The 2020 National Ramah Weinstein Winter Leadership Conference
For the 130 attendees of this year’s National Ramah Weinstein Winter Leadership Training Conference, last weekend was a chance to be in an immersive Ramah environment for four days, and remind themselves why they are so strongly committed to their role as madrichim (counselors).
Hosted at Camp Ramah in Ojai, California, our participants felt inspired by their time reconnecting with friends from their own camps and sharing in traditions from the 13 Ramah summer camps and Israel programs represented, learning both from their peers and from senior leaders from across our movement. (Click here to view the program for the conference.)
“What I loved most about this weekend was the chance to spend time understanding the mission of Ramah as an organization. I have always felt the goals and successes of Ramah Darom close to my heart, but this weekend made me feel like what Ramah is doing may be one of the most important efforts in modern Jewish America.”
The four intensive days of the conference, January 2-5, featured several tracks, including the Bert B. Weinstein Institute for Counselor Training for college freshmen, as well as training for counselors of the Tikvah (campers with disabilities) program, Vatikim (veteran staff)), and Ramah College Network coordinators. In addition to gaining professional development through sessions with Ramah professionals, cohorts of rashei edah (division heads) and year-round Ramah Service Corps Fellows helped develop components of the Weinstein program and led their own sessions. Attendees at this year’s conference also included camp directors, assistant directors, and other members of the Ramah year-round team.
Participants were particularly inspired by sharing a Ramah Shabbat in the middle of the year. In addition to a typical tefilah, attendees participated in a learner’s minyan, led by National Director Rabbi Mitch Cohen; Tikvah Tefilah catering to different learning styles organized by Ramah Poconos Tikvah director Orlee Krass; a service for day camp and young children led by Ramah Nyack director Rabbi Ami Hersh; and a musical tefilah experience led by Michael Harlow from Ramah in the Rockies.
Shabbat also marked an important milestone in the modern Jewish world of Talmud study. Daf Yomi - the 7½-year cycle of studying one page of Talmud each day - restarted over the weekend, with Ramah Berkshires rosh edah Noam Kornsgold and Ramah Berkshires Director Rabbi Ethan Linden completing their full cycle of learning the Babylonian Talmud. They each delivered a moving Dvar Torah on Shabbat morning detailing their journeys, inspiring 30 eager Weinstein participants to begin the 2,711-day Daf Yomi cycle together by attending Rabbi Linden’s Sunday shiur (lesson) on page one of Berakhot, the first Talmudic tractate.
“Joining Ethan and Noam for their siyum of Daf Yomi and then beginning the cycle with them was a privilege. I left feeling inspired to strengthen my commitment to Jewish learning both for myself and so that I can better lead my chanichim and tzevet.”
Reshet Ramah, the Ramah alumni network, has also launched an online community of Daf Yomi learners, growing to over 700 members in time to begin the new study cycle.
The leadership institute featured several distinct program tracks. The Bert B. Weinstein Institute is Ramah’s signature counselor training and leadership program for incoming senior counselors. Participants worked with Ramah leadership and senior staff to hone critical skills, enhance programming, and share best practices from across the Ramah movement. The Bert B. Weinstein Institute constituted the largest contingent of the gathering, with nearly 60 participants representing staff talent from Ramah camps across North America.
“Seeing how different camps run, and more importantly, meeting various Ramahniks from across the country, reminded me why I keep coming back to camp and how invested I am in the future of Conservative Judaism.”
The Vatikim Leadership Institute is Ramah’s newest program designed for experienced senior counselors returning for their third summer on staff. This track focused on more advanced topics of culture-building, staff dynamics, and other leadership development skills.
The Tikvah (disabilities and inclusion) track was led by Orlee Krass, Tikvah Director of Ramah Poconos and lead trainer for the National Ramah Tikvah Network. Participants for the Tikvah track came from several Ramah camps, and focused on strategies and educational methods relating to building daily routines, nurturing independent living skills, collaboration with families, and strengthening inclusion efforts.
