Michele and Mark Taplinger
Beth and Ari Sadoff
Shelly Phillips and Ted Tapper
Bonnie and Ian Schachter
Temple Beth Am
Ellen and Jerry Schachter
Temple Beth Hillel – Beth El
Moskow Family Carole and Stanton Moss National Structures Michele A. Neuman Michael Newman
16 | CAMP RAMAH ANNUAL REPORT 2014
Lisa and Michael Wachs
Todah Rabbah! Thank you! Your support enables us to continue our mission of creating life-long Jewish connections, one happy camper at a time.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lee Sussman PRESIDENT
Michael Wachs SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Jay Dorsch
Rachael Abrams Jon Adler David Axelrod Julie Berger
Rudolph Fried z”l Isadore Marder z”l
Bruce I. Lipton
Ervin B. Miller z”l
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Alvin Gershen z”l
David I. Haas Adam Lewin
Michele Hasit COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Sue Ansul
Edward B. Josephs Morton Wachs
DIRECTOR, RAMAH DAY CAMP
Charles H. Laveson z”l
Rabbi Micah Peltz
Eileen Graub
Michael Lippman
Nathan Relles
PROGRAM COORDINATOR,
Kenneth Shear
Don Miller
Debbie Albert
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Missy Stein
TREASURER
David Goldstein
David Niesenbaum z”l
Michelle Sugarman
Shira Goodman
VICE PRESIDENT
SECRETARY
Abe Birenbaum z”l
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mark Fallick
Judith Hess
Lynn Horn
Rabbi Joel Seltzer
S. David Rosenzweig z”l
Bruce Engleman
VICE PRESIDENT
PAST PRESIDENTS
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & OPERATIONS
VICE PRESIDENT
Martin Wachs
YEAR-ROUND STAFF
Josh Romirowsky
RAMAH DAY CAMP
Jules Einhorn
Sheryl Hershinger OFFICE MANAGER
Susan Birenbaum Stone
Sue Sherr-Seitz
Marla Schimmel
David I. Haas
Richard Soloff
BOOKKEEPER
William Landsburg
Rabbi Eric Yanoff
Deborah Shapiro
David Goldstein
Doug Sayer
DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT
Adena Sternthal DIRECTOR, TIKVAH FAMILY CAMP
We express deep gratitude to former members of our staff and board who contributed greatly to Ramah’s success in 2013 and 2014.
TZEDAKAH outweighs all of
the other commandments CAMP RAMAH ANNUAL REPORT 2014 | 17
2100 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 215-885-8556 www.ramahpoconos.org www.ramahdaycamp.org
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