Read about the record number of campers coming to Conover from all around the world. page 8
ALUMNI FEATURES
See what fellow Ramahniks are up to. pages 22-29
Dear Friends,
As a Ramah community we have much to be proud of and grateful for. This past summer both of our camps reached record enrollment and were filled with happy campers, joyous Judaism, proud celebration of Israel and Zionism, new memories, newfound confidence and lifelong friendships. We were blessed to have more Israeli chanichim (campers) and mishlachat (staff members) than ever before (approximately 150 total). In the midst of Israel’s conflict with Iran, continuing trauma from hostages remaining in Gaza, and loved ones serving in the IDF, Israelis at Ramah were enthusiastically welcomed with open arms, compassion and love. Friendships formed will deepen the connections between Israel and our communities and last a lifetime.
In anticipation of continuing camper enrollment growth, we are excited to announce the completion of the Lieberman Guest House at Ramah Wisconsin. This new facility will significantly expand onsite housing for summer staff as well as visiting faculty, alumni, donors and families. We are grateful for the generous support of our donors—especially the lead naming gift from Rabbi Vicki and Cantor Robert Lieberman— and for the many families who have participated in this effort by naming dedicated rooms and spaces. For more information on available naming opportunities, please see page 7.
During my visits to camp this past summer, I was deeply moved by our staff’s commitment to integrating Israelis into camp life—among them campers who survived the 10/7 terrorist attack on Nir Oz—and by the happiness they found in the loving embrace of our community. Nir Oz is located very close to the Gaza border and was among the hardest hit communities during the attack. I was honored to be part of a meeting recently at our Jewish United Fund (Jewish Federation of Chicago) that included Ramah leadership with Nir Oz parents and community members who expressed their appreciation for how their teenagers were welcomed and cared for at Ramah Wisconsin this past summer.
I am delighted to announce that JUF has chosen Camp Ramah in Wisconsin as the only Jewish summer camp to which they will sponsor and send Nir Oz teenagers for Summer 2026. I would like to express my personal gratitude for JUF’s confidence in us, along with their significant financial and logistical support to enable these Israeli teenagers to attend Ramah Wisconsin.
We are currently in an unprecedented moment of insecurity and uncertainty for American Jews. Rising public antisemitism, threatening rhetoric and hostility toward Israel—including from some elected officials— has left many of us feeling concerned and unsure about the future. Camp Ramah is a deeply immersive experience whose mission is to produce educated, confident and resilient young Jews who love Judaism, engage deeply in Jewish life, for whom Israel is inextricably linked to our own identity, and who will become future leaders of our Jewish communities. Camp is not merely a summer experience—it is often the beginning or continuation of a lifelong Jewish journey, and a highly important experience for creating strong, proud Jews.
As important as Jewish camp is, it can also be financially out of reach for some families. I will close by asking you to join me with your own meaningful financial support by making a reaching gift in 2025—to ensure that every Jewish family is able to send their children to Ramah Day Camp and Camp Ramah in Wisconsin next summer. Todah Rabbah (thank you)!
Stay proud and strong, my friends. Am Yisrael Chai!
B’Shalom, Marc Sacks President of the Board of Directors
Ramah Leadership and Nir Oz Community Members meeting at JUF
New mailing address?
Please send updates to info@ramahwisconsin.com.
Check out alumni.ramahwisconsin.com for an alumni directory, update form, new baby onesie form and more.
Questions about material in this magazine? Contact magazine@ramahwisconsin.com or 312-606-9316.
SUMMER 2025
HIGHLIGHTS
What an incredible summer it was at Ramah Wisconsin! From swimming, boating, and tubing on Lake Buckatabon to soaring through the trees on the high ropes course, from bringing Egypt, Whoville, and the African savannah to life on the Bet Am stage to lighting up the scoreboard on the championship basketball court—our campers embraced challenges, deepened friendships, and created lasting memories. Throughout it all, they felt safe, supported, and inspired within our vibrant Jewish community.
During the final week of camp, Nivonim—the oldest eidah (age group)—campers Lucy Shulkind of Los Angeles, CA and Nadav Argentar of Northbrook, IL, both children of Ramah alumni, shared words of Torah as we gathered as a full community on the shore of Lake Buckatabon to welcome Shabbat together one last time. Lucy reminded us that the Hebrew words lispor (to count) and l’sapper (to tell a story) share the same root—a poignant reminder that to be counted is also to be known, and that every story matters.
As we reflect on a season filled with growth, connection, inclusion, and unbridled Jewish joy—as well as alumni stories that mirror these same themes—we see how each story is part of Ramah’s greater narrative. For nearly 80 years, Ramah has served as the backdrop for countless journeys, where each camper, staff member, parent, and donor helps shape the Ramah experience, and Ramah, in turn, shapes each of us.
As Nadav shared during our final Kabbalat Shabbat, “When we’re at home and everyone sees how we’ve changed—how we’ve grown from the start of the summer, when we get on those buses, to the end of the summer, when we get off—when they see how we act toward others, toward ourselves, and how we carry ourselves, they’ll know it’s because of the kayitz at Machaneh Ramah.”
PFrom Jacob Cytryn, Executive Director
art of the magic of summer camp is that it gives many campers an opportunity to be a part of something greater than themselves, a part of some larger “movement”—a cabin, an eidah (age group), a camp-wide identity. Communal living and the bonds forged by camp—through new and deepening friendships, structured fun not easily replicated at home (camping trips, bonfires, swimming and boating in a lake, woodshop, etc.), and the special model of balancing significant independence with mentoring role models only a few years older than the campers (counselors)—imbue this sense of a communal identity.
Shoafim (entering 8th grade) campers, including campers from Ukraine
about something larger than themselves.
From our founding, Camp Ramah in Wisconsin has built this model of being part of something larger into our institutional DNA. We were founded, and in many ways still exist, as a collection of Conservative synagogues around the Midwest (though we have always welcomed campers from outside of that group). Our alumni from the first summers of camp speak passionately about being part of a revolutionary endeavor to speak Hebrew, rebuild pipelines of Jewish leadership after the Holocaust, and learn a particular approach to Jewish culture, informed by the academic and philosophical outlook of scholars and their students affiliated with the Jewish Theological Seminary. While that experience of the Ramah pioneers of the late ’40s and early ’50s has evolved alongside our camper and staff populations, one of the hallmarks of our camp has remained a sense of looking outside the boundaries of our own smaller communities to a regional, national, and international sense of group identity. While some camps serve relatively narrow Jewish communities, Camp Ramah in Wisconsin is a place where campers have fun, form friendships and meet counselors from across the Jewish world, and engage in dialogue and discussion
In the immediate shadow of October 7th, 2023, our Board charged us with leaning into what many of us already sensed would be a major theme of the next few years: international Jewish peoplehood would loom large, both as a theme and as a necessity, during one of the most difficult periods we have seen in our lives, both for the citizens and state of Israel and also for Jews around the world. For decades, Ramah had welcomed a small number of Israeli campers— mostly children of senior staff—and in recent years had built a special, twenty-year partnership with the Oranienburgerstrasse Synagogue in Berlin while also joining a National Ramah Commission initiative to host teens from NOA”M. Even so, we had likely never welcomed more than twenty-five international campers at any one time before 2024.
The summers of 2024 and 2025 were marked by many exceptional experiences of which our campers, staff, and our camp community can be proud, perhaps none more than the ways that Camp Ramah in Wisconsin welcomed nearly seventy campers from Israel and Europe in ’24, and eighty in ’25. We’ve welcomed two separate groups of teens from the Gaza envelope, including the community hit hardest by Hamas on October 7th, Kibbutz Nir Oz, through a partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and Chicago’s Jewish United Fund (JUF). The Berlin community has worked with us to sponsor welcoming three refugees from the Ukrainian Jewish community during both summers, and we supplemented that partnership with an additional ten Ukrainian campers through a partnership with Maccabi USA and Maccabi Ukraine.
These international partnerships, especially during the period of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the God-
willing now ending Israel-Hamas war, provide respite and joy to traumatized children growing up in a scary and uncertain world. They also continue to build out our own campers’ understandings of the diversity of the world, the universality of Jewish identity, and a sense of Jewish peoplehood. For many campers and staff, who forge meaningful relationships and cross-cultural sharing with our international campers, the impact goes even deeper; like so much else at camp, and at Ramah specifically, most campers will not appreciate the full power of these experiences for years, if not decades, to come.
We invest in these partnerships, with significant fundraising support from the institutions named and philanthropists as well as individual donors like you, because we believe, as we always have, that the Ramah experience is about opening up new horizons and possibilities of understanding. Nothing demonstrates to our campers and counselors that their role in the world extends beyond themselves more powerfully than bringing together Jewish children and teens from across the world to share in the joy and richness of Judaism and the communal living we nurture each summer in Conover.
A HISTORIC MILESTONE:
CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE ON THE LIEBERMAN GUEST HOUSE!
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin is thrilled to announce that construction is complete on the brand-new Lieberman Guest House! This transformational achievement marks an exciting new chapter in our camp’s history.
This groundbreaking facility—also known as the Lieberman Beit Orchim—dramatically increases overnight guest capacity and stands as the first structure at camp purpose-built for yearround use beyond our existing maintenance shop. It represents a bold investment in the future of Camp Ramah, embodying both innovation and cherished tradition.
A Vision Brought to Life
This remarkable project was launched by a visionary $1.25 million gift from Rabbi Vicki and Cantor Robert Lieberman, whose generosity inspired a wave of support from families across our community. We extend our deepest gratitude to the Liebermans, and to all the families whose significant commitments have transformed this dream into reality.
The formal dedication ceremony will take place during the summer 2026 camp season, bringing together the community to celebrate this extraordinary milestone.
Naming opportunities are still available, offering families a unique chance to honor loved ones or celebrate their connection to Camp Ramah. Be part of this historic moment. Together, we’ve built more than a guest house—we’ve created a home for generations of connections, celebrations, and vibrant Jewish life in the Northwoods.
Guest Room – $100,000 or $20k/year for 5 years
• Includes option to customize the room décor
Guest Room Mezuzah – $18,000
For more information contact Chief Development Officer Sam Caplan at scaplan@ramahwisconsin.com or 312-690-8332.
ALL ROADS LEAD TO CONOVER
Our little community tucked away in the Northwoods of Wisconsin is ever expanding in new and surprising ways. With campers and staff from across the Midwest, Israel, Germany, Ukraine, Uganda, and more, we are embracing these connections to the world beyond our home communities.
