NRC is committed to nurturing the leadership pipeline through our movement-wide staff training programs, which equip young individuals with the skills necessary to assume leadership roles both within the Ramah Camping Movement and throughout the broader Jewish community.

 

Watch: Leadership Opportunities with Ramah

 

Bert B. Weinstein Leadership Institute
January 5–8, 2023, Ramah California

In January 2023, six cohorts came together to develop leadership skills and share best practices with over 30 year-round Ramah professionals from across the movement. The tracks included the Bert B. Weinstein Institute for Counselor Training (returning counselors), the Vatikim Leadership Institute (veteran staff), Ramah Service Corps, Ramah College Network, Vocational Training, and Rashei Edot (unit heads). See full program guide here.

Participants were excited to welcome special guests from outside Ramah. Dr. Jeff Kress, provost of The Jewish Theological Seminary, delivered a keynote session about how to become a Jewish values coach. Rabbi Leandro Galanternik of the Pincus Center of the Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano joined as well, further strengthening Ramah's connections with Latin American Jewish communities.

After their time ended in Ramah California, the vatikim, rashei edot, Ramah College Network Fellows, and Ramah Service Corps Fellows explored two innovative Jewish communities in Los Angeles: Beit T'shuvah, an addiction recovery center and congregation; and IKAR, a modern vision of an inclusive and justice-focused synagogue. 

The next day, this same group participated in a Disney Imagination Campus program at the Disney California Adventure Park. This seminar, designed in collaboration with Ramah, explored how Disney lmagineers engage all five senses to create immersive environments.

 
 
“Something special happens when you have a room full of dedicated madrichim and people choosing to devote time during their winter break to thinking and caring about camp. The conversations that happen organically between like-minded people from different camps — the sharing of ideas, experiences, and values — are so inspiring and exciting. Seeing so many people who care this much and have so much to offer to their camps in January gives me so much hope and enthusiasm for the coming summer and the future of the Ramah movement as well”
— Liana Slomka, Ramah Darom

Louis & Shoshanah Winer Institute for Rosh Edah Training
May 22–24, 2023, Ramah Nyack

This year's Louis and Shoshanah Winer Institute for Rosh Edah Training brought together 31 participants from 10 different Ramah camps at Ramah Day Camp in Nyack. Winer is our signature training program for first-time and vatik (veteran) rashei edot.

Participants appreciated the opportunity to gain intensive training in preparation for their roles as leaders, educators, supervisors, and care providers. They discussed important topics such as structuring meaningful tefillot, balancing their role as a mentor and colleague, inclusion, logistics at camp, and more. 

Rashei edot also had the chance to discuss current events taking place in Israel with Dr. Yizhar Hess, the vice chair of the World Zionist Organization. Dr. Hess answered questions about the judicial reform and protests taking place in Israel at the time, and provided valuable insights to assist in planning Israel programming for the summer. In addition, participants met with National Ramah Director Amy Skopp Cooper to discuss safe and healthy community-building. These in-depth conversations focused on being an upstander to preserve a culture of consent, and on actively prioritizing inclusion across a diverse spectrum of identities.

“Having so many amazing tzevet leaders in one place is such a unique opportunity to feel the power of Ramah in all of its different forms from all of its different locations. Meeting these future Roshim and hearing their goals allowed me to envision the kind of tzevet leader I want to be at Ramah this kayitz.”
— Eli Mars, Ramah California

Mishlachat Training Seminar
April 20–23, 2023, Israel

More than 30 Ramah professionals from North America gathered at Kibbutz Shefayim for an intensive training session to prepare over 300 shlichot and shlichim for their roles at camp. During this program, they received comprehensive training in various topics, including camper care, Ramah’s core values, and the profound impact of shlichut. The training program was a collaborative effort with the dedicated staff of the Jewish Agency, fostering a dynamic and enriching experience for all participants.

Maslul Educational Trips 

Maslul educational trips provide impactful international travel, learning, and service opportunities to our young staff returning to camp.

Maslul Argentina: From December 19–28, 2022, our group of 11 Maslul Argentina senior counselors representing seven different Ramah camps, and two National Ramah staff members had an extraordinary experience that combined work at a Jewish summer camp outside of Buenos Aires, meaningful service in the historic Jewish communities of Entre Rios, and time in the vibrant city of Buenos Aires, home to the largest Jewish community in Latin America.

