The Ramah Connection Lives On With Reshet Ramah Ba’Ir
In September 2023, National Ramah launched Reshet Ramah Ba’Ir, a new name for programming for 20s and 30s alumni and friends. Since then, we have hosted 26 events in 7 cities, which have brought together 1,200 collective attendees. Whether an alum has moved across the continent or stayed in a city near their home camp, these programs give Ramahniks the opportunity to celebrate Shabbat and holidays, explore passions, engage in meaningful learning, and provide strength during this challenging year for the Jewish community.
Our best-attended events have taken place on Shabbat, bringing Ramah alumni back to the magic of Shabbat at camp. Our annual Shabbat Across Ramah in November 2023, which was Nourished by OneTable, brought 438 young adults to Shabbat dinner tables across North America. Challah bakes and havdalah ceremonies have connected community-members to additional Shabbat rituals.
“Gathering in the vibrant Ramah community during this time of uncertainty and pain for the Jewish community was powerful, meaningful, and reassuring. From tasty food to new friends and Shabbat Zmirot, it was a Shabbat filled with Ramah Ruach.”
“After getting drinks and schmoozing, my friend led havdalah. We crowded in a tight huddle and said our goodbyes to Shabbat. It was so intimate and spirited…The positive feedback and thankful messages I received following the event filled me with joy, and I cannot wait for more programming.”
Sukkot, Hanukkah, and Purim festivities have also brought hundreds of alumni to celebrate with their Ramah mishpacha (family). An LA Hanukkah Party in December 2023 drew alumni from Ramah California, the local camp, as well as alumni of other camps and friends of Ramah who live in the city.
“There were people from a range of different years, so there was lots of mingling with new friends and reuniting with old ones. We had wine, latkes, sufganiyot, and snacks. We lit the Hanukkah candles together, and we had a really nice night with lots of Hanukkah music too, of course.”
“It was an absolute pleasure connecting with fellow Ramahniks in LA. Looking forward to hopefully attending more events in the future!”
Reshet Ramah Ba’Ir offers networking and meetings with distinguished Ramah alumni. In February 2024, Ramahniks in Atlanta took a tour of The Distillery of Modern Art with its founder, Seth Watson, an alum of Ramah New England and Ramah Darom.
Learning, such an important part of what happens in Ramah camps, continues for our alumni. Reshet Ramah Ba’Ir in New York City partnered with Israel Policy Forum and B'nai Jeshurun for a nuanced Ask Me Anything session about the war in Israel and Gaza with an Israel policy expert. In Boston, Ramah alumni gathered at Lehrhaus: A Jewish Tavern and House of Learning to study Torah over noshes and drinks with a Hadar faculty member.
Reshet Ramah Ba’Ir, like many other Ramah programs, nurtures the leadership of the lay coordinators who organize these programs.
“My first year as a Reshet Ramah Ba’Ir coordinator has been a blast. At each event, it’s so clear that camp energy remains in all of us, and I love creating opportunities for alumni to tap into it. For many of us, camp is our favorite place to connect with Judaism, and it’s awesome to maintain that connection through the alumni network after many summers away.”
“Being a Ramah Ba’ir Coordinator has been such a fun way to continue my connection to Ramah into young adulthood. It’s been such a gift to meet Ramahniks from all of the camps at events and get to make new versions of camp friends in the city!”
