Derishat Shalom
-
Upload
ramah-darom -
Category
Documents
-
view
232 -
download
7
description
Transcript of Derishat Shalom
The Newsletter of Ramah Darom 1
The Newsletter of Ramah Darom / Fall 2011Derishat Shalom
ouka ,ahrs
(Continues on page 6)
On the Inside:
Building on Ramah’s Strategic Plan 2
Building the Ramah Darom of the Future 2
Think Outside the Camp! 3
Gesher 2000 Reunion: Going Back, Giving Back. 4
Annual Fund Aims Higher 5
Lynette and J.B. Mazer: Investing in Yiddishkeit 5
Exceptional Experiences at Ramah 6
Life 101: They Learn it at Camp! 7
And more...
hydoesafamilyfromTeaneck,NJtravelnearly1,000milestospendPassoverinClayton,Georgia? JustasktheSpielmanclan,awonderfulextendedfamilythatcouldhavechosenfromplentyof
PassoverhotelsintheNortheast,butinsteadhaveanalmostunbrokenrecordoftravelingsouthtoRamahDarom.
“OneofthetrulywonderfulthingsaboutRamahDaromishowitfacilitatesthecomingtogetherofgenerations,”YaelSpielmansays.“Inourfamily,we’vehadthreegenerationsjoinusfortheholiday.Cousinswereallydon’tgettoseeduringtheyearhavejoinedus.RamahDaromallowsmetoactuallyenjoymyfamilyonPassover.WeallmigratetoClaytonforPesach,settledowninadjoiningrooms,andenjoyoneanother’scompany!”
TheSpielmanslovetheinformalityofcampcombinedwithtop-tierfacilitiesandstrictKosherforPassoversupervision.“RamahDaromprovidestheperfectbalance:Youcangotoshul.Youcanplaybasketballordoyoga.Youcanstudywithgreatscholars.Youcanplaymahjong.Youcaneatreallygoodfood.Youareintheheartofbeautifulmountainsinasimplenaturalsettingandyet,youaresleepinginacomfortablebedwithagoodshower.Thepeoplearegreat,thepriceisright.Itjustdoesn’tgetmuchbetterthanRamahDaromforPassover.”
With11yearsofhostingfamiliesforPassover,RamahDaromdefinitelyhasitsshareof“group-ies,”evenamongtherabbis.In2012forthethirdyearinarow,RabbiHaroldKushnerwillbeavisitingscholar,alongwithhisfamily.RabbiBradleyShavitArtsonfromtheAmericanJewishUniversitywillbetherewithhisfamily,alongwithRabbiJoelRothfromTheJewishTheologi-calSeminary,makingPassover2012anincredibletrifectaofrabbinicwisdom.
It’snosurprisethatPassoveratRamahDaromfrequentlysellsout.WordofmouthandaloyalbaseofreturningfamiliesmakeitahotticketforpeoplefromtheSoutheastandasfarawayasIsrael,Chicago,Texas,CaliforniaandCanada.
Passionate About Passover @ RD
W
Exceptional Experience: Art is an inter-generational activity during Passover at Ramah Darom.
Exceptional Experience: Table settings create the
ambience for our seders at Ramah Darom.
2 The Newsletter of Ramah Darom
twasaspecialyear.Weapprovedastrategic planinMarchwiththreecomponents: buildingprogramming,buildinginfrastruc-tureandbuildingourRamahcommunities.Thenmydaughter,Rachel,gotmarriedinMayandgaveElaineandmeourfirstson,herhusband,Shaya.ElaineandIsaid,“WearefollowingtheRamahstrategicplan.Wearebuilding.”
WebegantoimplementourstrategicplanatoursummerBoardmeeting.WeheardthevisionofournewDirectorofExceptionalExperiences,AmyBram,andwestrategizedwaysinwhichwecouldtakemicro-stepstobuildRamahprogramminginourcommunities.
