Ramah Begins Its 77th Summer of Excellence
This summer, it is more important than ever for our children, teens, and young adults to immerse themselves in joyous Jewish experiences and celebrate being part of a community.
We are very proud to announce that the 2024 Ramah camping season has officially opened for campers. The singing, dancing, playing, praying, and learning have all begun for more than 11,000 campers and staff who will participate in a Ramah program this summer.
Yesterday, Camp Ramah Darom in Georgia welcomed the first Ramah campers of 2024; next week, several of our camps will welcome staff for shavua hachana (staff training week). By the end of June, all of our North American overnight and day camps and Seminar (with 176 total teen participants) will have begun. Our Ramah Jerusalem Day Camp and Israel overnight camp open in July.
This summer, we look forward to:
the opening of our first West Coast day camp, Ramah Day Camp LA. The camp’s “pioneer session” will run from June 24–July 5, with a one-week add-on option.
welcoming more than 150 Israeli teens from the NOAM youth movement and the Campers2Gether Initiative, which offers respite to teens who have been affected by the Israel-Hamas war.
the second season of the Ramah overnight camp in Israel, which will be located this year at the Hodayot Youth Village (east of Haifa).
additional solidarity and service trips to Israel taking place in June and July (details below).
renewing the connections made among the North American staff members and incoming shlichim who were among the 300 summer 2024 staff members who participated in our two extraordinarily powerful back-to-back Ramah Birthright Israel Onward missions. Please read reflections on these trips in "Leading 300 Ramahniks in Israel for Volunteering, Learning, and Connection."
This summer, we are also grateful for the support of many Federations, foundations, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation / JCamp180, Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC), and our partner synagogues, as well as the extraordinary efforts of our camps' professional leadership, boards of directors, and individual donors, helping Ramah to meet the financial needs of the overwhelming majority of families seeking a Ramah experience for their children.
As we begin our 77th summer of intensive Jewish identity-building within the fun, informal atmosphere of excellent summer camping, all of us at Ramah feel privileged to have the opportunity to contribute to the powerful experiences that influence the lives of more than 11,000 participants in our camps and programs.
Wishing everyone a safe, enjoyable and meaningful summer,
Arnie Harris, President
Amy Skopp Cooper, Director
Rabbi Mitchell Cohen, Senior Advisor
National Ramah Commission, Inc. of The Jewish Theological Seminary