Jacob Bengelsdorf | Darom | New York University
Jake is a senior at New York University studying Business and Political Economy. He is from Nashville, Tennessee and has been going to Ramah Darom since 2011. Jake loves bringing the Ramah ruach to Jewish life at NYU and connecting with other Ramahniks in lower Manhattan. Outside of RCN, Jake is president of the NYU Hillel, serving on the Hillel International Student Cabinet, in NYU’s premier (only) Jewish a cappella group, the NYU Israel Journal, and Hillel laser tag. Jake cannot wait to work with the Ramah community for another year at NYU and the downtown schools!

Nora Feinberg | California | Tulane University
Nora Feinberg is a sophomore at Tulane, where she is double-majoring in Jewish Studies and Musical Theatre and minoring in Sports Leadership and Management. This past summer was Nora’s 10th Ramah kayitz (including Seminar, a Zoom year, and Weinstein), where she was a second-year madricha! Her favorite parts of camp include swimming, Kabbalat Shabbat, and “chilling on the hill.” When she isn’t thinking about Ramah, Nora can be found in her a cappella group (NJBeats), APO, SDT, at hot yoga, or on the stage. She is so excited to bring the Ramah magic to New Orleans this year!

Bracelets for Israel, Rutgers University

On October 16, just after the war in Israel-Gaza began, RCN Coordinator Rachel Z. hosted “Rutgers Bracelets for Israel.” At this event, students made blue and white beaded bracelets to raise money for the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Center. Throughout their time together, Rutgers’ Ramahniks discussed camp and built relationships. This event provided a comforting, stress-relieving environment during a challenging time on campus.

Shabbat Across Ramah

Over November 3-4, 2023, National Ramah held its annual Shabbat Across Ramah weekend. Every RCN Coordinator planned an event for Ramahniks on their campus to celebrate and honor Shabbat together. This included Shabbat dinners, Shabbat lunches, Shabbat onegs, challah bakes, making Shabbat-o-grams, and Havdalah events.

RCN Shabbaton: Responding to Antisemitism

Over the weekend of February 9–11, 19 Ramah campus leaders gathered at Orangetown Jewish Center for a Shabbaton focused on responding to antisemitism. They explored this difficult topic from many angles, including how antisemitism sometimes operates as an invisible oppression, its relationship to anti-Zionism and criticism of Israel, and the powerful role of living joyfully as Jews to combat antisemitism more effectively. Throughout the Shabbaton, our young adults embraced this joyful Judaism engaging in spirited tefillot, uplifting singing, meaningful reflections on personal experiences, and a fun evening at one of the best all-kosher supermarkets in the country.

Reshet Ramah Ba’Ir, our city-based programming for young adults in their 20s and 30s, engaged alumni and friends through impactful gatherings. This year, coordinators organized 26 events across seven cities, engaging 1,200 participants. These programs offered Ramahniks nationwide the chance to celebrate Shabbat and holidays, participate in meaningful learning, and find connection and support during a challenging year for the Jewish community.

Molly Auerbach  |  Los Angeles
Originally from Denver, Colorado, Molly graduated from Emory University in 2020 with degrees in Mathematics and Hebrew. Molly served as the Springboard Innovation Fellow at Hillel at UCLA before joining the Ramah California year-round team as the Program Coordinator. Having spent a semester of college studying abroad in Jerusalem, she has an extreme love for Israel and is passionate about the Ramah kehillah she has formed over the years. Molly has spent 16 incredible summers at camp, five of them as a madricha and two as a Rosh Edah. In her free time, you can find Molly going on her weekly Shabbat walks, busting her moves in rikkud, and uncontrollably laughing. She is so excited to add the responsibility of Reshet Ramah Ba'Ir to her role with Ramah California.

Talia Feldman | New York City
Talia is a nursery school teacher on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. She has spent many summers at Ramah Poconos and one at Ramah Berkshires. She always loves coming together with the Ramah kehillah and can't wait to do so this year in NYC!

This year, we held 45 networking programs, including those specifically connected to Israel. During the events, attendees had the opportunity to hear from expert speakers, participate in interactive workshops and panel discussions, and engage in small group conversations and networking opportunities. The series allowed attendees to build their professional network and develop new skills and strategies.