Five Decades of Ramah Directors Singing Himnon Ramah

This past Sunday, February 23, I attended a wonderful Ramah Poconos fundraising dinner, including a silent auction and the honoring of Geoff Menkowitz, current director of Ramah Darom and Avi Orlow of the Foundation for Jewish Camp; Dr. Mark and Ruth Joffe, Ramah Poconos lay leaders and medical director; and Rabbi Arthur “Archie” Ruberg, director of Ramah Poconos from 1976-1980. Over 300 people were in attendance. I have the honor of attending these events at all of our camps from time to time, and I am always moved by the expressions of deep commitment to Ramah and the impact of Ramah on the lives of so many people. This evening, however, was perhaps one of the most memorable, as Archie Ruberg’s speech was truly incredible.

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterFebruary 27, 2014Mitch Cohen, Poconos

Why Our Camps Are Named Ramah

On the second day of Rosh Hashanah, we read the moving haftarah from Jeremiah 31:14, with the following words: “Kol b’Ramah nishma—A voice is heard in Ramah.” Could this be the origin of the name “Camp Ramah,” founded in Conover, Wisconsin, in 1947? I have yet to find a document that discusses the reasons why our founders chose this name; many speculate that this haftarah provides the answer. While we might reject this reference given its context—Rachel weeping for her exiled children, refusing to be comforted—the following verses add consolation and hope: “There is hope for the future, said the Lord, and your children shall return to their borders—v’shavu vanim ligvulam.”

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterOctober 21, 2013National Ramah, Mitch Cohen

The "Post-Kedushah" Test

As I travel among all the Ramah camps and have the privilege of joining many different edot for tefillah, I experience a variety of levels in the quality of the davening. Some of our leaders are better prepared and better trained, and some of our young adults are struggling to learn these new leadership skills.

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterJuly 19, 2013Mitch Cohen, Summer 2013

From Palmer to Eilat: An Inspiring Ramah Spring

The summer camping season at Ramah has not even begun, and yet I have already been privileged to participate in a series of Ramah programs over the last few weeks that have left me truly inspired.

Ramah Pride at the GA in Baltimore

In mid-November, I spent three wonderful days at the GA (Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly) in Baltimore, where I had the chance to see colleagues, meet with funders and supporters, and learn about exciting new ventures in the Jewish world. Throughout my three days at the GA, I was thrilled to see dozens of Ramah alumni representing virtually all areas of Jewish life in significant leadership positions, as well as many of our current summer staff members attending the GA as leaders with Hillel on their campuses.

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterNovember 18, 2012National Ramah, Mitch Cohen

6’8″ Israeli Basketball Player Becomes Bar Mitzvah

Although I love playing basketball with campers and staff when I visit Ramah camps, I was less than thrilled to be guarding a 6’8″ new Israeli sports counselor at Ramah Canada during June staff training week. Needless to say, he scored at will. Little did I realize that a few weeks later I would be attending his bar mitzvah ceremony!

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterJuly 17, 2012Mitch Cohen, Summer 2012

From Krakow to Ojai

As we came to learn during our travels in Poland with Ramah Seminar, and as we discussed repeatedly with our teen participants (110 campers graduating from all the Ramah camps), key Holocaust sites have become magnets for tourism here. On the one hand, we want more people to bear witness to the horrible atrocities committed by the Nazis and their collaborators. On the other hand, we cringe at the mention of Auschwitz as one of many interesting tourist sites in this region.

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterJuly 10, 2012Mitch Cohen, Israel

Experiencing Krakow with Ramah Poland Seminar

This morning, we prayed at the Isaac shul in Krakow. RebIsaac was a poor peasant in 17th century Krakow. He yearned to have enough money to find an appropriate shidduch for his daughter. According to legend, he found a buried treasure and became a most generous community donor, building a beautiful synagogue in Krakow, since known as Reb Isaac’s shul. This magnificent shul thrived for hundreds of years, but was damaged and defaced during the Shoah, when all its congregants were murdered in nearby Auschwitz.

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterJune 29, 2012Mitch Cohen, Israel, Poland, Seminar

Outstanding training week at Ramah Darom (Part 2)

As I wrote yesterday, there has been incredible energy and inspiration here at Ramah Darom during this week of multiple National Ramah staff training programs, including our newest program, Kivun, which this year includes about 12 representatives from our colleagues at URJ camps.

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterMay 23, 2012National Ramah, Mitch Cohen, URJ, Darom