Connected by Tradition
By Avi Shapira, Rosh Shoafim 2025
Four Ukrainian campers joined Shoafim (entering 8th grade) this past kayitz (summer). The threeand-a-half weeks they spent at Camp Ramah were transformative—for them, for the eidah (age group), for the tzevet (staff), and for me.
With about ten days left in the summer, two campers, Liza and Sacha, asked to speak with me after lunch. They looked at each other, smiled, and began to explain to me how back home they were songleaders and loved to sing and play musical instruments. They asked if it was possible to teach the rest of the eidah some melodies they do in tefillah (prayer) back home. I was overjoyed at their comfort in asking me to do this and was thrilled to give them a spotlight to share some of the customs and traditions they brought to camp from so far away.
A Multicultural Eidah
By Ethan Sharp, Rosh Nivonim 2025
This summer in Nivonim (entering 11th grade), we had the unique opportunity to welcome 13 international chanichim (campers) to our eidah (age group). Among them were six from Israel, five from Berlin, and two Ukrainians who currently live in Austria due to the Russian invasion. Some of them were experiencing camp for the very first time. With such a diverse group, Nivonim 2025 was represented by four different home countries and eight different languages.
The international campers’ arrival midway through the summer gave us the chance to open ourselves up, to stretch, and to integrate new voices and perspectives into our community. Soon after their arrival, we set out on our canoe trips, where connections deepened quickly. By the time we returned, our eidah felt beautifully unified, and rode that energy for the rest of the summer.
The presence of the international chanichim was transformative. They enriched our eidah with their stories, resilience, and spirit. Their contributions this summer were not just memorable, but truly meaningful. Now, Nivonim 2025 has family across the world.
“Being at camp was a great experience where I was able to meet new people and make new friends. Everyone has been very welcoming and I had such a good time.”
– Machon (entering 10th grade) Israeli Camper
FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT:
STORIES OF OCTOBER 7 AT CAMP
In 2025, we welcomed another record group of Israelis, whose stories connected camp to the people and land of Israel, while camp itself provided them a respite. Our summer-long theme Me’afeilah L’Orah (From Darkness to Light) captured the interplay of joy and tragedy that defines the postOctober 7 world.
A Sense of Peace –Welcoming Teenagers from Kibbutz Nir Oz
For the last two summers, we have partnered with Campers2Gether to bring in a group of Israeli teenagers from communities in the Gaza envelope. This summer’s group, from Kibbutz Nir Oz—where approximately 25% of the kibbutz members were murdered or taken hostage on October 7—brought an especially powerful perspective to our camp community. As the only surviving high schoolers in their community, all of whom knew family members and loved ones who were killed or taken hostage, these teenagers experienced deep trauma and grief. At camp, we were able to give them 10 days of joy and comfort in the embrace of our home in the Northwoods.
The campers spent those 10 days as normal teenagers, not as trauma survivors, not as former hostages, just as silly kids. They tried out the ropes course, went boating, performed in the Rikudiyah (dance festival), and made connections with other campers. We are honored and humbled to have been their host. Scan the QR code for an article from Jewish United Fund to learn more about the program.
Every Story Matters
This summer we welcomed some very special guests to camp thanks to the Minneapolis Jewish Federation. Jacqui and Yaron Vital spent several days in camp sharing the story of their daughter Adi VitalKaploun, who fought bravely against Hamas terrorists on the morning of October 7th and was murdered while protecting her children. The Vitals met with both high school campers and staff during their visit and everyone was moved by their story. They shared photos and videos of Adi’s life in Israel, of the joy she and her family found in their little community of Kibbutz Holit. It was a story of tragedy and resistance, and of the fierce bravery of a mother. Scan the QR code to read an article written by Emerson Strauss (Nivo 2025) who reflects on her experience learning Adi’s story.
New Torah Cover –New Outlook
We were honored to dedicate a new Torah cover this summer in memory of Guy Azar z”l, who was murdered at the Nova Festival and was the sibling of veteran Israeli staff member Rotem Azar. The dedication included sharing Guy’s “Rules for Happiness” and dancing with the Torah, a charge to find the light in the darkness. Watch a video of the dedication ceremony by scanning the QR code.
SAM ZELL’S GIFT ENSURES CAMP RAMAH’S STRENGTH FOR GENERATIONS
W
hen Sam Zell passed away in May 2023, the world lost an icon of industry, a proud Jewish philanthropist, and a visionary whose generosity continues to shape the institutions he loved. Among his most influential commitments was a final act of extraordinary generosity: a $3,000,000 planned gift to Camp Ramah in Wisconsin—the single largest gift in the camp’s nearly eight-decade history.
This game-changing bequest, made public following his passing, helped propel the Camp Ramah in Wisconsin Endowment Corporation past $8,500,000, marking a new era of longterm financial stability. Sam’s legacy gift is not only historic in magnitude—it is a strategic cornerstone ensuring that the camp’s mission will endure and flourish for generations.
A Lifetime of Connection to Ramah
Born in Chicago during World War II to Jewish parents fleeing persecution, Sam Zell understood the fragility—and necessity—of strong Jewish institutions. His philanthropy flowed from gratitude, obligation, and an unshakeable belief in Jewish continuity.
Sam Zell’s relationship with Camp Ramah began long before he was a nationally known entrepreneur. As a camper during Ramah Wisconsin’s first decade, he
Jason Litwack (Nivo 1997), President of the Camp Ramah in Wisconsin Endowment Corporation:
“The Sam Zell Endowment Fund was set up to support two incredible goals: to allow us to expand scholarship support so that camp remains accessible to more families, regardless of financial circumstances, and to strengthen our investment in staff development. This extraordinary generosity will leave a lasting mark on our community, ensuring that camp continues to be a place where Jewish youth grow, learn, and build meaningful connections with one another, with the outdoors, and deepen their Jewish identities.”
absorbed the joy, community, and Jewish identity that would remain central in his life. In his autobiography Am I Being Too Subtle?, he reflected on the profound influence of those early summers:
“My time at Camp Ramah was transformative. It grounded me in my heritage and provided me with lifelong friendships that became pillars of my journey.”
These formative experiences shaped not only Sam’s personal identity but also his philanthropic vision.
A Legacy Built Over Decades of Generosity
This monumental planned gift comes after decades of extraordinary support from the Zell family, whose deep commitment to Camp Ramah has strengthened nearly every facet of the organization, including Sam’s pioneering direct support
of Ramah Day Camp. Sam was not simply a donor—he was Camp Ramah in Wisconsin and Ramah Day Camp’s largest lifetime funder, investing in capital projects, scholarships, and educational excellence for more than quarter of a century.
His $3,000,000 planned gift stands as the crowning achievement in a lifetime of generosity, ensuring that Ramah can innovate boldly and remain accessible to Jewish families for generations.
The gift is already shaping the camp’s future—fortifying its endowment, inspiring other major commitments, and paving the way for game-changing improvements across the organization.
His memory will forever be a blessing. And at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, his legacy will be felt every summer, for generations to come.
Favorite Memories of Sam
By Bob Berger (First Decade Camper)
Ihad the good fortune of sharing a cabin with Sam for five summers at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, from 1954 to 1958. When I think back on those years, I picture constant energy and laughter. Sam had a way of filling every corner of camp with life.
Known for always wearing a white t-shirt and his trademark sailor’s cap, Sam had a wonderful sense of humor and a mischievous streak. He loved kuntzim—clever tricks and pranks that became legendary. One afternoon, a few of us decided to “borrow” the big castiron bell that signaled perek (time period) changes and meals. It must have weighed 150 pounds, but with Sam leading the charge, we somehow got it off the post and started easing it toward the woods. We were spotted, of course, and the escapade quickly turned into one of those great camp stories we still tell.
Through it all, Sam was a wonderful cabinmate—loyal, vibrant, and endlessly fun to be around. He stayed connected to his Ramah friends over the years, always making time for the people who shared those early summers with him.
By Don Newman (Member of the Board of Trustees)
I introduced Sam to the fine art of motorcycling. He introduced me to Camp Ramah. We rode together on warm summer evenings on the the winding roads on Sheridan Road. He loved speed and he loved sharp curves.
While at camp together, Sam was Rosh Waterfront and I was in charge of the Maintenance Department. One evening, one of us had the brilliant idea to go to the small island in the middle of the lake. Sam and I took a green Arkansas Traveler flat bottomed row boat, designed for no more than three people, and loaded six staff members into it.
The lake was smooth as glass as we motored to the island. The return trip was not quite as uneventful. About half way back the wind picked up. Soon water was sloshing over the gunwales of the overloaded rowboat. The boat flipped over, dumping all of us into Lake Buckatabon. Sam the hero said, “You stay with the boat. I will swim to shore, get another boat and come back for you.” Everyone demurred to that idea so we all stayed with the waterlogged upside-down craft and used our hands as paddles to maneuver it back to shore. Upon reaching shore, there was the director, Rabbi Burton Cohen, standing on the beach in the moonlight with his arms folded, waiting for us.
Sam (top row, left) at camp
Donor Recognition
* Board or Va’ad (Committee) Member ◊ Legacy Society member
Director’s Circle
$100,000 and above
2024 Alumni Impact Campaign
Crown Family Philanthropies
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Myra Lee and Albert z”l Fleischman Foundation for Jewish Camp
The Gottesman Fund
Rabbi Vicki and Cantor Robert Lieberman
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
National Ramah Commission
Matthew Zell Family Foundation
President’s Circle
$50,000 and above
Beverly Fink
Dr. Betsy Gidwitz
Sheri and Steve* Greenbaum
Harold Grinspoon Foundation
Susan and Marc* Sacks ◊
Rosh Eidah
$25,000 and above
Anonymous
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Dr. Rebecca and Daniel Blumenthal
Leeatt Rothschild and Micky Hervitz
Chaviva Jacobson ◊
Jack & Goldie Wolfe Miller Fund
Danielle* and Jay Sandler
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Charles & M.R. Shapiro Foundation, Inc.
