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

Announcing Ramah Sports Academy

We are very pleased to announce that the National Ramah Commission has just received a $1.4 million grant to help us launch Ramah Sports Academy, our newest overnight camp, scheduled to open in summer 2018 in the Northeast.

AnnouncementsNRC WebmasterSeptember 27, 2016RSA, National Ramah

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

Thinking on Our Feet: Lessons Learned from Launching a New Camp

When our staff and lay leaders set out to start a new Ramah summer camp along the shores of Monterey Bay, we knew that we would learn tremendous lessons along the way about Jewish camping and about our own ecosystem of campers, staff, and marine flora and fauna. As a process-oriented rabbi and educator, I welcomed this unfolding journey of learning and reflection for our inaugural summer at Camp Ramah in Northern California (Ramah Galim).

Blog/ReflectionsNRC WebmasterSeptember 22, 2016Galim

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

The Power of Ramah

A fantastic group of high school students from Ramah camps across North America are exploring Hungary and Ukraine through the Ramah Ukraine Leadership Experience. They will be serving as counselors at Camp Ramah Yachad, run by The Schechter Institute.

UkraineNRC WebmasterAugust 24, 2016Ramah Yachad