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Breira
B'Ramah at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires
The NY Metropolitan
Region of the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs
 New
York Metro Region [Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs] under the
leadership of Stanley Stern, immediate past president, decided that we
needed a project that would be meaningful and ongoing. We always
supported Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, but we wanted to do something
that would make a difference.
We
looked at the Tikvah programs. There already existed a Ramah for the
physically handicapped, and for the deaf. We decided on a program that
would assist those children with special needs, i.e. ADHD, and other
socialization problems.
NY
Metro approached Rabbi Paul Resnick with our idea, and after many
meetings they told us: Your raise $100,000 and the program would get
under way. And so was born "Breira B'Ramah."
 "Breira"
means choice, and we would now be able to offer those children a place
where they could participate in the Camp Ramah experience, without
having to be sent home.
All
the NY Metro clubs have been very supportive of this project. Through
the generosity of Anne Berman and Fay Tomick, we were able to raise
the funds necessary to get started. Ramah in the Berkshires realized
$125,000. NY Metro contributed another $5,000 towards the hiring of
the special staff required to work with the children, and we are
developing a fund that will assist families to pay for the tuition at
camp.
Many
clubs use the Breira project as a fundraiser in and of itself. Other
contribute monies raised from the regional raffles, and other
fundraisers they have.
This
will be an ongoing project for the NY Metro, and we will always be
there to help those in need.
A
groundbreaking ceremony was held at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires on
August 3 of this year, and the program should be in full operation for
the summer of 2002.
Breira
B'Ramah Mission Statement
Breira
B'Ramah is a program designed for children with ADHD and other related
learning and social disabilities. The Breira B'Ramah program operates
fully in accordance with the philosophy of Camp Ramah in the
Berkshires, and serves to integrate children with special needs into
the daily routine and program of the Camp. With guidance and support
from qualified staff, the Breira program provides a caring environment
for children who need a modified approach to the typical camp day.
Breira children are guided, supported and nurtured so their  Camp Ramah
experience is as exciting and successful as every camper expects -
with the ultimate goal that many of the children will be
fully-participating members of all camp activities. It is the goal of
Camp Ramah in the Berkshires to serve the needs of yet another group
of Jewish children through the Breira B'Ramah program so that every
Jewish child is allowed to experience the uniqueness of Camp Ramah.
For more information
about Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, visit their web site at www.ramahberkshires.org
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