Rosh Anaf
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Heidi and Jonathan Jonas
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Maccabi USA
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Tamar Newberger* and Andrew Schapiro
Ann* and Adam Schneiderman
Jodie and Mark* Silberman ◊
Dr. Margaret* and Alan* Silberman ◊
Northwoods
$10,000 and above
Anonymous
Allen & Janet Agron Camp Ramah Scholarship Endowment of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City
Meredith Grossman Anders and Darren Anders
Dr. Wendy and Dr. Howard Bach ◊
Mary and Alan Becker
Karen and Ethan Budin
Karen* and David Ebroon ◊
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Ashlyn* and Daniel Gorlin
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Naomi and Jason* Litwack
Minneapolis Jewish Federation
Ronna Nussbaum
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St. Paul Jewish Federation
Donations October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025
Miriam and Morton* Steinberg ◊
Agam
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Anonymous (2)
Aviva Rubenfeld’s Bat Mitzvah Fundraiser
Rachel and Dr. Andy Abeles ◊
Elizabeth Lippow* and Keith Alperin
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Sarah and Michael Kashani
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Ayala* and John Podhoretz
Louise and Jerry Ribnick
Robyn* and Benjamin Schein
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$3,600 and above
Anonymous
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Beth Israel Center, Madison, WI
Lili Chester
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Gail and Jeremy Fingerman
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Adam Leibowitz
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Every effort was made to correctly list donor names. If your gift was omitted or listed incorrectly, please email us at magazine@ramahwisconsin.com.
Kimberly and Dr. Ari Rubenfeld
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Buckatabon
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Congregation Beth Shalom, Overland Park, KS
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JDI Realty LLC
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Dana Levin and Aaron Zell
Friends
$180 and above
Anonymous (11)
Deanna and Brett Abrams
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Adina and Adam Aft
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Donor Recognition
* Board or Va’ad (Committee) Member ◊ Legacy Society member
Susan Ament
Jean and Laurence Appel
Lauren Appel
Molly Appel
Kaynan Appelbaum
Yaffa Cohen-Appelbaum
Robert Arthur
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Naomi Hoffman and Dr. Loren Bach
Trudy and Dr. Harvey Barash
Roni and Simona Bareket
Marla and Jeff Barkoff
Benjamin Barrish
Caleb Becker-Schwartz
Orly and Amir Bednarsh
Jerry and Pat Ben-Dov
Karen and Dr. David Benson
Alison and Josh Berdass
Cheryl and Rabbi Kenneth Berger
Cantor Elizabeth Berke
Seth Berkman
Zach Berkman
Aaron Bielenberg
Rabbi Mark and Fredda Bisman
Stephie and Dr. Andrew Blum
Ellen Blumenthal
Amy Rubinoff and Ricky Bortz
Naomi Shapiro and Adam Braun
Eileen Leiderman and Ben Brener
Karen and Marshall* Brill ◊
Adam and Carrie Broms
Jacalyn Broze
Shirley and Jared Bryan
Sarah Miller and Dan Buckland
Jeremy Budin
Jeffrey and Meagan Buren
Carol and Scott Burg
Joni and Alexander Burgess
Yvette Busia
Paula (Lifchez) Cantor and Dr. Jeffrey Cantor
Ben and Nanci Caplan
Dennis and Jane Carlton
Sara Frailich and Christopher Castino
Jonathan and Rabbi David Chapman
Gabe Chasnoff
Mindy and Daniel Chiat
Heather Goldstein and David Chudnow
Cocoon Academy and Developmental Center
Charles and Jennifer Cohen
Aaron Cohn
Ellen and Ira Cole
Gary Cortes ◊
Rita Cortes* ◊
Dr. Ada Beth and Dr. Charles Cutler
Babette Levy and Mark Daskin ◊
Talia and Ari Derman ◊
Donations October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025
Dr. Rebecca Levine and Dr. Benjamin Derman
Debra and Dr. David Dobkin ◊
Katherine and Matthew Doscher
Alison Dreifuss
Coby Drexler
Mollie Dubner
Jaclyn Millner and Gregory Duhl
Michelle and Jordan Edelman
Ariel Efergan
Rami Eilian
Dan Eisenberg
Rebecca Barak and Yuval Eisenberg
Ruth Eisenberg
Tanya and Michael Eisenwasser
Susan and Jonas Ellenberg
Deborah Swichkow and Ray Ellis
Dena and Gary Elovitz
Marlene and Larry Engelhart
Shari and Ahiad Erlich
Marcie and Richard Eskin
Rabbi Shoshana Abramowitz and Joseph Eskin
Jessica Ettinger
Leora and Dan Falkin
Judy and Steven Feinberg
Heather and Rabbi Jeremy Fineberg
Ellie and Marc Fineman
Whitney and Dr. Jay Fisch
Sarah Fishbein
Ellie Fishman
Ethan Fivel
Beth and Robert Footlik
Emily Schwartz and Rabbi Benjy Forester
Jodi and Dr. Avram Fraint
Wendy and Benjamin Frank
Dawn and Aaron Frank
Jenna Lewis and Jeremy Frankenthal
Malka and Michael Frazin
Laura and Rabbi Alex Freedman
Aaron Freeman
Bruce Freeman
Bonnie and Sheldon Freidenreich
Alice and Dr. David Friedgood
Andrea Friedman
Jamie and Jordan Friedman
Jacqueline and Michael Friedman
Jen and Yossi Garr
Beth and Gordon Gendler
Karen and Dr. Jeffry Gerson ◊
Sharon and Walter Gillett
Scott Gilman
Hannah Glass
Tihela Feit and Joshua Gleicher
Dr. Daniel Olson and Rabbi Benjamin Goldberg
Ethan Goldberg
Rebekah and Stephen Goldberg
Sharon and Dr. Harris Goldenberg
Dr. Bonnie and Dr. Gary Goldish
Shira* and Daniel Goldman ◊
Elana* and Neil Goldsmith
Shira Goldstein
Rona Malakoff and Ethan Goller
Shosh and Howard Goller
Dr. Michael Goodman
Ilyssa and Josh Gordon
Erin and Jon Gordon
Shoshana and Matt Gordon
Marlee Gotlieb
Elisheva Blas and Jonah Grant
Rani Halpern and Joel Green
Meka Greenwald
Katie and Ilan Grinberg
Mark Gross
Tammy Halevy
Eliana Halivni
Coby Halpern
Paula and Dr. Aaron Hamvas
Mark Harris* ◊
Andrea Goldstein and Michael Hayes
Miriam and Joey Heller
Billie and Simon Hellerstein
Dana and Cory Herman
Paul and Marcia Herman
Miriam Herstein
Every effort was made to correctly list donor names. If your gift was omitted or listed incorrectly, please email us at magazine@ramahwisconsin.com.
Becky and Rabbi Brad Hirschfield
Anna Grossberg and Jacob Hodes
Alieza and David Hoffman
Yael Zinkow and Molly Hoffman
Ms. Leora and Jesse Holzer
Elena Silberman and Steve Horak
Abby Grad and Yoni Israelson
Marla and Ezra Jaffe
Amy and Jason Judd
Lizzie and Micah* Kafitz ◊
Pearl and Joel Kagan
Lina Garcia and Zachary Kagin
Talya and Rabbi David Kalender
Dr. Michele and Dr. Nelson Kanter
Faye Kroshinsky and Bennett Kaplan
Lauren and Scott Kaplan
Sinar and Dr. Allen Katz
Ariel Katz
Rabbi Amanda Russell and David Katz
Ariel Goodman and Isaac Katz
Kenneth Katz
Michael and Dr. Betsy Katz
Sophia Kaufman
Matthew Kavanaugh
Dr. Dalia and Brian Kirschbaum
Jordy and Ally Kirshenbaum
Karen and Dan Kissinger
Carla Klausner
Dr. Michael Klein
Rabbi Sofia Zway and Rabbi Brett Kopin
Eitan Korrub
Stephanie Brill and Shane Kovalsky
Mollie Kozberg
Rachel Kraft
Dr. Cindy Reich and Rabbi Harold Kravitz
Barry Krumstok
Bryna and Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Sara Kushnir
Beth and Tamas Kutas
Samuel Lachterman
Justin and Rachel Lappen
Cheryl Krugel-Lee and Jacob Lee
Dr. Elizabeth and William Levin
Sandra and Dr. Mark Levin
Melissa Levin
Samuel Levin
Sarah Levin
Jacob Levine
Jessica Levitt
Raquel Levitt
Shari Lichtenstein
Emet Lieberman
Meira Lieberman
Karyn and Mitch Liss
Sara and Steven Loevy
Ariella Rotenberg and Tyler Logigian
Yael Malka-Loren and Daniel Loren
Sally Mendelsohn and David Lowenfeld
Abraham and Sandy Lubin
Brendan Lyss
Fred Manaster
Kim and Dr. Stewart Mann
Julie Rabinowitz and Gary Marx ◊
Scott Mayer
Allison Kamen and Michael McElwee
Abby Meisler
Maytal Meisler
Ron and Liat Meisler
Jordan Melman
Aaron Meyerhoff
Rada Meytin
Randy Michaels
Donald and Barb Miller
Nancy Miller
Yaela and Moshe Miller
Annie Berger and Jacob Millner
Lezlie Milson
Ilyssa and Rabbi David Minkus
Joel and Danna Mirviss
Debbie Kaplan and Michael Mnookin
Alison and Alan Molotsky
Rebecca Linfield and Leon Moskatel
Jonathan Mussman
Ronn and Dr. Beth Nadis
Natalie Eisen and Zach Newburgh
Oren Nochimowski
Ronna Nussbaum
Marissa Oberlander
Daniella Ohayon
Allen and Marcia Oleisky
Jackie Rubinoff and Harry Orenstein
Avram Pachter
Sandy Starkman and Larry Pachter ◊
Tamar Rubin and Adam Parker ◊
Rachel and Ari Parritz
Deena Pascal
Jacob Pellegrino
Rachel Zivic and Rabbi Micah Peltz
Jonathan and Leslie Petuchowski
Lynn and Dr. Louis Philipson
Dr. Joshua Pickard
Rachel Pickus
Ronen Pink
Lisa and Rabbi Jeff Pivo
Max Pivo
Dr. Lilli Flink and Ariel Platt
Brian and Hannah Pogrund
Hannah and Marshall Pollack
Elana Abraham and Joshua Pomeranz