Afewweeksago,IspentSimchat Torahinoneofourmanyvibrantcommunities:Jacksonville,Florida.JacksonvilleisahugesupporterofRamahDarom.ItsendslotsofcampersandstafftoCamp,andalsosendsdayschoolstudentsonanannualretreattoourcampus.YetthemostintriguingthingisthateveryoneIspoketohashisorherownRamahstory.Foreachoneofthem,weareapartoftheir
lifeandexperienceasaConservativeJew.Asavisitor,IcouldfeelRamahDaromisanimportantthreadinthiscommunity’sbeautifulfabric.
ForRamahDaromtocontinuetobeimportant,wehavetostayonthecuttingedgeofJewishlife,bothatsummerCampandinouryear-roundprogram.Ourmissionisnotacliché.Wereallyareaboutexceptional experiences in the lives of individuals, families and communities.
IhadawonderfulexperienceinJacksonville,butIknowtheyarenotunique.ThegoalofourBoardandmypersonalgoalinthenextyearistocontinuebuildingaRamahDaromthatbecomesmorespecialineveryoneofourcommunitiesandinallofourlives.Notonlyfortodaybutevenmoresofortomorrow.
DavidKrueger,PresidentRamahDarom
t’shardtobelievethatthemasterplanning forRamahDarombeganin1992,nearly20 yearsago.Theoriginalbuildershadavisionandtheforesighttocreateafacilitybuilttoendure.
Whilemuchofourfacilityisasrelevantandfunctionaltodayasitwaswhenweopenedin
1997,ourworldhaschangeddramaticallyinthelast20years.Trendsandforcesarereshapingthewayweworkandplay,thewaywelearnandstudy,thewaywenetworkandcommunicatewitheachotherandevenwherewelive.WillourRamahfacilitiescon-tinuetomeettheneedsofourcommunitytwentyyearsfromnow?
Ourchallenge,incontinuingtofulfillourmissionofprovidingexceptionalJewishexperiences,buildingstrongJewishcommu-nitiesandsustainingthevitalityofJewishlife,istounderstandtheseforcesandtrendsandtousethisunderstandingtoadaptandmodifyourRamahDaromfacility,asnecessary,sothatitwillcontinuetobeasrelevant,functionalandengagingin2032astheoneplannedin1992.
WhataresometrendsthatwillshapetheRamahDaromofthefuture?
nGrowingemphasisinthefieldofcampingonspecializationandspecialtyexperiences.Thisincludesprogramsforspecialpopu-lations,aswellasthosethathelpcampersbuildlifeskillsandsustainandretaincampersthroughoutthecampandstaff-agedyears;
nThe“greening”ofoursociety.Environmentalresponsibilitywillbeanessentialpartofsustainingourselvesinthefuture;
nEmergingtechnologyanditsinfluenceonthewaywenetwork,communicateandconnect.Wewillcontinuetovaluetheimpor-tanceofcommunalexperiencesthatarepersonalandspiritualandprovidearespitefromtheworldoftechnology,butweneedtounderstandtheimpactoftheseforcesandtousethemtoen-hanceourJewishconnections;
nTherisingcostofJewishlife.Accessibilityto,andaffordabilityof,Ramahexperiencesiscriticaltooursuccess,especiallyinthefaceofincreasingpressureonthemiddleclass;and
nDemographicchangesthatareaffectingpatternsofJewishaffiliation,andimpactingsmallerJewishcommunities.
InthecomingmonthsaswecontinuetheimplementationofourStrategicPlan,wewillbeaddressingtheseandotherissuesthataresocentraltoourmission.Welookforwardtoyoursupportandyourparticipationinthisprocess.
FrederickR.Levick, CEORamahDarom
Building on Ramah Darom’s Strategic Plan
Building the Ramah Darom of the Future
I
I
The Newsletter of Ramah Darom 3
urrecentstrategicplanningprocess generatedaboldgoalforRamahDarom: To double the number of individuals who participate in Ramah Darom experiences.Thisisnotasimpleundertakingbecause,afterall,thereareonlysomanypeoplewhowewilleverbeabletobringuptoourmagicalcampusintheNorth
GeorgiaMountains.Inorderforustogrowinthemission-centeredwaystowardswhichweaspire,weneedtobeginto“thinkoutsidetheCamp.”