“Maslul Argentina deepened my understanding and widened my perspective on Jewish life and culture globally. Experiencing both familiar and unfamiliar traditions on a completely new continent to me was truly a beautiful and inspiring experience.”
— Nitzan Bochner Loewenberg, Ramah Galim

Maslul Yisrael: Our Maslul Yisrael 2023 cohort of 18 senior counselors spent May 15–21 engaged in deep learning with the Shalom Hartman Institute. They studied texts together in chevruta, took eye-opening tours of East Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, cooked Jewish foods, met Israeli shlichim working at our camps this summer, and practiced leading Israel-related activities.

“Programs like this continue to show me how passionate I am about both Jewish and Israel education and remind me how much more there is for me to learn. I am excited to bring what I learned back to camp this kayitz and to continue learning more!”
— DJ Mevorah, Ramah Nyack

Kerem Young Professionals Cohort
April 17–19, 2023, Berlin and Israel

Kerem is an intensive leadership development program for year-round young Ramah professionals working at all of our camps. It is designed to deepen Jewish knowledge and build professional skills. In addition to monthly meetings, this year's cohort gathered for a professional conference in November 2022 and traveled together to Berlin and Israel in April 2023. In Berlin, they saw firsthand how a Jewish community rebuilds itself after tragedy. They encountered the vitality of Masorti Judaism with visits to the Oranienburger Strasse Synagogue and the Masorti International School. They learned how the Berlin Jewish community has welcomed and embraced refugees coming to Berlin from Ukraine. And they commemorated Yorn HaShoah with visits to physical memorials and remembrance ceremonies. They then traveled to Israel together to help lead training for the 300+ shlichim and shlichot working at the camps over the summer.

“It was extremely valuable to meet regularly and build a relationship with Ariella Moss Peterseil, the Director of Ramah California. She has shared the story of her professional journey, insights about working with the Ramah California community, and about managing a team. Additionally, I have reflected with her on my own professional experiences as I consider my long-term career trajectory. I am grateful that I have been able to connect both in person and virtually with Ariella several times this year through the Kerem Mentorship Program.”
— Adina Scheinberg, Program Director, National Ramah Commission

TikvahNet Vocational Training and Socialization

During the 2022-2023 year, our online TikvahNet programming for Ramah Tikvah participants and alumni continued with over 20 sessions and 40-50 regular participants each session. Our talented group leaders facilitated large and small group programming with topics including mindfulness, meditation, baking and cooking sessions, improv and drama activities, and Jewish holiday celebrations. Some of the programs were led by guest speakers and included enlightening insights shared by a rabbi in South America and an inspiring discussion about a pet care business that employs adults with disabilities. Participants and their families  continue to provide positive feedback about TikvahNet:

“I really feel comfortable when I attend TikvahNet programs. It’s special to know that there are a lot of campers at Ramah camps that have special needs and that the camps have programs for the special needs participants.”
— Participant
 
 
“This Ramah program is important because it recognizes the next phase and challenges our children will meet as they are/will approach adulthood....and the socialization with others is important and stressed.”
— Parent

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Twenty-eight college students received Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) certification through either virtual or in-person training.

Rabbi Alexander M. Shapiro Fellowship 

Eleven Shapiro Fellows worked at seven different Ramah camps in summer 2023, teaching children, crafting innovative curricula, and inspiring love for Israel and the Jewish people.

Songleader Boot Camp (SLBC)

Twenty-six members of the Ramah community participated in SLBC, enhancing their music, tefillah, and leadership skills.

Ramah Service Corps (RSC) Fellows

Between September 2022 and June 2023, 118 RSC Fellows developed and implemented 300 programs that reached 3,000 individuals. Fellows ran Shabbat activities, including our movement-wide Shabbat Across Ramah, led tefillot (prayer services), served as madrichim (leaders) in a variety of settings, planned Wear Your Ramah T-Shirt day activities, organized dance and music programs, participated in Purim carnivals, joined community events (leading activities), ran recruitment events, and were known as strong Ramah connectors at key communal gatherings. With ongoing mentorship and training, the fellowship nurtures the growth of a new generation of Jewish leaders, empowering them to make a lasting impact on Jewish educational outreach.