Adi and Alex Prombaum
Yari and Kevin Rahmanim
Anne-Monique and Edward Rapoport
Marilyn Green and Dave Rebnord
Elisa and Rick Recht
Dani Segelbaum and Scott Reibstein
Matthew Slater and Faith Roessel
Ann Lesley and Scott Rosen ◊
Dena Rosen
Norma Rosen
Alexandra and Jeremy Rosenberg
Lital Casper Rosenberg and Dr. Ari Rosenberg
Holly and Michael Rosenberg
Marissa and Dr. Jonathan Rosenberg
Naomi Kruger and Jon Rosenblatt
Sandra and Michael Rosenstein
Sadie Rosenthal
Sheryl Rothman
Jill Korey and Jon Rozenfeld
Robin and Rabbi Steven Rubenstein ◊
Aviva and David Rubin
Karen and Russ Rubin
Talia Kaplan and Benjamin Rubin
Tracey Rubinoff
Adam Rudolph Shemaria and Joseph Shemaria Rudolph
Jake Rudolph
Rebecca and Rabbi David Russo
Leeor Sabbah
Shelly and Michael Sackett ◊
Anne Glasser and Steven Sacks
Daniel Sacks
Tess Glassman-Kaufman and Joshua Sacks
Nadine and Sheldon Saitlin
Laurie Aloisio and David Salem
Cary and Pam Schack
Aliza and Benjamin Scheier
Shai Bracha and Shimrit Scher
Tirza Schmelzer-Covel and Albert Schmelzer
Edna Schrank
Rabbi Anina Dassa and Judah Schvimer
David Schwartz
Marci Dickman and Ralph Schwartz
Margalit and Nathaniel Segal
Lauren and Marty Segelbaum
Lindsay Seidenberg
Laurie and Mitchell Serber
Elliana and Andres Sevi
Rebekah and Ilan Shalit
Joshua Silverman and Hannah Shams
Jeremy Shanas
Gabe Shapps
Greg and Kim Shapps
Madeline and Jerry Shifrin
Orrin Shifrin
Donor Recognition
* Board or Va’ad (Committee) Member ◊ Legacy Society member
Joan Berger and Bill Shonfeld
Tamara Frankel and Rabbi Zach Silver
Daniel Silver
Samantha and Yonatan Silverman
Judy Simon
Rachelle Simon
Heidi and Matt Simons
Larry and Cheryl Sklar
Emily and Dr. Jeremy Slosberg
Susan Agate and Michael Slutsky
Sheila and Michael Small ◊
Avi Smoler
Devora and Shimron Snyder-Shefer
Benjamin Soff
Max Sosland
Sara and Dr. Mitchell Spinnell
Noah Spiro
Abi Goldstein and Dr. Danny Stamos
Seth Stein
Susan and Allen Steinberg
Jesse Steinman
Lauren Gans and Jeffrey Stern
Amanda Sugar
Naomi and Eric Sugar
Dr. Marc and Elise Swatez
Mr. Alan Tannenbaum
Becca and Samuel Tatel
Marianne and Stuart Taussig
Eric Thomas
Elizabeth and Ira Ury
Dr. Joseph and Joan Vander Walde
Dr. Janna and Bryan Villano
Laurie Wakschlag
Matt and Kim Walzer
Glenn Warshaw
Amanda and Sean Weil
Julia Weill
Avery Wein
Lisa and Michael Weiner
Sam Weiner
Jerome Weinstein
Leslie and Sheldon Weinstein
Rita and Josh Weintraub
Alana Weiser
Danielle and Dan Weiss
Debbie and Dan Werlin
Jay Rosenbaum and Alyssa Wiener
Barbara Gressel and Gary Wigoda
Dr. Robert Wilensky
Sarah Majetschak and Hauke Witte
Mariel Gold and Aaron Wolf
Robin and Dr. Cliff Wolf
Mark and Robin Wolff
Andrea Yablon
Ramahniks
Up to $180
Anonymous (7)
Josh Aaronson
Cantor Nancy Abramson
Jane and Larry Adler
Shelli Aderman and Narda E. Alcorn
Leora Allen
Michael Allen
Max Alper
Zoe Alper
Beth Alpert
Julia Applefeld
Sari Applefeld
Micah and Lisa Arbisser
Helen and Michael Arkes
Elan Atar
Matthew Ausman
Maytal Bach
Dawn Bachman
Staci Balkansky-Daugird
Devorah Lissek and Dr. Josh Barash
Kathya Barlia
Amie and Jonathan Barrish
Etta and Michael Barry
Leslie Bauman
Rachel Frailich and Timothy Bechtel
Zachary Becker
Jordan Behn
Donations October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025
Laura and Rabbi Jonathan Berger
Arden Goldstein and Levi Bergovoy
Becky Kupchan Berkman and Shie Berkman
Mitchell and Rita Berzin
Samuel Blivaiss
Theodore Bloom
Randi Blume
Jami Blumenthal
Mira Blumenthal
Congregation B’nai Amoona Sisterhood
Susan Bosse
Mindy and Armand Botbol
Sandy and Mike Braunstein
Meredith and Eddie Brener
Becky and Stuart Brodsky
Ilisa and Michael Brown ◊
Mason Brown
Colman and Susan Buchbinder
Adam Budin
Daphne Budin
Scott Burstein
Carol and Steve Burton
Deanna Burton
Rhona and David Byer
Alli Camps
Herb Caplan
Dina and Joey Carr
Barry and Judi Chapnick
Barbara Charlip
Rabbi Alan and Linda Cohen
Benjamin Cohen
Robert Mayer and Shari Cohen
Yael Farah Coleman and Matt Coleman
Liam Cureton
Diana D’Angelo-Wolff
Lisa Danziger
Hannah DeBruin
Yael Derman
Hayley and Andrew Dolan
Gail and Rabbi Sheldon Dorph
Sari Grad and Dylan Douglas
The Drazen Family in Memory of Rabbi Paul S. Drazen
Caroline Dreifuss
Marcy Dicker and David Dropkin
Mollie Dubner
Nate Dubner
Avi Edwards
Meg Boland and Myron Einisman
Amy and Russ Eisenstein
David and Fran Elovitz
David and Francine Ephraim
Harry Eskin
Orly and Oren Fass
Anna Glassman-Kaufman and Zander Feinberg
Rabbi Charles and Krayna Feinberg
Sarah-Bess Dworin and Rabbi Sam Feinsmith
Micah Feldman
Danielle Fink
Anya Finkelshteyn
Rebecca Ruetsch and David Finkelstein
Gabe Fishman
Jodie Honigman and Dan Fleischman
Avidan Halivni and Yaffa Fogel
Beth Peerless Fox
Laura and Zeke* Fraint
Tal Frank
Harriet and William Freedman
Hannah Freeman
Eyal Friedman
Eric Galante
Robin and Stephen Garfinkel
Naomi Lasky and Rabbi Eli Garfinkel
Yehudit and Aaron Gavant
Raphael Gendler
Beth Pearlman and Garry George
Laura Shapiro and Mark Gersten
Sheila and Vern Gideon
Hazzan Jenna Greenberg and Joshua Ginsberg
Amy Altbach and Scott Glazer
Karen and Kenneth Glickman
Gail Goldberg
Marnina Goldberg
Oscar Goldberg
Shira and Robert Goldberg
Elana and Alex Goldin
Joel and Laurie Goldsmith ◊
Ellie Goldstein
Larry and Ellen Goldstein
Dr. Raymond and Jody Goldstein
Stephanie and Mark Goldstein
Jeremy Goodman
Marlene and Samuel Gordon ◊
Mindy and Jeffrey Gordon ◊
Nikki Gordon
Rabbi Yosi Gordon ◊
Pam Grad
Mark Grayson
Deborah and Gregory Greenberg
Margie Greenfield
Tali and Graham Griffin
Malcolm Haar and Brian Grossman
Hindy Gruber
Molly Gruesner
Jenny and Aaron Hage
Josh Halper
Wendy Goldberg and Daniel Halpern
Maxine and Jacob Handelman
Nina and Tom Happ
David Harkavy
Elise Heisler
Esther Hellman
Donna and Jeffrey Hersh
Elaine Hirsch
Abby Kozberg and Yonatan Hirsch
Alysa Hoffman
Barbara Hoffman
Barbara and Dr. Robert Hoffman
Paul Horvath
Tobi Cooper and Rabbi Daniel Horwitz
David Hurwich
Shanna and David Jadwin
Lois and Mark Just
Mary Justice
Nikki Faraci and Danny Kahn
Eliana and Benjamin Kahn
Orlee and Jeffrey Kahn ◊
Gerry Kaplan
Michelle and Ilya Karagodin
Zack Karmin
Lydia and Asher Karoll
Lucy and Dr. Eitan Katz
Eliana Kaufman
Marion Kaufman
Stephanie* and Dr. Kurt Kavanaugh ◊
Molly Kavanaugh
Alexis and Aaron Kaye
Elana Elstein and Jeffrey Keisler
Risa and Steven Kessler
Judy Green and John Kilyk
Shom Klaff
Jessica Klein
Lisa Klein
Sydelle Klein
Adira Knopf
Eric Kogan
Rebecca and Daniel Kogan
Donald Kosh
Zina and Jeff Kovit
Linda Kozin
Marci and Nathan Kramer
Roberta and Fred Kravitz
Marisa and Rabbi David Krishef
Judy and Marshall Kupchan
Ann Kushnir
Jerold and Judith Lax
Ethan Less
Dr. Ron and Elyse Less ◊
Sara Lynn Newberger and Barbara Levine
Isaac Levitan
Lisa and Jim Levitas
Samuel Levitt
Jacob Levy
Debbie and Gary Lindon
Debra Linfield
Andrew and Allison Lipsman
Stephanie Lubin
Arielle Kaufman and Ohad Ludomirsky
Angela Lutzker
Marsha Lyons
Louise Majetschak
Rosalie and Dr. Rick Malter
Nan Martin
Dani Marx
Gertrude Matanky
Judy and Steven Matthews
Suzannah Mayo
Kathryn McMahon
Chloe Meadows
Michele and Seth Meisler
Lisa Melchior
Rebecca and Michael Miller
Michelle Mirviss
Rachel Mirviss
Joni Crounse and Richard Moline
Lena Nickerson
Naomi Norwick
Anonymous
Danielle Orloff
Nadine Orloff
Steven and Barrie Orloff ◊
Brian Pack
Dr. Sharon Packer
Ronna and Barry Paul
Ken Pazdernik ◊
Elisa and Jim Pener
Joe Philipson
Marcie and Brad Pickard
Jane Pickus
Judith Pierotti
Jill and Jack Pinto
Dana Polonsky
Benjamin Portnoe
Meytal Chernoff and Joseph Portnoe
Patsy Prince
Rachel Rabinovich
Beverly Radin
Allan Rolnick
Dalya Romaner
Aaron Rose
Rabbi Carnie and Paulie Rose
Noa Rose
Nancy and Rabbi James Rosen
Carl Rosenberg
Renee and Seth Rosenberg
Sunni Rosenbloom
Gail Rosenblum
Susan Ticker and Henry Rosenblum
Abe Rosenthal
Elizabeth and Naftali Rosenthal
Steven and Avigail Rosenzweig
Yuval Roth and Dror Nuriel-Roth
Michael Rothschild
Amanda Rubin
Aryeh Rubin
Marilyn and Dr. Gary Rubin
Sandy and Paul Sabin
Zachary Sadoff
Alexis Saed
Marianne and James Salsberg
Michael Samis
Susan and Rabbi Neil Sandler
Diane and Albert Sasson
Nancy and Rabbi Craig Scheff
Erin Schneider
Larry Moss and Lauren Schneider
Elliot Schochet
Wes and Sheryl Schochet
Simi Schreiber
Laurie Allen Schulman
Estherbeth Buchbinder and Jeffrey Schvimer
Robin Septon
Laurie Serber
Jake Shanas
Sarene Shanus
Alex Shapiro
Yoni Shapiro
Anat Shinar
Dina Shiner
Naomi Shisler
Marcy and Ron Shudnow
Susan Siegfried
Maureen and Randy Silver
Avner Stern and Robin Silverman
Lauren and David Silverman
Samantha Silverman
Carol and John Simon
Richard Simon
Charlie Skadron