OurtacticinpursuitofthisstrategicgoalistobringthemagicofRamahDaromdirectlytocommunities.WearepoisedtounrollseveralinitiativesthisyearwhichwillenableustodeliverRamahDaromtolocalsynagogues,schoolsandeventheoccasionallivingroom.ThefirstoftheseprojectsisatravellingtrailerwhichourNivonim Aidah(10thgraders),underthedirectionofourRosh Omanut,DafnaRobinson,decoratedandfilledwithritualartmadebycampersineveryagegroup.LiketheRamahDarom’sTreeofLifeShtenderwhichIhavebroughttoshowcaseandteachwithonvisitstomanycommunities,ourvisionisto“super-size”thiscon-ceptbyrollingintotownwithatrailerfullofcamper-createdartandalltheequipmentweneedfortefillahexperiences,dancingandsinging,story-telling,andmuchmore.Wealsointendtoshowcaseournewtrailerateventsandfestivalslikecommunity-wideHanuk-kahcandle-lightingprogramsandkosherBBQcompetitions.
Afterasuccessfulpilotprogram,wearealsobeginningthefirstfullyearoftheRamahServiceCorps,aprogramoftheNationalRamahCommissionwhichembedsRamahstaffmemberswithin
synagoguecommunitiestocreatecommunity-wideRamah-styleeducationalexperiences.Wearedoublingourparticipationinthisnationalprogrambyengaginginternsinatleastsixcommunitiesthroughoutourregion.In2011-2012,ServiceCorpsinternswillbesharingthemagicofRamahDarominBocaRatonFL,AtlantaGA,DurhamNC,GainesvilleFL,OrlandoFLandNewOrleansLA.
Finally,wehavereengineeredourrecruitmentmodelsothat,inadditiontoinformationsessionsthroughouttheregion,thevisitsfromoureducationalleadershipwillalsoincludeRamahprograms.Wewillsponsorcommunity-wideRamahhavdallahexperiencesandinmanyotherwaysdemonstratethattheRamahmagiccanhappenevenwhenwearenotinthemountains.
RamahDaromvaluesthepartnershipthatwehavewiththecom-munitiesweserve.Withallofthesenewinitiatives,ourintentistocomplementandenhancetheprogrammingwhichexistsinlocalsynagogues.InthesamewaythatwesendchildrenhomefromCampwiththeexcitementandpassiontoenhancesynagoguelife,ourhopeisthat,bybringingRamahDaromexperiencestolocalcommunities,wecannotonlyinspiremoreindividuals,buthelpinvigorateeducationalexperiencesandrituallife.RamahDaromhasalwaysbeenmorethanjustasummercamp.OurefforttodeliverRamah,year-roundandlocally,isthenaturalevolutionofourapproach.
GeoffreyMenkowitz, DirectorCampRamahDarom
Think Outside the Camp!
Exceptional Experience: Campers play hockey on Yom Sport.
Exceptional Experience: Campers don tefillin they made in the tefillin workshop with Noah Greenberg.
Exceptional Experience: Learning the Camp dances during Camp Yofi.
O
4 The Newsletter of Ramah Darom
astJulyRamahDaromhostedtheGesher 2000Reunion, thefirstorganizedreunionoftheoldestalumnicampers. Foronememorableweekend,thispioneeringgroupofRamahniksreturnedtoCamptoreconnectwitheachotherandexplorehowCamphasimpactedtheirlives.
What’shappenedtoGesher’00,Nachshonim’99,Shoafim’98andKochavim’97overthelastdecade?Theyarenowintheirmid-twenties.Severalarerecentlymarriedandonehashadachild.Most,however,areintheircareer-buildingyearsclusteredincitieslikeNewYork,AtlantaandpartsofFlorida.