For the second time, our winter conference featured training for two tracks of year-round Ramah Fellowship cohorts. Ramah College Network (RCN) coordinators work part-time to develop Ramah community events on their campuses under the guidance and coordination of Reshet Ramah. During the conference, coordinators worked with Ariel Goodman, National Ramah Program Manager and coordinator of the RCN fellowship, to focus on leadership characteristics, goal-setting for next semester, and conversations about effective Israel programming on campus.
“I was truly blown away by the programming and the people I met. I am so motivated for next semester and the events I plan to put on as well as camp this summer. The year-round Ramah staff members and my fellow counselors from all over America truly inspired me.”
Ramah Service Corps (RSC) Fellows work part-time in Jewish educational institutions throughout North America to bring Ramah spirit and energy through experiential programs. RSC Fellows also work with staff in regional Ramah camp offices to assist with local recruitment efforts. RSC Fellows participating in the conference led sessions on holistic Jewish education, teaching Torah through art, Jewish music, staff wellness, and building meaningful routines.
Another group involved in leading the conference is the Kerem cohort. Kerem members are young professionals working primarily as program professionals, representing our different camps. Many Kerem members gained their first exposure to the impact of the Ramah Camping Movement as Weinstein participants, and decided to pursue full time Ramah work after graduating from college. This year, 11 Kerem members attended the conference, leading sessions, developing core components of the Weinstein program, and acting as inspiring mentors to younger Weinstein participants.
“Coming to Weinstein reminded me why I do the work that I do. We are changing the world through Ramah, by developing leaders who value connection, community, and doing the right thing.”
Participants from all cohorts enjoyed the opportunity to learn in elective sessions with blended tracks, with highlights including hearing from panels of veteran rashei edah and year-round staff discussing their leadership trajectory, creating accessible programs for all learning styles, and learning about the business of camp behind-the-scenes. Attendees from all tracks appreciated the opportunity to learn from Rabbi Mitch Cohen, National Ramah Director, and Amy Skopp Cooper, National Ramah Associate Director, over the course of the conference, as well as hear from senior members of the Ramah directorate representing Ramah California, Ramah Berkshires, Ramah Poconos, Ramah Nyack, Ramah Israel Seminar, Ramah Sports Academy, and Ramah in the Rockies.
On Friday, conference participants from all program tracks specialized in areas of interest through a Yom Iyun (a day of intensive study). Electives for the Yom Iyun included: leadership & conflict resolution, experiential Ramah programming, building inclusive communities, Israel programming, and camper care & mental health. During each of these intensives, participants gained insight, advice, and mentorship from Ramah’s year-round professional team and senior directors. The Israel programming track, led by Rav Naama Levitz Applbaum, Director of Ramah Israel Seminar, and Amy Skopp Cooper, was our newest track and left many participants inspired to share their Israel stories at camp this summer.
“I really enjoyed the electives because they allowed me to participate and engage in conversations about topics of interest for me. The sessions were compelling, unique, and powerful. I am glad I took the time to learn at Weinstein, so I can better educate this summer at Ramah.”
Participants also enjoyed coming together and playing new camp games that they are excited to bring back to Ramah this summer. The rashei edah planned high-energy peulot erev (evening activities) that enabled participants to get to know one another, work in teams, and have fun. On Shabbat afternoon, participants were excited to play Anomia, a classic Shabbat afternoon card game adapted with Ramah vocabulary words by members of the National Ramah office.
At the conclusion of the conference in Ojai, the Vatikim, along with rashei edah and year-round Ramah Fellows, spent Sunday exploring innovative Jewish institutional models in Los Angeles - Beit T’shuvah, an addiction recovery center and congregation, and IKAR, a modern vision of an inclusive synagogue community. Participants learned with Rabbi Mark Borovitz and Rabbi David Kasher. On Monday, this group spent the day at a Disneyland Leadership Institute, drawing connections between Disney and Ramah’s shared principles, and discussing methodologies of leadership and teamwork. (Read more)
“Weinstein is a critical point midway between the summers to revive the Ramah spirit, reconvene Ramah leaders, and discuss the future of our movement. It’s the type of program that you can never go to “too many times” because there is always something new to learn about how our camps fit into an ever changing and dynamic world.”
We are thrilled with the success of the 2020 National Ramah Winter Leadership Training Conference, and we look forward to our next Ramah leadership training.