As Ramah Day Camp celebrates its eighteenth season, Lori is delighted to be at the helm for her sixteenth summer. Born and raised in upstate New York, she spent many summers at Camp Ramah in New England as a camper, counselor, and Rosh Aidah (unit head). Upon graduation from Rutgers University, Lori taught for several years at the Solomon Schechter Day School in Newton, Massachusetts. She later earned a master’s degree in history from Carnegie Mellon University. In Chicago, before becoming the director of Ramah Day Camp, Lori helped start the Board of Jewish Education's Marshall Jewish Learning Center. She also taught at the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School. Camp provides Lori with the perfect opportunity to share her love of Judaism in an informal educational setting. For the past 24 years Lori, her husband David, and all of their children have been living in Highland Park, where the ravines
and slight hills remind her of upstate New York. Lori's husband is a Camp Ramah in Wisconsin alum and will be returning for his twentieth summer as camp doctor at CRW. Lori is delighted that all of her children are alumni of both RDC and CRW. Her youngest child will be on staff at CRW this summer. Lori and her family are members of North Suburban Synagogue Beth El. Lori is very excited about the fantastic staff that will be part of the Ramah Day Camp team this summer. She is especially looking forward to celebrating Ramah Day Camp’s eighteenth season with special chai activities planned throughout the summer.
Judy is thrilled to be coming back to Ramah Day Camp as the Assistant Director again this summer. She worked as a synagogue education director for almost 30 years in the Chicago area before launching eJewcate Me, Inc., an online Hebrew and religious school, several years ago. While formal Jewish education is in her blood, Judy has found that being with the campers in a totally immersed Jewish environment has been tremendously rewarding, as well as fun. She is also the immediate Past President of the Board of Jewish Education of Metropolitan Chicago, where she still serves on the Board of Directors. Judy belongs to Anshe Tikvah Congregation, where her son Rob serves as the Rabbi and Cantor. Judy has three grown children and three grandchildren – two of whom will be at Ramah Day Camp again this summer. The third will join them when he’s old enough! In her limited free time, Judy loves to read, sew, quilt, work out, and play Words with Friends.
Benji Bearman is the Chief Operating Officer of Ramah Day Camp and Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. In this capacity, Benji is responsible for the finances, camper scholarships, year-round operations, and corporate governance of the camps. He also oversees maintenance and construction projects. Benji was previously the Director of Youth Activities for the Mid-Continent Region of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications. A former camper, counselor, Rosh Aidah, and fieldworker at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, Benji has been associated with Camp Ramah since 1989. Benji lives in Skokie with his wife Faye and their children, Mia, Leo, and Lev. Mia is excited that she will be at Ramah in Wisconsin this summer. Leo is excited to be at the day camp this summer.
Ilisa is looking forward to her sixth summer as office manager at Ramah Day Camp. During the rest of the year she is the recruitment coordinator for the camp. Ilisa grew up in Homewood, Illinois (Go Vikings!), and moved to Evanston after marrying her wonderful husband, Mike, in 1988. They now live in Deerfield with their three fabulous children, Ari (20), Mason (almost 16), and Shira (13). They also have a wonderful and very jumpy cockapoo named Tigger (6). Ilisa and her family belong to Congregation B’nai Tikvah in Deerfield. Ilisa received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Washington University in St. Louis in 1987. Out of school she worked for a public accounting firm and later as the controller of the International Academy of Merchandising and Design. She left the workforce in 1996, when her son Ari was born, and returned to working outside her home nine years ago at Ramah Day Camp. Ilisa attended Camp Ramah in Wisconsin for three summers as a camper (1979–1981) and came back to join the staff for an additional four years in one of her most favorite jobs—counselor (1983–1986). All three of her children have attended the Ramah Day Camp. Two of her children will be at Ramah Wisconsin this year, Mason for his last summer as a camper in Nivonim, and Shira as a Shoafim camper. Ilisa looks forward to a great summer in 2016.
