Camp Ramah in Ojai expands with $1.8 million land purchase

Tucked into the Ojai Valley of Ventura County are some of the most pristine and beautiful locations in Southern California — an idyllic place to go to summer camp or unwind on a retreat.

Now, thanks to the purchase of 174 acres of additional land that will increase its size by 40 percent, Camp Ramah in California hopes to do an even better job of taking advantage of its setting near the hills of Ojai. The Jewish sleep-away camp, which is part of the Camp Ramah network of Jewish camps associated with the Conservative Movement, announced Dec. 15 that it
closed escrow on the property, which was acquired for just over $1.8 million, according to Rabbi Joe Menashe, the camp’s executive director.

Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterDecember 21, 2016California

Seasons in the sun

Rabbi Resnick has been at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires in Wingdale, N.Y., for 29 years; for most of that time he’s been the camp’s director. He has just stepped down from that exhilarating but exhausting post to become the camp’s first senior engagement and planning director.

He loves Camp Ramah.

The memory of those buses is sweet. “You have worked for 10 months for that hour, to get those kids to camp,” he said. “I was the first face they saw in camp.

Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterDecember 15, 2016Berkshires

How a Winter Fire Burned Down the Walls Between a Jewish Summer Camp and Its Neighbors

A recent huge outbreak of forest fires in these backwoods drew firefighters from all over the country to battle the huge blazes. And Camp Ramah Darom, near ground zero for this battle, played host to these contingents, who made the Jewish institution their temporary home. In doing so, the firefighters forfeited their morning bacon, among other things, to observe the laws of kashrut. Sleeping in bunks that were too small for them, they even haggled over who got top and who got bottom. And they befriended the camp’s staff; many have connected on Facebook and have hunting trips and reunions planned for the near future.

Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterDecember 14, 2016Darom

Jewish summer camps offer specialty activities

If you’ve ever been to a Jewish summer camp, you probably have memories of lifelong friendships, campfire sing-a-longs and the excitement of getting a package from home.

But did you get a chance to run the camp for a day with your teenage friends? Perform a Broadway musical all in Hebrew? Customize your camp day with your favorite activity? Speak nothing but Hebrew for an entire summer?

Four popular Wisconsin Jewish summer camps offer these and other special activities along with the usual lake swimming and Shabbat celebrations.

Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterOctober 27, 2016Wisconsin

Camp Ramah Galim: L'dor Vador Brought to Life

At Camp Ramah in Northern California, also known by its Hebrew name Ramah Galim, every day is truly the best day ever. Located along the shores of beautiful Monterey Bay, CA, the brand-new Nor Cal summer camp is the perfect place for children to build friendships, experiences and memories to last a lifetime.

Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterSeptember 30, 2016Galim

FJC’s Incubator III to Launch 5 New Specialty Camps

Building on the success of its previous two Incubators, the Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) has announced support of five new specialty camps as part of Incubator III. The new camps will open their doors for the summer of 2018.

Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterSeptember 27, 2016RSA

Ramah Magic

Native Detroiter Darrien Sherman has worked in the Ramah Detroit Davidson Fellowship program for three years. She spent many summers at Camp Ramah in Canada as a camper and staff member. From July 28-Aug. 10, she co-led a group of 11 Ramah camper graduates to work at Camp Ramah Yachad, a Jewish summer camp in the Ukraine as part of the Ramah Ukraine Teen Leadership Experience.

Ukraine, Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterSeptember 2, 2016Ramah Yachad

Camps use Hebrew to strengthen Jewish identity

Every Saturday night at the close of Shabbat, campers at Camp Ramah in Northern California gathered on the Monterey beach for Havdalah. After singing the prayers in the darkness, the staff turned on the lights and cranked up Israeli dance music. With the sounds of Hebrew lyrics pounding in their ears, the campers danced on the sand.

Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterSeptember 1, 2016Galim

Ethiopian Jews take aliyah quest to Camp Ramah

Gezahegn Dereve and Demoz Deboch have dreamed of making aliyah to Israel from Ethiopia for almost their entire lives.

Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterAugust 17, 2016California