“AsRamahDaromhasmatured,wecontinuetobeveryproudofthisfirstgenerationofcampers,”saysDirectorGeoffMenkowitz.“Thisgroupwasalwaysthefirst–theoldestcampers,thefirstcohortofhome-grownstaffmembers–andnowtheyareleadingthedevelopmentofourAlumninetwork.”
WhatdidreturningtoCampmeantotheGesher2000group?Beyondthesweetnostalgiaofbeingbackandseeingoldfriends,theywereoverwhelmedbyhowCamphasgrownandchanged.StayingintheWelcomeCenter,whichdidn’texist“backintheday,”wasawow.SowasseeingtheOdysseyhighropescourse,andexperiencinghowtheruachofhavdallahatCamphasampedupwithanexplosionofnewmusicandIsraelidancing.
Asthefirstalumnitotourthenewartinstallationsatcamptheysawevidenceofhowsucceedinggenerationsofcampershavelefttheirmark.“ItwasspecialhearingDaphnaandPaulsharethestoriesthatledtothecreationofthebeautifulpiecesscatteredacrossCamp,andthesefeelingswereheightenedbythesenseofpridepeoplefeltastheypointedoutprojectsthattheyortheircampershelpedtodesign,”saidalumnaAndreaKass.
Evenwithallthephysicalchanges,“Thereisalevelofcomfortthat,apparently,neverleavesyou,”saidanotheralum.“WalkingaroundCamp,feelinglikeyouneverleft,wasamazing.ItmademerealizeevenmorethepositivefeelingsIhaveforCampandmytimethere
asacamperandacounselor.CampRamahDaromwasasafeenvironmenttogrowascamper,andsemi-professionallyasacounselor.”
Overthecourseoftheweekendmanyhadthepleasureofrunningintotheirownformercamperswhowerenowcounselorsthem-selves.TheyspokeabouttheirpersonalJewishjourneysandhowwhotheyaretodaywasinformedbysummersatCamp.
AndreaKasssaid,“Itwasniceseeingthemyriadwaysourliveshavechangedoverthepasttenyearsandtheimpressivecareerpathsweareeachpursuing.IlovedlearningaboutthewaysinwhichweareestablishingourselvesinourJewishcommunitiesandbeingchal-lengedtocontinuetogrowanddevelopasJewishadults.“
“ThenextchapterinthegrowthofRamahDaromishowouralumninetworkstaysconnectedandengaged,”Menkowitzbelieves.“You’llbehearingmoreinthecomingyearaboutourplanstoreachouttoalumniatthisspecialmomentwhentheyaregrowingintoadulthood.ThisgroupthatgrewupatCamp,arethetruetrans-mittersofourvaluesystem.OvertheweekendwetalkedtothemopenlyaboutgivingbacktoCampinthefuture.I’mproudtosaythatasagrouptheysawitastheirdutytosetanexample.”
AndreaKass,whomadethepitchforgivingback,hadthistosay.“ThereunionremindedallofushowmuchweloveandareimpactedbyCamp.Itwasgreatrememberingstoriesofoursum-mersascampersorstaff,andtherewasasenseofcommitmenttoensuringasimilarexperienceforcampersintheyearsahead.Wefeltexcitedtoestablishaprecedentforgiving.”
Tomakeyouralumnigiftandtolearnmoreaboutalumnioutreach,[email protected].
Gesher 2000 Reunion: Going back. Giving back.
L
Exceptional Experience: 26 alumni and spouses gather for the Gesher 2000 Reunion.
Exceptional Experience: Gesher 2000 alumni try their hands (and feet!) on the Odyssey.
The Newsletter of Ramah Darom 5
Annual Fund Aims Higher
Lynette and J.B. Mazer: Investing in Yiddishkeit
hecyclesoftheJewishholidayyearprovidearhythmand aroadmapforeveryJew.AndsoitiswithRamahDarom. JustaswefinishreadingtheTorahinearlyautumn,andwithoutskippingabeat,startoveragain,RamahDarom’sAnnualFundcampaignbeginsaneweachFall,providingcriticalsupportforRamahDaromandforcampfamilies.