Ellen is excited to be joining the Ramah Day Camp community. She has been a registered nurse for many years. Her first nursing job was on Kibbutz Gezer when she left Champaign-Urbana to make Aliyah. When she moved back to the Chicago area she spent most of her career as a maternal child nurse educator with the Lake County Health Department. As soon as Michael, her oldest, started overnight camp at Habonim-Dror Camp Tavor, she started her 10 summers as a camp nurse at Tavor. She even spent one crazy summer as acting manager! Her daughter Leora started at the youngest age group and both kids spent every summer there through college. After retiring early from the Lake County Health Department, she began working part time as a substitute school nurse. She also is a consultant for a community based doula project, has used her extra time to become a meditation specialist, study energy medicine, Jewish mindful meditation and was recently trained by the Institute for Jewish Spirituality as a Wise Aging Group Leader. Ellen loves to read and listen to music. She plays the talking drum in a monthly drumming circle. Family and community are very important to her. She has been a member of a chavurah, Am Chai, for 32 years and enjoys her synagogue, Aitz Hayim. After living in Highland Park for 35 years, she now lives in Buffalo Grove, but also travels to Portland, OR to see Michael (32) and his wife Laura. Michael is an entrepreneur who has started a successful savory peanut butter company. Her daughter Leora (28) is finishing up a second degree in music therapy in Milwaukee. Ellen appreciates maintaining open lines of communication with parents. She is hoping that her holistic approach to health promotion will help enable a healthy, safe summer for all of the campers.
Chava is excited to be joining the RDC staff for her first summer as the staff trainer. She grew up in Highland Park and made Aliyah with her family to Jerusalem just before entering seventh grade. After serving for 3 years in the IDF in army intelligence, she received her BS from Ben Gurion University in Behavioral Sciences and her master’s from Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work. Upon returning to Chicago, she began working with families and young children at Jewish Family Services. After taking a number of years off to have her own children Chava began teaching at the Florence Melton Parent Education (PEP) program while also providing developmental consultation to early childhood programs. Six years ago Chava opened her own private practice focusing on parenting, social skills and early childhood mental health. Chava is a Ramah Wisconsin alumna and still remains close friends with many of her camp buddies from the early 80’s. Chava and her husband Michael, along with her 3 kids Sarah (15), Matan (12) and Ethan (7), live in Evanston and attend Kol Sasson. Their children attend Chicago Jewish Day School and Evanston Township High School.
This will be Stacy's fourteenth summer working at Ramah Day Camp and her eighth summer as Rosh Chavurah. Stacy is excited to work with the campers, as well as to provide support to the Kindergarten madrichim (counselors). She looks forward to meeting the Kindergarteners’ parents and partnering with them to help make this summer a positive experience. This will also be Stacy’s fourth summer as Rosh Drama. She looks forward to sharing many wonderful drama activities that will help children explore movement and creativity through the dramatic arts. Stacy graduated from Purdue University Calumet with a BA in human development and family studies, specializing in early childhood. She currently teaches Sunday school at Congregation Beth Israel in Munster, Indiana. During the week, Stacy teaches three- to five-year-olds at a Head Start program in Hammond, Indiana. Stacy has lived in Munster, Indiana, for the past eighteen years. She was a camper at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin from the time she was in sixth grade through her junior year in high school. She also participated in the Ramah Seminar in Israel in the summer of 2003. Stacy loves taking photographs, working with children, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends. She is looking forward to another fun and exciting summer at RDC!
Chantal is excited to be returning for her third summer at Ramah Day Camp and her second as Rosh Omanut. Chantal grew up in France and came to the United States 20 years ago. She graduated from Bradley University, earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Chicago, and graduated from the Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning, where she also taught a program for teens. For 15 years she was the fifth-grade teacher at Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston, and now is their art specialist, as well as their youth group advisor. In addition, Chantal teaches art at the Beth El preschool in Highland Park and is a curriculum specialist for the Board of Jewish Education. Chantal integrates arts and crafts into her teaching and her curriculum work. She is very passionate about using art to inspire children, and to build self-confidence and pride in their work and play. Chantal is married to a Ramah Wisconsin alum and lives in Deerfield, where they are members of Moriah Congregation. They are parents to three boys (ages 7, 13, and 15) who attend Solomon Schechter Day School and Deerfield High School. Their youngest is excited to be joining his mother at Ramah Day Camp this summer. Chantal has been having a great time planning the art program for this summer and can’t wait to share her love of art with Ramah Day campers.
Amy had so much fun teaching the pottery chug last summer that she is looking forward to returning full time to Omanut this year. Amy was born and raised in New York and spent all her summers at Jewish camps, beginning as a young camper at Ramah Day Camp in Nyack. Her undergraduate degree is in art history and design, and she later received a master’s degree in occupational therapy from NYU. Amy went on to specialize in hand therapy, which gave her the opportunity to combine her interest in science with using her hands in creative ways. She worked as a hand therapist in NYC for many years until she met her husband Mark Marshall from Omaha, Nebraska. She put her first career on hold to focus on her second career as a full time mom of two boys. In 2009 the family moved to Evanston, where they are now active members of Kehilat Chovevei Tzion. Dory and Jack (ages 10 and 8) are returning Ramah Day campers and are excited to have their mom join them. Amy’s hobbies include drawing, painting, knitting, crocheting, quilting, cooking and of course, pottery. She also enjoys spending time in nature and being physically active. Amy is excited to be part of the Ramah creative team and is looking forward to making arts and crafts a fun and inspirational activity for all the campers.
