An amazing four days with colleagues in special needs camping

At last week’s National Ramah Spring Leadership Training Conference, staff members from special needs programs at Ramah camps, Union of Reform Judaism (URJ) camps, and other Jewish camps joined together to share best practices and learn from one another. Although this is the fourth year of Ramah’s training program for staff from throughout the Ramah network of Tikvah and other special needs programs, this was the first time that staff members from different movements who work with children with disabilities have had the opportunity to participate in professional development training together.

Helping Ramah Grow

Ramah is growing and thriving. We’ve doubled the number of campers attending our programs in 20 years. Over 10,000 campers and staff will attend a Ramah program this year, whether in our overnight camps, our day camps, our summer Seminar in Israel, or on our high school semester program in Jerusalem.

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterMay 14, 2014Mitch Cohen, National Ramah

How My Son Finally Opened Up About His Little Brother With Special Needs

The first time I remember talking to Oscar about his younger brother Saul’s special needs, he couldn’t have been more than 5 years old. Definitely still in preschool. There was something–though I can’t remember exactly what–that Oscar thought Saul would like and he said, “Saul is going to do this!” and started flapping his hands and bouncing up and down. I lost it. I couldn’t believe my sweet little boy was making fun of his younger brother who has Fragile X, which is a genetic syndrome and the cause of intellectual disabilities that can include learning problems, autism, anxiety, sensory, and behavioral issues.

Tikvah/Special Needs, Blog/Reflections, Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterApril 30, 2014Tikvah, New England

Memories For Everyone

Children and youth in the U.S. have already internalized inclusion. They live it every day at school, on the playground, at youth groups. To them, inclusion is the norm. This is mainly because the national culture in the U.S. has surpassed the American Jewish community in its embrace of inclusion.

Tikvah/Special Needs, Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterApril 6, 2014Tikvah, Ruderman Foundation

What It’s All About – Lessons from the FJC Leaders Assembly

I was beaming with Ramah pride as I learned from and shared with camp professionals during the Foundation for Jewish Camp Leaders Assembly last week.

I was inspired by the many voices around the table, I was moved by the wide variety of camps that were represented, and I was encouraged by the number of people talking about inclusion.

Everyone wanted to think together about how to increase the opportunities for inclusion of children with disabilities at their camps.

Tikvah/Special Needs, Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterMarch 31, 2014California, Tikvah

Kerem Takes NYC (and White Plains, too)

“Kerem” is a cohort of young Ramah professionals in their 20s, all of whom are working at NRC or at our camp offices all around North America. Almost all of the positions filled by these outstanding camp leaders didn’t exist just a few years ago, so the existence of this cohort is a sign of the growth of many of our camp operations and National Ramah initiatives. The group is dedicated to professional development, Jewish nurturing, and social networking.

Blog/Reflections, Staff Leadership TrainingNRC WebmasterMarch 26, 2014National Ramah, Kerem

Yes, I Do Want to Become a Rabbi, Despite All

Becoming a rabbi isn't what it once was, but there is one reason why today, in 2014, it is still worth it.

Ramah in the News, Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterMarch 26, 2014Poconos

Environmental Learning: Why A Liberal Rabbi Is Hopeful

Hopeful. This is the word I would use to describe my primary Jewish community. Many might wonder how a liberal Conservative Rabbi could use such a positive word given the recent Pew study that many say predict the demise of liberal forms of Judaism (especially the Conservative Movement).

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterMarch 20, 2014Rockies

Songleader Boot Camp 2014: The Power of Music at Ramah

When I received a phone call from Ramah Darom about attending Songleader Boot Camp (SLBC) three years ago, I heard the words “Jewish” and “music” and immediately agreed. Surely something that combined my two greatest passions and involved camp had to be fun, and if nothing else, would be worth missing school for. However, I didn’t know it would also be inspiring and spiritual, with a mesh of incredible individuals, each of whom played a role in creating an experience that kept me coming back the next year, and the next.

Blog/Reflections, Staff Leadership TrainingNRC WebmasterMarch 13, 2014Music, Darom