From Coast to Coast, Celebrating Our Movement’s Growth
Amy Skopp Cooper, CEO, National Ramah Commission, Inc.
Reflections on Kayitz 2024 (as of June 28)
I've been able to celebrate our movement's growth this week while visiting the Ramah Day Camp Greater DC, Camp Ramah in Northern California (Ramah Galim), and Ramah Day Camp LA, our brand-new day camp (and our sixth day camp in North America). These three programs, in addition to our new overnight camp in Israel, now account for over 1,100 children entering the Ramah pipeline—and that is great news.
Ramah Day Camp Greater DC (my grandchildren's summer home!) has grown so rapidly that they have now added a second hub in collaboration with BIG IDEA, an Israel-based technology camp. This new camp program at a beautiful site is designed for children who are interested in computer coding. On the day I visited, fully engrossed campers were working with shlichim (Israeli staff members) as they produced a variety of chagim (holiday)- themed computer games. They were so excited to show me their work, which included many Haman characters and some Sukkot “gamespaces.” When not coding, campers were engaged in sports (Rabbi Jill Levy, the camp director, and I tried our luck at pickleball), swimming, and enjoying everything that Ramah offers. It is wonderful that our Ramah DC-area camp has become such a sought-after option for the community.
Then I was off to Camp Ramah in Northern California (or Ramah Galim, “Ramah of the Waves”), which no longer feels like a new camp! Having spent most of the 2021 summer season at Galim, I have had the opportunity to watch young adults who were then campers now assume staff positions. In fact, this summer over 60% of Galim’s staff is "home grown." These tzevet (staff members) transmit powerful camp traditions, lead tefillot, talk to campers about when they will be able to become staff, and impart a love for their summer community. The camp has dedicated a full memorial wall to the friends of shlichim lost since October 7. The sheer number of photos and memorials is devastating, and I am grateful that shlichim are finding solace at camp and bonding with North Americans.
Ramah Day Camp LA was three days old when I visited this week, but one would never know! Signage depicting Jewish values is the first thing that one sees when entering, and everyone is greeted each morning with joyful Israeli dancing. Jesse Zilberstein, camp director, has created a stellar senior staff that hails from Ramah California in Ojai, Ramah Nyack, and Ramah Berkshires. They in turn bring rich camp traditions and Jewish learning to their new home. Campers were tending a garden (currently carrots but tomatoes are coming soon), learning brachot using the tefillah placards that NRC developed for all of our day camps, learning Hebrew during bishul (cooking), swimming, and playing sports. It is our hope that as the camp continues to expand, it will become a natural pipeline to Ramah California, just like our other day camp programs.
In a world which feels so heavy right now, children's squeals of delight and awe, staff who serve as Jewish role models and impart camp traditions, mishlachat who find an embracing summer home, and the expansion of Ramah are reasons to celebrate and express gratitude. This I do every day during my travels.