Leila is returning for her fifteenth summer at Ramah Day Camp. She was also a camper and staff member at Ramah Wisconsin, and she went on Seminar many moons ago. All three of her children followed in her footsteps and were Ramah Wisconsin campers and counselors, and attended Israel Seminar. Her youngest was also a Ramah Day camper.
Chessed.
Chaya Bayla grew up in West Rogers Park. After spending several years in New York, she and her husband, along with their daughter Rochel Reva (now 3 years old), moved back to Chicago, where they are affiliated with the Chicago Center for Torah and
When she's not at camp, Leila works in her family business, Recycle Plus Inc., keeping (not cooking) the books. She also babysits for a family of former Ramah staff members. All of her children live in Israel (one will be on staff at Ramah Seminar this summer, and two are students). Lately, Leila’s been busy crocheting and sewing her little fingers off, preparing for her son Noam’s wedding. She really appreciates the bride and groom’s cooperation in scheduling their ceremony before the start of camp!
Chaya Bayla’s love of swimming began early, and in high school she worked as a lifeguard and taught swimming. After studying in Israel, she attended UIC to study movement science (exercise physiology). Since then she has taught fitness classes and has worked as a personal trainer at several fitness centers. She has thirteen years of experience working at camp swim programs. When she’s not at camp, Chaya Bayla is a swim and water aerobics instructor at the JCCs of Chicago, and a substitute preschool teacher at several day schools in Skokie and Chicago.
As a result of her experimenting in the cooking chug (specialty clinic) at camp, Leila now bakes some of her own very creative challah at home. She looks forward to a fun summer of digging in the Rebecca Towb Memorial Garden and composting with her gardening crew. Leila hopes to bring forth an even bigger harvest of herbs, spices, and flowers to use in the cooking and baking chug. Maybe she'll even toss a few of them in her challahs! Of course, she also can't wait to start swimming outside again with her new swim groups.
Chaya Bayla is looking forward to her third summer heading the swim program at Ramah Day Camp. She has taught many children how to swim —too many to count. Her goal for this summer is for every camper to love swimming, while being safe around a body of water. Children should leave camp better swimmers than when they arrived. For some this may mean learning how to float, while for others it will mean improving on their strokes and endurance. Chaya Bayla looks forward to an enjoyable and successful summer with your children!
Debbie is looking forward to returning to Ramah Day Camp for her sixth summer, keeping you up-to-date on all the camp news. A native Philadelphian, she and her husband Marc live in Skokie. They are parents to three grown children, Michael, Adam, and Rebecca, and Saba and Savta to Michael and Reyzl’s oneyear-old, Yosef. Debbie is a graduate of Muhlenberg College and spent the first part of her career in international banking in New York. Three children and three cities later, she turned her love of children's literature into a new career as an editor for various children’s magazine, book, and textbook publishers. Eight years ago, she waved her magic wand and reinvented herself as a substitute teacher in the Skokie public schools. Debbie has also worked as a camp counselor for the Maine-Niles Association for Special Recreation (M-NASR). She loves working with children and feels privileged to do so! Debbie is a life-long learner, attending many classes on Jewish topics and learning with the Skokie Women's Tefillah Group. Debbie and Marc are active members of Congregation Or Torah in Skokie.
Allison grew up in Deerfield and is currently attending the University of Delaware, where she is majoring in interpersonal communication and minoring in sociology. At school she is on the club gymnastics team, and does the costuming for the theater club. While being dedicated to her school clubs and keeping up with her school work, she has learned that organization is key and it is one of her favorite things to do. This will be Allison’s second summer at Ramah Day Camp and she couldn’t be more excited to come back. She fell in love with the camp and the amazing staff last year and has been counting down the days until summer all year. She loves the cookout program and thinks it’s a great way to combine her love for the campers and her passion for organization. She’s looking forward to continuing the bishul program this summer and making it an enjoyable experience for the entire camp. She can’t wait for another amazing summer at Ramah Day Camp!
