How Camp Experiences and Relationships Helped Me Transition to a Corporate Setting

After celebrating my Bar Mitzvah in June 1998, I joined the first ever session of “Taste of Tikvah” at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, which laid the foundation for six wonderful summers in the Tikvah Program. During this time I made many lifelong friends from the fellow campers, counselors and Israeli Shlichim that I interacted with. In 2004, I was lucky enough to participate in the new Atzmayim Tikvah Vocational Program, which enables former campers to learn independent living skills and get vocational training. In my role, I worked in the camp’s kitchen, where I helped stock and organize the necessary items, clean appliances, serve food to the guest tables, and help the chefs with food preparation.

Tikvah/Special Needs, Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterJuly 31, 2014Tikvah, Voc-Ed, Wisconsin

Ramah Stands with Israel

“This summer my head is here at Camp Ramah, but my heart is at home in Israel.”

– Nava Isseroff, Ramah Poconos Shlicha and Rosh Mayim

Members of the Ramah community are deeply concerned about the current fighting in Israel, and are struggling to cope with the situation on many levels. Three groups immediately come to mind.

Blog/Reflections, Israel and HebrewNRC WebmasterJuly 23, 2014Israel, Mitch Cohen, Summer 2014

JTS Leaders Reflect on Visits to Ramah

"Ramah is perhaps the best incubator for passionate, modern traditional Judaism. We need more and more of our young people attending existing camps and we need to seek ways to build new ones."- JTS Chancellor Arnold Eisen

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterJuly 18, 2014JTS, Summer 2014

Getting Over My Fear of Sending My Daughter with Special Needs to Sleepaway Camp

For most parents, the decision to send their children to sleepaway camp is made with little hesitation. But whenever my husband and I considered sending our youngest child, we balked.

Tikvah/Special Needs, Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterJuly 17, 2014Tikvah, Summer 2014, Canada

JTS Chancellor Eisen Inspires Ramah Campers and Staff; Instills Conservative Jewish Pride

I was privileged to travel with JTS Chancellor Arnold Eisen to Conover, Wisconsin, this past Shabbat, where he served as scholar in residence, speaking with many groups of staff as well as Nivonim, the oldest campers. In a packed staff lounge (“the Kopin”) Friday night, Chancellor Eisen made a powerful case for why he is a proud Conservative Jew, and why the teachings and theology of Conservative Judaism are authentic and dynamic for so many modern Jews (whether or not they actively affiliate). He gave some very specific advice regarding improving our communities in synagogues, on campus, and in our camps and schools. As he often states, “Ramah is perhaps the best incubator for passionate, modern traditional Judaism. We need more and more of our young people attending existing camps and we need to seek ways to build new ones.”

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterJuly 16, 2014Wisconsin, Mitch Cohen, JTS, Summer 2014

Jewish Camp: Building Relationships and Identity

As a young student at a Jewish Day School, I would come home almost every day feeling like I had grown Jewishly. I would learn a new prayer, a new tradition or a new explanation. For many students, June is where the learning stopped. It took a hiatus until late August when school started up again. But for me, June is where the learning really started.

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterJuly 15, 2014Canada

How Jewish Summer Camp Sparked My Love of Science

Today, I am a licensed acupuncturist practicing in Northbrook. Being an acupuncturist is about helping people to be at their healthiest, and there was never a time when I felt healthier and more spiritual than when I was at Camp Ramah, and to me, being healthy and spiritual are synonymous.

Blog/Reflections, Ramah in the News, AlumniNRC WebmasterJuly 7, 2014Wisconsin

4 Camps in 5 Days

What a privilege it is to visit our camps! My summer travel began this week with a visit to four camps in five days, all sources of great inspiration.

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterJune 27, 2014Mitch Cohen, Summer 2014, Nyack, Berkshires, New England, Darom

Coming Together As One

When you’re a counselor working with campers who have disabilities, you’re always on the lookout for new ways and activities to help engage the campers under your charge. There is no better way to pick up these new tips and tricks than to spend time exchanging information and experiences with other counselors who work with the same population. This is precisely what I did during the last week of May at the National Ramah Spring Leadership Training Conference at Ramah Darom in Clayton, Georgia. I spent the week collaborating with and learning from counselors from other camps all over the country who also work with campers with disabilities.