Karen Brier and Jared Skoff
Donor Recognition
* Board or Va’ad (Committee) Member ◊ Legacy Society member
Elliot
Dan Sneider
Ronnie Jo Sokol
Harry Solomon
Mindy and Jeffrey Sosland
Kayla Hammes and Ari Spector
Rachel and Howard Spiro
Susan and Jeffrey Spitz
Charles Sprayregen
Shani Bocian and Josh Steinberg
Julie and Michael Steinberg
Keren Fraiman and Eitan Stieber
Ittai Straschnov
Roxanne Kelber and Michael Tabak
Shelly Phillips and Dr. Ted Tapper
Naomi and Brett Taylor
Karin Klein and Joel Teibloom
Cheryl Temkin
Yaara and Daniel Temkin
Emma and Eli Temkin
Dr. Donald Temple
Naomi Teperow
Joan Tornheim
Reanna Tsirlin
Lauren Rosenthal Turon
Margaret Ungerman
Liza Bernstein and Ari Vandersluis
Rebecca Rapport and Miguel Verdego
Rachel Vile
Veronica Warner
Daniel Warshawsky
Liat Wasserman
Ari Weber
Ethan Weiner
Sheldon and Joan Weinstein
Kathy Weintraub
Marilyn Weisberg
Matthew and Patty Weiss
Curtis and Emma Weiss
Laura Wilhelm
Deborah and Adam Winick ◊
Paula Winnig
Roberta and Rabbi Edmund Winter
Eli Winton
Carly Cooper and Aaron Wolff
Rochelle Wynne
Dr. Joseph and Ina Young
Mitch and Laura Zacks
Rosanne Zaidenweber
Elan and Orly Zinkow
Julie Zuckerman
Talia Zuckerman(9)
Donations October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025
Corporate Matching Gifts
Affiance Financial
American Express
Aon PLC
Apple
Exact Sciences
Gartner
Google
Grainger
HelloFresh
Hillspire LLP
LinkedIn
Magid Glove and Safety
McKinsey
Medtronic
Microsoft
Mortenson Netflix
Raytheon Technologies
RRF Foundation For Aging Salesforce.org
Simpson Strong-Tie
Starbucks
The Toro Company
TIAA - Nuveen
UBS
In Kind
American Drapery Systems
Mary Justice
Mindy and Daniel Ribnick
Lois Yaffe
Of Blessed Memory
We remember with gratitude the generosity of these donors who made legacy gifts in recent years. They will forever be remembered as devoted Ramah supporters who helped provide an outstanding camp experience for generations of young Jews.
Allen Agron z”l
Betty Benson z”l
David Berger z”l
Jean Best z”l
Rose Choffnes z”l
Rabbi Burton Cohen z”l
Mimi and Ron Grossman z”l
Micki and Uzi Halevy z”l
Manuel Feldman z”l
Stanford Goldberg z”l
Evelyn Harris z”l
Rabbi Myer Kripke z”l
Gertrude Lederman z”l
Wally Lelewski z”l
George Levine z”l
Edward Marks z”l
Roselind and Sheldon Rabinowitz z”l
Vivian Rice z”l
Dr. Herbert Rosen z”l
Arthur Salkin z”l
Leslie Schwartzman z”l
Lila Weinzweig z”l
Sam Zell z”l
Melissa Fellman and
Slovis
Facilities Manager Tom Merkel on a golf cart newly donated by Mindy and Dan Ribnick and Family
A CATALYST OF HOPE
by Rachel and Andy (Nivo 1997) Abeles
The start of our journey at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin began in 1992, when Andy was in the first Halutzim. After six summers as a camper and three as a counselor, I assumed that summers in the Northwoods had come to an end. Fast forward 20ish years, and my Ramah story is still being written in the dual roles of camp doctor and parent, living vicariously through the shared experience of our three children.
As our children began to grow up, we as a family made the seminal decision that Jewish summer camp was in our future. The Jewish summer camp ideal was and continues to be a lived experience, integral to the shaping of the young Jewish self. The gift of camp provides a path of independence and freedom for children in their formative years to develop their sense of self identity and selfknowledge in immersive 24/7 Jewish life.
We felt that joining the Legacy Society is of upmost importance now more than ever, as our surrounding world, locally and globally, is rocked with antisemitism. As our community’s sense of security is shattered, camp has become a catalyst of hope and comfort for our future generation. As many are questioning our role in the world around us, Camp Ramah has provided a counterbalance to the feeling of otherness that has permeated the mentality of Jews everywhere.
Our future as a people has been, and always will be, predicated on our belief in G-d and the Jewish values instilled by our forefathers. Camp Ramah provides a strengthening of these essential values, to live Jewishly out loud, and the freedom for our children to build their character and resilience in the face of an uncertain future. The Legacy Society is our way of ensuring that Camp Ramah can continue to thrive for generations, as a beacon of light and hope for our children in uncertain times.
A tax-smart way to support Camp Ramah in Wisconsin
Lowering taxable income while backing the place you love is easier than you might think: If you are over age 70½ you can donate up to $108,000 from your IRA to Camp Ramah, as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). If you have a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) you can satisfy part—or all of it—using this QCD strategy. Combining an RMD with a QCD helps you and powers transformative summers for our campers.
Quick definitions
RMD. After you reach the government-set age (73 now, rising to 75 in 2033), you must withdraw a minimum amount from certain retirement plans each year, and those withdrawals are counted as ordinary income.
QCD. Donors age 70½ and up may transfer funds directly from qualifying IRAs to charitable organizations like Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. That transfer can satisfy part or all of your RMD and is excluded from federal gross income, potentially lowering your tax bill while advancing Ramah’s mission.
You
How it works for this year
In 2025, the QCD ceiling is $108,000 per individual, per year—regardless of how many IRAs they have. When an IRA custodian sends the distribution straight to Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, the amount is not included in your federal taxable income—so more of your gift goes to scholarships, immersive learning, and year-round community. To count for this tax year, complete the transfer by your RMD deadline, typically December 31 .
Build a legacy that lasts
A QCD can start or enhance a Ramah endowment— supporting camper scholarships or program excellence every single year—so your values echo far beyond this season. If you’re considering a legacy commitment to Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, this may be a tax-efficient path to make a milestone gift and join our community of legacy supporters.
can make Camp Ramah part of your celebration!
The my.ramahwisconsin.com platform makes it easy to set up a personal campaign. Are you marking a special birthday or anniversary? Celebrating a Bar or Bat Mitzvah? Organizing a basketball tournament? Running a marathon? Make it an occasion to support Ramah! Encourage your friends and family to give generously. Your investment in the Jewish future will pay dividends for years to come.
Scan the QR code to get started.
WI Winter 2025 Crossword
Crossword Clues
2. What is the name of the paved road that goes around the perimeter of camp?
7. What eidah goes on an exciting multi-day trip into Wisconsin and Michigan during the summer?
AC RO SS
9. Our oldest eidah, Nivonim, lives in an area of camp called the _______, renovated in 2017.
19. What is the name of the cohort of Israeli counselors that we bring to camp each year?
20. On which day of the week does Yom Meyuchad (special day) typically fall?
2W ha tisthe na me of thepav ed road that goes around theperimeter of ca mp?
Down
1. The name of the staff lounge is the Mercaz ________.
7W ha te idah goes on an exciting multida ytripintoW isconsin andMichiga n during thesumme r?
10. What is the name of the program where young children of staff members receive day care before they are campers?
3. Shoafim, the eidah for entering 8th graders, translates to ______ in English.
9O ur olde st eida h, Nivonim, liv es in an area of ca mp ca lle dthe _ ______, re nova te din2017.
11. What is the name of the building where the camp director resides?
at is thenameofthe cohort of Isra eli counse lors that we bring to ca mp ea ch ye ar?
20 On whichday of theweek does Yom Me yuchad (spe cial da y) ty pica llyfa ll?
HE BR EW MM MZ RP MM BP
XN KG KX BU DM TB NL QL
DO WN
MC HI NU CH SR EM NX NN
JI JD PB KKT II RW BN M
10 What is thenameofthe programwhe re youngchildre nofsta ff me mbersreceive da ycarebeforethe ya re ca mpers?
14. What musical about a half-mortal, half-god Greek hero will debut at camp in summer 2026?
4. What is the name, translating to “independent,” of the Vocational Education program?
1T he na me of thesta ff lounge is the Me rcaz .
TD LM MI RU TZ CL XO DH
YE LE KZ NA TD GA RRA P
3S hoafim,the eida hfor ente ring 8th graders, translates to in English.