Jeff Glassman is looking forward to his sixteenth summer as Sports Head for Ramah Day Camp and a total of 39 years in camping. Jeff was raised in Chicago, attending Drake University for a BA and Loyola University for his MEd. He has over 30 years of experience working with children, not only in the camp environment, but also as a teacher in the Chicago Public Schools and in many different sports programs. Jeff currently works as a substitute teacher in the northern suburbs. He has been married for many years and is the proud father of two children. His daughter works in business, and his son is a lawyer. Jeff lives in Deerfield and is a member of Congregation Solel. He enjoys traveling, reading mysteries and thrillers, listening to classic rock music, and playing tennis. This summer Jeff looks forward to introducing new games as well as playing some old standbys with the mighty Ramah campers. He hopes to inspire campers to love sports, be active, improve skills, and avoid injuries. Jeff is looking forward to playing sports with all the new and returning Ramah campers, and of course, to one of the summer’s highlights, Yom Sport. 2016 is going to be a great summer!
Matt is looking forward to his second summer at Ramah Day Camp, where he will join the sports staff. He grew up in Kansas City, but moved to Chicago five years ago to be the youth director at Congregation Beth Shalom in Northbrook. Matt lives in Lincoln Park and has learned to love his daily commute to Northbrook. He graduated from the University of Kansas and is currently pursuing his masters in Jewish Professional Studies from the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership. Matt grew up working at the JCC camp in Overland Park, Kansas. He also spent five years in high school and college making children smile as an employee at Build-aBear Workshop. More recently, two years ago Matt was on the staff of Ta’am Yisrael: A Taste of Israel, CFJE's 8th Grade Israel Experience. Working with primary school students is his passion. In his spare time, Matt enjoys making Jewish parody music videos. Matt is excited to return for his second summer. He will be joining us for the first three weeks and then he is getting married. Mazal tov!
Sara Goodman is our Rosh Shira and Tefilah (Song Leader and Prayer Head). She has a degree in anthropology, with a minor in art, from Northeastern Illinois University. Her camp experience includes 11 years at OSRUI as a camper and then as a counselor. She also spent seven years at Camp Shorashim in Israel: as a camper, a counselor, and then as the art director (yes, she is also an artist!) and music director. Currently, Sara is the music director and Hebrew specialist at Congregation Hakafa in Glencoe, Illinois, where she has worked for 28 years. She teaches private Hebrew lessons and also tutors bar and bat mitzvah students. Sara is a Hebrew and Jewish music teacher at Chicago Jewish Day School, where she has worked for five years. Sara lives in Skokie with her husband Dan Meir, four adorable, getting-to-be-not-solittle Jewish souls: Aviv (17), Elan (15), Ahava (13), and Abir (12), and often Dan's wonderful children: Jonathan (18) and Amanya (15). PHEW!!! Sara is excited to return to RDC for her eleventh and a quarter summer.
Rabbi Eric Zaff is excited to return to the Ramah Day Camp for his fourth summer as Rosh Koach l’Moach (Head of Education). He was also Rosh Chavurah (Unit Head) for three years in the not-too-distant past. Rabbi Eric has been a Jewish educator in various settings for more than a decade. When he’s not at camp, Rabbi Eric teaches in a variety of settings and writes curriculum for JTeach.org, the online teacher curriculum resource of the Board of Jewish Education. He is looking forward to building a tabernacle, irrigating the land of Israel, and exploring the educational possibilities of Capture the Flag with campers and staff. A well-traveled learner, Rabbi Eric received his rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in New York, a master’s degree in Jewish education from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Chicago. Though he is originally from the Boston area, Rabbi Eric and his family currently live in Skokie, where the whole family is excited to be within walking distance of the kosher Dunkin’ Donuts. And, yes, Rabbi Eric will tell you that the obvious answer to the question, “Cubs or Sox?” is clearly “Sox” (the Red kind).
Becky is excited to be returning to RDC for her third summer and is looking forward to her second summer as Rosh Teva (Nature Head). Becky grew up in Houston, but has called Chicagoland home for the past 22 years. She and her husband, Stuart, live with their children, Jacob (12) and Kylie (9), in Skokie/ Evanston. They are active members of Am Yisrael Conservative Congregation in Northfield. Becky is thrilled that her family has become part of the Ramah community. She didn’t have the opportunity to attend camp as a child, so she really values the experience as a parent and as an educator. Both of her children have attended Ramah Day Camp since the first grade. This year, Jacob will spend his second full summer in Wisconsin as a Shoafim camper, and Kylie will be there for four weeks for Garinim. Becky has degrees in Spanish and graphic design from the University of Texas at Austin. After working as a graphic designer for 12 years, then as a Spanish teacher for 5 years, Becky finally found her true calling in the world of sustainability. While she continues to teach Spanish to young children at several schools in the Evanston area, she also works as an account manager for a sustainable furniture company and helps schools create healthy and beautiful learning environments. Becky squeezes in as much biking, dancing, and cooking as time (and her children) allow. She and her husband share a love of the outdoors and take advantage of every family vacation to visit national parks and other natural wonders. She looks forward to helping campers explore, learn, and have fun in nature, while making the connection between Judaism and caring for the environment.
