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National Ramah Commission, Inc. of The Jewish Theological Seminary

February 7, 2011

 3 Adar I 5771

Ramah News from Afghanistan, the Colorado Rockies, and Israel
:: Jewish Outdoor Leadership Institute (JOLI) Launches at Ramah Outdoor Adventure
:: TRY (Tichon Ramah Yerushalayim) and USY High Begin 2011 Semester of Study in Israel
:: Ramah Galil Ride to Raise Funds for Ramah's Special Needs Programs
:: From Camp Ramah in the Poconos to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan
:: Ramah Introduces "Shabbos Is Calling" Program for Campers with Special Needs
:: Purchase the New Book Ramah at 60: Impact and Innovation
:: Donate to Ramah Camps and Israel Programs

Jewish Outdoor Leadership Institute  (JOLI) Launches at
Ramah Outdoor Adventure

Program will train teens to become
inspiring Jewish outdoor leaders
 

Ramah Outdoor Adventure, the only kosher outdoor adventure camp in North America with an intensive Jewish educational program, is launching a new initiative: The Jewish Outdoor Leadership Institute, or "JOLI" for short. Focusing mainly on wilderness adventure activities, JOLI will be a new training center to empower rising 11th and 12th graders to become inspiring Jewish outdoor leaders. JOLI participants will split their time between the Ramah in the Rockies base camp and hiking trips to Western national forests and national parks.
 

Ramah Outdoor Adventure

 

JOLI is an outgrowth of Ramah Outdoor Adventure, the newest camp in the Ramah Camping Movement. Opened in 2010, Ramah Outdoor Adventure has created a community for campers to benefit from intense outdoor adventure activities and meaningful environmental educational while living in an inspirational Jewish community.

 

Read more

Tichon Ramah Yerushalayim (TRY) and USY High Begin
2011 Semester of Study in Israel

by Rabbi Mitchell Cohen,
National Ramah Director
 


I am thrilled to report that 44 enthusiastic students just began a semester of study in Israel at TRY and USY High, programs of the Ramah Jerusalem High School. The feeling at Newark Airport Sunday night was electric, as tearful parents said goodbye to their 10th, 11th, or 12th graders who would be spending the next 2 (USY High) or 4 (TRY) months studying in Israel, learning to love Israel in new ways, and experiencing incredible personal growth by being abroad, independent of parents, and making new friends.

TRY at AirportAmong the 44 participants, 23 are from our Ramah camps (Berkshires-2, California-2, Canada-5, Darom-1, New England-6, Poconos-6, Wisconsin-1). There are 21 USYers overall, and in total, 14 are both USYers and Ramah campers. As is generally the case, most of the participants (34) are in 10th grade. We also have nine 11th graders and one 12th grader.

Ramah Galil Ride
to Raise Funds for Ramah's

Special Needs Programs


Click here to donate to Ramah's special needs programs or to get more information
about the Ramah Galil Ride 2011.

Ramah Galil Ride logo

From Camp Ramah in the Poconos to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan
 
by CAPT (Rabbi) Irving A. Elson
Wing Chaplain, 3D Marine Aircraft Wing


CAPT (Rabbi) Irving ElsonWhat do these two "camps" have in common? Well, me, for one! While I never was fortunate enough to attend Camp Ramah growing up, I was a staff member at Camp Ramah in the Poconos for three years, first as a "mumckhe" and then as a counselor.

Now, over 30 years later, as I get ready to deploy to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, as a military chaplain, I look back at my "other" Camp experience and appreciate those invisible lines of connection between the two. I received three special gifts from Camp Ramah.

Ramah gave me the gift of the outdoors. For me, Ramah was one of the first places where I saw Judaism in action in an outdoor setting. ...

The second gift I received was the gift of love, having met my wife my third summer at Ramah. There is a lot said, I'm sure, about Ramah couples, ...

Finally, Ramah gave me the gift of community. ... As I visit my Jewish marines and sailors in combat zones and deployed ships at sea, I carry that lesson with me. ...

Thank you, Ramah, for these wonderful gifts!

Ramah Introduces
"Shabbos Is Calling" Program for Campers with Special Needs

 

"Shabbos Is Calling," a new Ramah initiative, is helping children, teens, and young adults with special needs in Camp Ramah's Tikvah programs connect socially year-round, minimizing the loneliness and isolation they often feel. With the support of the Ruderman Family Foundation, campers have the unique opportunity to link up through video conferencing and sing Shabbat songs, hear stories of weekly Torah portions, and share memories with their Ramah friends. This program, which will include four Ramah camps--New England, California, Wisconsin, and Canada--provides an invaluable social outlet that will truly benefit these campers' lives.

Purchase the New Book
Ramah at 60: Impact and Innovation

  

Ramah at 60

 

Click here to view the table of contents

 

Click here to purchase Ramah at 60

 

Donate to Ramah Camps
and Israel Programs


Click here to make a donation to the National Ramah Commission, or to any of the Ramah camps and Israel programs.

Donate to Ramah

www.campramah.org