QD VA LA MU ZN HT LY NP
11 What is thenameofthe buildingwhe re thecampdirectorresides?
15. What is the word for lake in Hebrew?
14 What musica la bout ahalf- mortal,halfgodG re ek he ro will de buta tcampin summe r2026?
5. The former Mirpeset Omanut/Nagarut (art and woodworking building) is now referred to as the Mercaz ________.
15 What is thewordfor la ke in He bre w?
16. What do we call our Color Wars day at camp?
6. The youngest eidah (age group) at camp is ________ Ramah.
16 What do we ca ll ourC olor Wa rs da ya t ca mp?
17. In summer 2025, we had _____ hundred ninetyseven total campers in camp!
18. The new Lieberman Guest House, built in place of the old Seminar Center, is located in ______ land.
8. What is the name of the field of grass in the middle of camp?
17 In summer 2025, we had _____ hundred nine ty -seven tota lcampe rs in ca mp!
18 Thenew Lieberma nG ue st House, built in placeofthe oldS eminar Ce nter,is loca te din_ _____ la nd.
12. What color does Garinim wear during the Zimriyah (music festival)?
13. The four values of Camp Ramah in Wisconsin are Joy, Growth, Inclusion, and _______.
Ha
MR RE MO LX IA AR IK UD
4W ha tisthe na me ,tra nsla ting to “independe nt,” of the Voca tional Education program?
OD XO ZA SK VE TR VT VT
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RAMAH REFLECTIONS: The Early Years
As times change, so do our customs and traditions. So it is at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. Three of the most significant dates in the camp calendar, the first day of camp, Visitors Day, and the last day of camp, each had its own programs and activities which have mostly been forgotten. The first day of camp was always on a Tuesday near the end of June. Today, many people say, “The first day of camp starts on the bus.” In the 1950s and early 60s, the first day of camp started on the train.
The train was the Chicago and Northwestern Flambeau 400, which left from its terminal on Madison Street in Chicago. More than 200 Ramah campers, and often kids from other camps, along with parents saying goodbye, gathered that morning in the downtown station. (Campers from Minneapolis came to camp on that day by bus, just as they do today.)
Campers from “distant” cities, such as Columbus, St. Louis, Detroit, and others, traveled by train to Chicago on the previous day and stayed overnight at the Morrison Hotel in the Loop. Camp staff, usually junior counselors, would be at the hotel to run the program. On Tuesday morning they would lead the campers down Madison Street to the train station, where the campers would check in to get their train car assignment for the trip. At about 10 AM the throng of kids boarded the train, and it departed for northern Wisconsin, making stops in Milwaukee, Sheboygan, Green Bay and other cities. The train ride took about 10 hours, and it allowed campers to see many of their friends from prior summers. It was close to dark when the kids alighted in Conover (there was not much of a station there) and boarded school buses to take them on the seven-mile trip through the Northwoods to camp. Returning campers were excited as they rode
Alan Lyss, Mickey Friedson, and Thomas Price were all campers in the 1960s. They hadn’t seen each other since 1989, but schedules aligned in early September when Mickey came to the United States from Israel for the birth of a grandson.
Visitors Day 1958
Banquet 1961
Visitors Day 1958
Pictured: (from left) Rachel Friedson, Christine Lyss, Alan Lyss, Mickey Friedson; (seated) Thomas Price
the winding dirt road, singing camp songs and eagerly anticipating the next eight weeks. New campers were quiet and often mystified by the strange names of places shouted out by the veterans, unfamiliar words like “Bauer’s” and “Buckatabon” and “Gibbons.” Arriving at camp, the buses emptied and everybody went to the dining halls for dinner, usually cold hamburgers and soggy French fries. Afterward, the counselors led their campers through the dark to their cabins for a restful night of sleep in beds already made up by the counselors before the campers arrived. (Campers’ trunks and duffle bags were shipped directly to camp at least a week before the first day.)
Midway through the summer, usually the fourth or fifth weekend of camp, Ramah held a Visitors Day for parents. During the early to mid 1950s, Visitors Day was held from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, primarily to afford parents the opportunity to observe and participate in a Shabbat at Camp Ramah. To do this camp had to permit parents to drive into camp and park on the baseball field. This was accomplished by the camp “selling“ the baseball field for the weekend to a non-Jewish man, often a trusted employee of a camper parent from Detroit. (At that time the baseball field was located generally between the tennis courts and today’s staff housing.) The regular eruv around camp was adjusted to make sure the baseball field for the weekend was outside of the eruv boundary. This practice was discontinued by the late 1950s. Although Shabbat meals were not provided, visitors could observe many activities such as sports and free swimming, and, of course, attend religious services. Sunday was always a picnic day for
Happy 90th Birthday to First Decade Camper Chaviva Jacobson! Chaviva was a camper in our first summer in 1947 and loves swimming in Lake Buckatabon!
campers and their parents, who would generally depart camp in the early afternoon. For campers whose parents did not visit, the camp provided alternate programming, often a trip to the island for a cookout, or miniature golf.
Camp always ended on a Tuesday. In the 1950s, the Sunday night before the last day would feature the big staff play, an event the staff had been rehearsing for weeks at night after the campers had gone to sleep. In 1955, the year the Bet Am was constructed, the play was “Oklahoma“ and in later years “South Pacific,” “Show Boat,” “Finian’s Rainbow” and others, all in Hebrew. In the 1960s, the production was put on by the oldest campers and included “My Fair Lady” and “West Side Story.” The following day, Monday, was always Yom Brunch featuring bagels, lox and cream cheese. Monday evening was Banquet Night; campers dressed in their finest clothes: jackets and ties for the boys, fancy cocktail dresses for the girls. A special dinner, usually steaks, would be served by the counselors. Dinner was followed by a special presentation of skits and songs, some reprised from earlier shows in the summer and some prepared especially for Banquet Night. In the mid 1950s two counselors, Efry (z’l) and his brother Phil Spectre, put together a special program featuring a song they composed called “No Smoking.” It was so popular that it became one camp tradition that has survived over the years. It was not unusual for campers to stay awake all night to finish packing their trunks and duffle bags and to bid farewell to their friends. In the morning campers boarded buses to take them to the train for the trip home. Often when the train stopped in Green Bay, ice cream treats would be distributed, courtesy of a very generous camper parent. Finally, often making stops to discharge campers in Highland Park or Evanston, the train reached Chicago. It was the end of another season at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin.
– Morton Steinberg (First Decade Camper)
Want to share your Ramah story from the early years? Email us at magazine@ramahwisconsin.com or scan the QR code to fill out a form.
Visitors Day 1958
SKOKIE TO SPECIAL OPS
How Ramah Led Matthew Silverman (Nivo 2005) to a Life in Israel
When you ask Matthew Silverman where life has taken him since his summers in Conover, the answer comes with a smile and a soundtrack of small children in the background.
“These days,” he says from his home in Mazkeret Batya, “just walking through the house without stepping on Paw Patrol pieces is a win.”
Matthew and his wife, both American suburban kids (he from Skokie, she from Pikesville, MD), now live just outside Rehovot with their three daughters, ages six, three-and-a-half, and under one. They moved in August 2023—two months before October 7.
From that day, he says, “I basically wasn’t home for months. I was in Miluim (reserves).” In a town where “80–90% of young families had at least one parent called up,” the
rest of the community stepped in.
“We were brand new. People barely knew our names. But once they realized I was in reserve duty, that was it—meals, playdates, babysitters. Total strangers took care of my family. Through that trial by fire, we became part of the community.”
“The Logical Progression”
Matthew arrived late to Jewish camp—as a Machon camper in 2004—but the impact was immediate.
“The Point will always have a special place in my heart,” he says. “Sitting there at night with friends, just talking—I knew even in that first summer this wasn’t a one-and-done thing. This was going to be my place.”
He returned as a staff member for four summers (2007–2010). Those summers as a counselor would turn out to be crucial training.
“When you’re given a cabin for the first time and senior staff sits you down and talks through each kid—you suddenly realize each camper is a world,” he says. “That sense of responsibility, of really seeing people as individuals, was huge. Honestly, it’s not that different from being a commander for soldiers in training.”
Looking back, he sees his whole path as one continuous line.
“Who I am now,” he says, “is just the logical progression of every framework I was lucky enough to be in—Schechter, Chicagoland (now Rochelle Zell) Jewish High School, USY, Ramah. They gave me a love of Israel, and also the ability to live with complexity. You don’t walk away from something just because it’s hard.”
Answering the Call to Serve
In 2011 Matthew made aliyah with Garin Tzabar to join the Israeli Defense Force. At first, his plan was modest: two years of service, then maybe law school back in the States.
Instead, he went through officers’ course, commanded soldiers, and ultimately served nine and a half years as a combat officer in the intelligence corps. Today he’s a major in the reserves.
“The army molded a huge part of who I am,” he says. “When you’re responsible for other people— soldiers, campers, your kids—your leadership and your empathy get tested for real.”
The Ramah Network That Carried Him
Those first years as a lone soldier were hard. “You’re exhausted, half-confused in Hebrew, trying
Matthew and younger brother Joshua as campers
to become an adult and build a life in a new country at the same time,” he recalls. “It was brutal.”
One constant: Ramah friends in Jerusalem. He remembers one Shabbat in particular. He’d been in the army about six months. It was his birthday, and no one on base knew or needed to know. But three Ramah Wisconsin friends—Jeremy Feinberg, Aaron Magid, and Elan Green—were all in Jerusalem.
“They told me to meet them, and when I showed up, they had a huge birthday cake and sang to me. It doesn’t sound like much, but in that moment, it was everything.”
That web of Ramah connections hasn’t stopped. Just recently, he ran into his former camper, Yoni Gray (Nivo 2010), at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem—both of them there to get passports for their youngest children. He regularly fields calls from Ramah alumni looking for guidance on aliyah or jobs in high-tech.
Miluim in a New Reality
The last two years of reserve duty have felt very different from his original decade of service. Matthew has spent time in Gaza and Lebanon, and the war has hit close to home emotionally.
His family knew the Polins well; Hersh’s sister babysat for them when they lived in Jerusalem. “For us, the moment they found Hersh’s body was the lowest point. We were in the U.S. visiting our parents when the news came. Processing that from far away
was incredibly hard.”
And yet, he returns again and again to a sense of responsibility and gratitude.
“I still see it as a privilege to be in a position where I can do something,” he says. “I’m not single-handedly changing the course of the war. But being here, serving when called, raising our daughters with the values I learned at Ramah—that all feels like part of the same calling.”
From Special Ops to Hypergrowth at Wiz
As his time in active service drew to a close, senior figures he trusted began suggesting a new direction. Eventually, he landed at Wiz. This Israeli cloud security startup has grown from a small team of 50 to a global company of 2,000 during his tenure there.