Noy is so excited to be returning to Ramah Day Camp this summer! Last year she was part of an amazing group of shlichim at the day camp, and was a third grade madricha (counselor). She will be coming back this summer as Rosh Ivrit. Noy was born and raised in Israel, and when she’s not at RDC she lives in Rosh Ha’ayin, (20 km from Tel Aviv) with her parents, a younger brother, and their dog. Noy likes basketball (especially her favorite team Maccabi Tel Aviv), travelling, exploring new places, and spending time with her family and friends. After camp last year, she returned to active duty in the Israeli Defense Forces and was released in October after two years of service. She worked for the Jewish Agency for Israel and was a part of the team that chose the Israeli shlichim to match with Jewish camps around the U.S. Noy’s vision is to share not only Hebrew language, but also genuine Israeli culture and spirit with campers, counselors, and the Ramah Day Camp community. It’s going to be an unforgettable summer!
Amanda is thrilled to be returning to Ramah Day Camp for her third summer, and her first one as Rosh Rikud. Amanda grew up in Buffalo Grove, and currently attends Brandeis University where she is majoring in theatre, and minoring in education and English. Amanda is a choreographer for Adagio Dance Company on campus and has choreographed four dances for the Dance Chug at Ramah. She also conducts a Playback Theatre Troupe and runs a theatre company on campus. Amanda grew up at Ramah Day Camp for four years and attended Camp Chi overnight camp for six years. She currently works with infants at Lemberg Day Care Center. She is a graduate of Quest Academy, Stevenson High School, and Young Judaea Year Course. When she is not performing, she enjoys playing tennis and rugby. Amanda adores the Ramah community and cannot wait to share her love of dance with the campers.
Rebecca is looking forward to her fourth summer at Ramah Day Camp! This will be her third season as under the ohel rikud as part of the dance staff. Previously, she spent two summers as Rosh Rikud (Dance Head) and one as Rosh Teva/Bishul (Nature and Cookout Head). Rebecca is originally from NYC, where she developed her love of dance as a youngster. Rebecca and her family moved to Northbrook 15 years ago, and share their home with their little dog Bella. Rebecca has three master’s degrees: one in social work (University of Maryland), one in dance/movement therapy (Goucher College), and one in dance (University of Michigan). She worked as a social worker for JCFS for many years and has her own counseling/movement therapy practice for children and adults. Over the years, she has choreographed and performed in several dance companies, and has taught children and adults different forms of dance. She currently teaches Israeli folk dance and creates other dances for Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Synagogue in Wheeling, where she is an active member. In her spare time, Rebecca is learning Qui Gong and studying Hebrew. She enjoys the cultural attractions of city life, but loves nature, gardening, and bird watching. Rebecca is looking forward to returning to the ohel rikud (dance tent) to share her passion for dance with the campers.
Betsy grew up in Minnesota, but has lived in the Chicago area since she married Pelleg Graupe in 1996. Betsy and Pelleg met at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, so Ramah has a special place in their hearts! Betsy was a camper at Ramah in Wisconsin for two summers and then was a counselor for two summers. Betsy and Pelleg were delighted to find that since their days in Wisconsin, Ramah Day Camp had opened, offering a wonderful start to the Ramah experience for their three boys, Amir, Nadav, and Ronen. Amir and Nadav, who attended Ramah Day Camp from first through sixth grades, will spend this summer at the overnight camp as Machon and Solelim campers. Ronen is looking forward to his third summer at Ramah Day Camp and can’t wait to visit Wisconsin on Ruach Ramah. An entire family of Ramahniks! Betsy and her family have been residents of Buffalo Grove since 2001. The Graupes attend Moriah Congregation in Deerfield. In addition to her position as bus coordinator for Ramah Day Camp, Betsy is a bar and bat mitzvah tutor at Or Shalom in Vernon Hills. She has worked as a tutor and Hebrew school educator since she was a teenager— back when she was a frequent rider of buses! Betsy is looking forward to her third summer helping parents and campers feel comfortable and secure in the knowledge that their transportation needs are being met by a fellow Ramah parent.