“In plain English?” he says. “Whatever the executive team thinks is important, that’s my job. I work on strategic projects, mostly with the go-to-market side—sales, strategy, marketing. I’m not a coder. I sit in rooms with people who are absolute geniuses technically and think, ‘I have no idea what language you’re speaking.’ But I’ve learned a huge amount.”
And he still uses his Ramah connections in high-tech— recommending alumni for roles, passing resumes along, and “paying it forward” for others making the leap.
Still a Community Builder
Whether he’s on a late-night Zoom with colleagues in the U.S., on the train from Mazkeret Batya to Tel Aviv, or herding three girls toward bedtime, Matthew is still doing what he learned to do at camp: build community.
“Camp probably did this better than anywhere,” he says. “It taught me what it means to create and be part of a kehillah (community)—showing up, giving tzedakah, helping shape the values of a shul or a town. That’s what we’re trying to do here.”
For now, life in Mazkeret Batya is its own busy braid of work, Miluim, playgrounds, and PTA meetings. But for Matthew, it still feels like the natural extension of the journey that began in Conover.
“At some point,” he says, “it stopped feeling like a big dramatic decision and just became the life we chose. And I’m grateful—every day—that this is the life we’re building.”
Matthew and his wife Kira with their children
NEXT-GEN LEADERSHIP
Q&A with Va’ad Member Adam Seidenberg, Nivo 2009
What years were you at camp?
Halutzim 2004-Nivo 2009, Seminar 2010 and staff 20112013. Never missed a summer!
What is one of your favorite camp memories?
The Nivo canoe trip was one of the most fun and silly camping trips I have ever been on.
What was your favorite meal ? Not sure, but my least favorite was Mexican lasagna
What was your favorite spot?
The Point
What was your favorite activity? Walking on the Garbage Trail
What are you doing now in your professional life?
I oversee senior housing investments for JDI Realty.
How did camp contribute to where you are in your life now, both personally and professionally?
Camp Ramah has been one of
the most formative influences in my life. It shaped not only many of my closest friendships but also the foundation of my values and the way I approach both personal and professional relationships. Ramah taught me what it means to be part of a true community— one rooted in shared purpose, responsibility, and Jewish values that continue to guide my decisions every day.
Through experiences like the Ramah Leadership Initiative, serving on the Va’ad (committee), and chairing the Alumni Impact Campaign, I’ve seen firsthand the power of a strong and connected community. These roles reinforced the importance of giving back and leading with integrity, empathy, and a deep sense of moral responsibility, which are principles that I strive to carry into my work and everyday life
And most importantly, I met my wife on Seminar!
What are some lessons you learned at camp that still impact you today?
Camp has always been a place that values fun, laughter, and authenticity. It was an environment that encouraged us to be our true selves while deepening our connection to Jewish life. I learned that
Judaism can be and is fun, filled with joy, friendship, and meaning. Those experiences taught me to bring that same spirit into my relationships today: to lead with positivity, embrace others for who they are, and find joy and purpose in community.
If you could have one more day as a camper at camp, what would you do?
It would have to be a Friday so I could get a full morning of normal activities (including some basketball), followed by kikar dancing and Kabbalat Shabbat at the waterfront. The night would finish off with some Romanian Salami.
Advice for our younger alumni? Keep having Shabbat dinners with your Ramah friends. They are a great way to relax, unwind from the week and have some fun.
Learn more about the Ramah Leadership Initiative and the Alumni Impact Campaign.
Adam and wife Naomi
BERLIN TO BUCKATABON
Sarah Majetschak, Nivo 2011
The partnership between Camp Ramah in Wisconsin and the Masorti community in Berlin, Germany has flourished over the last few years, but the connection began long before that. Sarah Majetschak (Nivo 2011) and her younger sister Louise (Nivo 2013) were among the first German campers to make the journey to Conover, discovering Ramah through their Berlin synagogue in 2010.
When Sarah first arrived at camp, she didn’t know what to expect. “I had no real understanding of what American summer camp would be like,” she recalls. “There is no real comparison to it in Germany. I was hoping to immerse myself in American culture and experience life in a different country.”
Despite her nervousness about entering an established community where friendships had already formed, Sarah quickly discovered the transformative power of Ramah. “Everyone in my eidah (age group) was extremely welcoming and immediately made me feel at home. Everyone was super interested in my life in Germany and I was welcomed with open arms.”
For Sarah, the fully Jewish environment at camp offered something profound. “At times, being a Jew in Germany isn’t
easy, especially in high school,” she explains. “It was such a relief to be in a space where everyone was Jewish and no explanations were needed.”
The Jewish community at Ramah differed from what she had known at home, yet she connected deeply to both. “I loved the inclusive atmosphere at camp,” she says. “I learned so much about Judaism during my time there.”
Sarah’s love for Ramah extended far beyond her two summers as a camper. She participated in Ramah Israel Seminar, then returned to Wisconsin for a year on staff as an Atzmayim (vocational program) counselor. Her time on staff “helped me grow and showed me I could take on challenging responsibilities.” Only her university schedule prevented her from continuing. Today, twelve years after her last summer at camp, Sarah works as an engineer for a beer company in Switzerland, designing breweries. The skills
she developed at Ramah remain essential: “Camp helped me develop leadership abilities that I still rely on every day.”
When the invitation to Alumni Camp 2025 arrived, Sarah knew it was time for her husband and young son to experience the magic she had discovered, and to finally see the place she talks about so often. “I always wanted to show my husband what camp is all about. I was thrilled we could make the journey to the Northwoods. My favorite part was bringing my son and showing them both around. Alumni Camp was designed so beautifully that my son got a real glimpse of what it’s like to be a camper. We all cherished the experience.”
For Sarah, the Ramah story continues. She plans to return for Family Camp when her son is older and dreams of the day he becomes a camper himself.
“Camp is woven into my teenage years—some of my most treasured memories,” Sarah reflects. “It was an extraordinary time that helped shape who I am, improved my English, and deepened my understanding of what it means to be Jewish. I hope to one day send my own children.”
Alumni UPDATE
Meet Lauren Grossman (Nivo 1994)
Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations
Hello Ramah Wisconsin! In 1990, I arrived at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin as an excited—and a little nervous—12-yearold camper from Memphis.
Six unforgettable summers later, as both camper and counselor, Ramah had become so much more than just a place. It was where I built the foundation of my
VISIT CAMP THIS SUMMER!
Nivo 2006 Reunion – June 25 – 28
Nivo 2005 Reunion – July 16 – 19
Nivo 1971 Reunion – July 30 – August 2
Nivo 1976 Reunion – July 30 – August 2
Alumni Camp – August 7 – 10
Family Camp – August 12 – 16
Jewish identity, forged lifelong friendships, and found a community of connection like no other.
I’m beyond thrilled to have recently joined the yearround team as the Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations. It’s not every day you get to give back to the place that helped shape who you are. I’m honored to support the mission, people, and community that have meant so much to me for more than three decades.
In this role, I’ll be partnering with our inspiring alumni on initiatives including Alumni Camp, the Alumni Impact Campaign, Ramah Leadership Initiative and more. I welcome the opportunity to connect with you and look forward to the incredible work we’ll do together to support Camp Ramah in Wisconsin!
Alumni Impact Campaign
The 2025 Alumni Impact Campaign is in full swing thanks to the effort of members of Nivo 19942018—and there’s still time to make a difference! Join hundreds of Ramah Wisconsin alumni and friends in supporting camp scholarships. Your gift helps ensure every camper can experience the magic of Ramah: strengthening Jewish identity, building lifelong friendships, and creating memories that last forever. Scan the QR code to support the incredible impact of Ramah today!
Ramah Leadership Initiative
Were you a part of Nivo 2006-2016? Are you interested in developing your professional contacts and business networks? Do you want to learn more about how Ramah Wisconsin operates? Looking for a way to give back to camp and build experience serving on a community board?
The Ramah Leadership Initiative (RLI) is back and accepting applications now! Scan the QR code to learn more and apply!
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Alumni Camp
Alumni Camp 2025 was a wonderful success! From Friday night tefillot (prayers) to an island swim, mini “Yom Sport,” and kikar dancing, participants took advantage of so many camp activities and enjoyed each other’s company in the gorgeous Northwoods. Highlights included learning more about the evolution of camp, hearing from Israeli mishlachat (staff members) about their experiences on October 7 and since, and discovering how to leverage the Ramah network beyond the confines of camp. Our alumni left feeling a renewed connection to camp and each other, and we look forward to welcoming them again in future summers!
Join us for Alumni Camp 2026! Enjoy a fantastic weekend with your peers including Yom Sport, Shabbat on the kikar, and hear a State of Camp update from Jacob Cytryn. Scan the QR code for more info. Registration opens in early 2026.
We are constantly inspired by the paths our former campers and staff take in life, and we would love to hear your story. Whether you’re a recent graduate or a longtime professional, your experiences since your camp days can inspire the next generation of campers. If you’re willing to share your story or even participate in a brief informational interview for an alumni profile, please scan this QR code.
RAMAH CONNECT
Ramah Connect is your gateway to vintage camp photos and memories—plus recordings of camp musicals! It’s also great for professional networking across the vast Ramah Wisconsin alumni base and for reconnecting with old friends through the alumni directory. Join today to stay connected at ramahconnect. com or by downloading the Ramah Connect app.
Here’s an update from around the Ramah community through October 2025.
ENGAGEMENTS MARRIAGES
Lauren Grossman (Nivo 1994 and Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations) and Jason Dubner
Shira Lehmann and Max Davis (Nivo 2008)
Leah Segal (Nivo 2009) and Marcus D’Alfonso
Dani Marx (Nivo 2010) and David Kaplan
Einav Moshe (Staff 2010s) and Omri Nataf
Sadie Hurwitz and Max Alper (Nivo 2013)
Shoshi Fischman (Nivo 2013) and Ryan Doyle
Sarah Parkes and Ethan Goldberg (Nivo 2013)
Ellie Goldstein (Nivo 2013) and Ruthie Charendoff
Dina Greenberg (Nivo 2013 and Ramah Day Camp Assistant Director) and Evan Kedjidjian
Elly Kushner (Nivo 2013) and Evan Gorstein (Nivo 2012)
Elana Levine (Nivo 2013) and Eric
ENGAGEMENTS
Noa Okner (Nivo 2015) and Jonah Rose (Nivo 2015)
Dena Rosen (Nivo 2016) and Max Pivo (Nivo 2016)
Rotem Azar (Staff 2020s) and Itay Vanunu
Noa Kligfeld (Staff 2020s) and Ethan Less (Nivo 2017)
MARRIAGES
Rachel Tannenbaum (Nivo 2003) and Dr. Robbie Kavitt (Nivo 1996)
Christina Coons and Adam Margolis (Nivo 1996)
Elana Kravitz (Nivo 2008) and Kobe Lewin
Stephanie Brill (Nivo 2010) and Shane Kovalsky
Abby Kozberg (Nivo 2011) and Yoni Hirsch (Nivo 2011)
Tova Perlman (Nivo 2011) and Caleb Sutton
Liza Bernstein (Staff 2010s) and Ari Vandersluis (Nivo 2011)
Laura Hietamies and Jacob Hirshman (Nivo 2012)
Melissa Fellman and Elliot Slovis (Nivo 2012)
Alana Spellman (Nivo 2012) and Sydney Kay Ari Weinstein (Nivo 2012) and Forrest Yesnes
Elissa Hoffman (Nivo 2014) and Max Shafer-Landau
Samantha Brody (Nivo 2017) and Eitan Marks
Vered Ben-Gideon (Nivo 2018) and Micah Symons
Gail Schneiderman and Sam Sussman (Staff 2010s)
BIRTHS
Elana Slutsky (Nivo 1999) and Levi Smith – Tzofia Or Rebecca (Landis) (Nivo 2001) and Corey Derdiger – Nathaniel Boaz
Tamar Green (Nivo 2002) and Ben Hofkin (Nivo 2000) –Anafa Shalva
Tamara Frankel and Rabbi Zach Silver (Nivo 2003) – Rakefet Or
Please send life cycle updates and professional announcements to alumni@ramahwisconsin.com and check out alumni.ramahwisconsin.com for an alumni directory, update form, new baby onesie form and more.
BIRTHS
Lora Slutsky (Nivo 2005) and Noah Liebman – Aryeh Tzvi
Elana Abraham (Nivo 2006) and Josh Pomeranz (Nivo 2004) – Shai Abraham
Rebecca Rapport (Nivo 2006) and Miguel Verdego – Felix Armando
Dani (Wolf) (Nivo 2008) and Dan Weiss (Nivo 2007) – Michaela Devin
Emily Silber and Danny Mann (Nivo 2008) – Lev Jacob
Shani Bocian and Josh Steinberg (Nivo 2008) – Jack
Teri McGuire and Aaron Fineberg (Nivo 2009) –Dori Devora
Kat and Jeff Budweg (Nivo 2010) – Benjamin Jay
Rachel Zeman (Nivo 2010) and Charlie Felsenthal – Chloe Blake
Miranda Smerling (Nivo 2011) and Jason Gaines – Levi Gray
GENERAL UPDATES
Mazel Tov to Daniel Rosen (Nivo 1981) on being confirmed as the next US attorney for the state of Minnesota.
Mazel Tov to Ben Azulay (Nivo 1990) for recently being named President of Brokerage Services at Bradford Allen.
Mazel tov to Rabbi Micah Peltz (Nivo 1995) on being honored by Temple Beth Sholom in Cherry Hill, NJ for 18 years of service.
Mazel tov to Josh Awend (Nivo 1996) for being recognized by the Minneapolis Jewish Federation as Volunteer of the Year.
Mazal tov to Gabe Chasnoff (Nivo 1997) on receiving several Shorty Impact Awards for his documentary blog series, “The Ripple Effect,” produced for Safer Sacramento.
Mazel Tov to Joel Goldsmith (Nivo 1997) on starting a new position as Senior Category Manager – Commodities and Ingredients at Kerry.
Our Sincere Condolences
To the family of Frances Wein (Staff 1940s) who passed away in May 2025.
Mazel tov to Rabbi Adam Berman (Nivo 2006) on his new position at Congregation B’nai Jacob in Charleston, WV.
Mazel tov Josh Weintraub (Nivo 2006) on his new position as VP of Sales for the Chicago market at ADP.
Mazel tov to Aaron Fineberg (Nivo 2009) on his new position as Assistant Director of Advancement at Ramah Poconos.
Mazel Tov to Jon Ribnick (Nivo 2009) on starting a new position as Partner at Open Season Financial Services.
Mazel tov to Alex Harris (Nivo 2013) and Adam Seidenberg (Nivo 2009) for being named as part of JUF’s 36 under 36.
Mazal tov to Assistant Director Dr. Adina Beiner on being named as a Wexner Davidson Fellow.
Mazal tov to Whitney Fisch (Staff 2020s) on her new role as Chief Program Officer at the Mayerson JCC in Cincinnati.
Mazal tov to Camp Ramah in Wisconsin Board Member Joel Brown on being elected to serve as Board Chair of The Forward.
To the family of Halyse Cole (Ramah Day Camp Staff 2010s) who passed away in June 2025.
To the family of Eunice (Adelman) Clavner (First Decade Camper) who passed away in August 2025.
To the family of Todd Clauer (Staff 2010s) who passed away in August 2025.
To the family of Deena Sue (Heifetz) Borzak (Nivo 1975) who passed away in September 2025.
To the family of Kayla Fishbein (Tikvah Camper 2011-2012) who passed away in September 2025.
To the family of Bernie Goldblatt (Father of Ramah Day Camp Director Talia Derman) who passed away in November 2025.
To the family of Rabbi Mark Elovitz (First Decade Camper) who passed away in November 2025.
House of Calm:
A Quiet Space to Recharge
Lauren Fleischman, Director of Camp Wellness and Inclusion
Dina Greenberg, Assistant Director of Ramah Day Camp
Building on a shared vision of holistic camper care, Camp Ramah in Wisconsin and Ramah Day Camp are deepening our collaboration to expand inclusion support for both campers and staff. By broadening our continuum of care, we strive to ensure that campers feel seen, supported, and set up to thrive in our joyful, vibrant community.
At the heart of this work is Beit Roga, the “House of Calm,” which has become a central hub for grounding, connection, and emotional regulation at both camps. Now in its second year at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, Beit Roga offers a structured, yet soothing environment filled with sensory tools, calm corners, and cozy nooks where campers can reset and recharge before returning to the energy of camp life.
At Ramah Day Camp, Beit Roga was launched in Summer 2025 and immediately became a vital resource. This dedicated, air-conditioned space offers campers and staff a quiet moment away from the group, providing a place to cool down, breathe, reflect, and regain the energy needed to fully participate. In both settings, Beit Roga is intentionally designed to be accessible to everyone, reinforcing the important message that taking a break is healthy and encouraged.
Integral to Beit Roga’s
success is our team of inclusion specialists and yoetzim (camper care professionals), who anchor our approach to camper care across the organization. With expertise in psychology, behavioral health, social work, and education, these professionals serve as compassionate guides who partner closely with campers, staff, and families. Increasingly, their role includes empowering counselors by offering real-time guidance, modeling supportive strategies, and helping young leaders build the confidence and skills needed to navigate the complexities of community living.
Both Camp Ramah in Wisconsin and Ramah Day Camp approach camper care through a shared lens, rooted in our core value of Shiluv (inclusion). We support campers as whole individuals, celebrate their growth, and provide the tools and accommodations necessary for each camper to feel included, connected, and successful. Our evolving work in inclusion and wellness reflects our ongoing commitment to cultivating a camp environment where each child and staff member can shine.
Beit Roga at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin (left) and Ramah Day Camp (right)
Talia Derman, Director
Dina Greenberg, Assistant Director
A Collection of Extraordinary Moments
Each morning at Ramah Day Camp in Chicagoland begins with a familiar energy. Laughter spills from the buses, songs float across the kikar (central field) and there’s that unmistakable feeling that something special is about to unfold. As the day moves from activity to activity, we’re reminded that the real magic of camp isn’t always in the big moments, but in the quiet, everyday ones that often go unnoticed.
A camper stands at the edge of the pool, nervous but determined, and finally jumps in for the first time. Cheers erupt from friends, counselors, and lifeguards who have been encouraging them all week. Another camper beams with pride after making pesto pasta in bishul (outdoor cooking), already planning to cook it for their family at home that weekend. A counselor kneels beside a camper having a tough
morning, offering patience and kindness until the tears fade and the smile returns.
All around camp, these small but meaningful moments happen again and again. A group learns a new game at sport, growing more confident and supportive with each try. Laughter fills the chadar ochel (dining hall) when someone starts an impromptu dance party. During tefillah (prayers), a quiet settles as voices rise together fo r Oseh Shalom, the sound carrying both joy and peace. On Yom Yisrael (Israel Day), campers explore Israeli culture through games, music, and food, finding their own unique connection to a place that feels both far away and deeply personal.
Friday afternoons are some of our favorite times at camp. Campers and staff gather by the Beit Etz (tree house) for Shabbat Shira (singing), voices coming together as we prepare to welcome Shabbat through song, music, community (and even a few bubbles!). In that moment, you can feel the heart of Ramah: a simple, shared sense of joy, belonging, and connection to something bigger than ourselves.
What makes these moments so powerful is how they continue to
spread beyond the summer. Parents tell us their children lead Birkat Hamazon (grace after meals) at dinner, teach siblings Hebrew words, or even play camp in their backyard during the school year. Those stories remind us that the lessons of kindness, resilience, curiosity, and Jewish identity don’t stay within our campgrounds. They travel home in every friendship, song, smile, and memory.
This summer reaffirmed something we’ve always felt: Ramah Day Camp is more than a place. It’s a collection of moments, big and small, that shape who we are. Every day, our campers and staff show what it means to live our values with pride, intention, and care for one another.
As we look ahead to another summer, our hope is that we continue to notice and celebrate these small, magical moments. At our core, it’s those everyday sparks, the laughter on the kikar, the pure happiness in a camper’s smile, and the feeling of togetherness during Shabbat Shira that make Ramah Day Camp the extraordinary community we’re all so proud of.
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin
Introduction
Ruach Ramah
(entering 3rd-5th grades)
Ruach Ramah A: June 15 – 21 or June 15 – 28
Ruach Ramah B: July 13 – 19 or July 13 – 26
Exploration Garinim & Halutzim
(entering 4th-5th) (entering 6th)
First Session: June 15 – July 9
Second Session: July 13 – August 6
Full Season: June 15 – August 6 Full Experiences Solelim, Shoafim, Bogrim, Machon & Nivonim (entering 7th-11th)