The2012AnnualFund,co-chairedbyJohannaNorryandMarthaBerlin,isRamahDarom’sfirstgivingpriority,supportingourmissionrightnowandhelpingusbalanceacarefully-managedbudgettomeetourneedsforthecomingyear.
The2011AnnualFundprovidedmorethan$400,000inscholarshipsandgrantssothatmorefamiliescouldaffordcamp.Ithelpedusbuildnewfacilities,andrenewandrepairourinfrastructure.Itsupportedourinvestmentinrigorousandrelevantstafftraining.Itallowedustocontinuetoprovideprogramsforchildrenwithspecialneeds.
TheAnnualFundalsoprovidednewandcontinuingprogramopportunitiessuchasbringingprofessionalmusicianMattKailintocamplastsummertoproduceawonderfulnewmusicCD.ItsupportedNoahGreenberg’stefillinmakingprogramfor7thgraders.Wearealwayspushingtheenvelopetoenricheachsummerwithnewexperiences.
AswebegintheNewYearinastillfalteringeconomy,weexpectthatmorefamiliesthaneverwillberequestingtuitionscholarships.That’swhyour2012AnnualFundgoalis15%higherthanlastyear,simplytomeetthesepressingneeds.
Morethan850familiessupportedtheAnnualFundlastyear.Tomeetournewtargetwe’dliketoseethatnumbergrowto1,000+nextyear.Helpusreachthisgoalbysendingyourtaxdeductiblechecktoday.Giftsmaybemadebymailusingtheenclosedremittanceenvelope,bygoingonlineatwww.ramahdarom.organdclickingon“Donate,”orbycallingMelissaKerbelat678-996-2831.
heMapalLegacySocietyisaperfectvehicle forplannedgiving.Mapalmeanswaterfall inHebrew,andmuchliketherushingwatersofourownwaterfall,thisfundprovidesapowerfulandcontinuingflowofsupportforRamahDarom’sfuture.
TheMapalLegacySocietyhonorsdonorswhohaveprovidedforRamahDaromintheirestateplans.ThroughgiftstotheMapalLegacySociety,donorssignificantlystrengthenRamahDarom’sendowmentfund,providingafiscalcornerstoneforlong-rangeplans,scholarshipassistanceandservicestofuturegenerationsofcampersandadults.
OneextraordinaryMapalLegacyFunddonorfamilyisLynnetteandJ.B.MazerofBirmingham,Alabama.ThoughnoneoftheMazerchildreneverattendedRamahDarom,LynetteandJ.B.choosetogivetoRamahDaromoutofadeepcommitmenttoJewishcampingandtoKlal Yisrael.TheybothbelievethatwhenitcomestoinstillingYiddishkeitinthenextgeneration,RamahDaromis“gettingthejobdone.”
“It’shighlyunusualforaten-year-oldtolookyouintheeye,spontaneouslysay‘Shabbat Shalom,’andreallymeanit!Butthat’swhathappenedwhenIvisitedRamahDarom.ThattellsmeI’vemadeagoodinvestment,”J.B.Mazersays.
J.B.Mazer’sownsenseofYiddishkeitwasshapedinBirmingham,ALintheheartofasprawlingJewishfamilywith22firstcousinswhogrewupasbrothersandsisters.Thefamilypatriarchwashisgrandfather
–amanhedescribesas“progressiveinoutlook,yetOrthodoxinreligiouspractice.”
“EveryShabbosmygrandfatherwassurroundedbyhischildrenandgrandchildreninshul.Aftersynagoguehehadthewholefamilyoverforlunch.Grandmaneverknewhowmanypeoplewerecoming,buttherewasalwaysenoughfood.Mygrandfathertaughtalessonatthetableforaboutanhour,thenweate,andthenwentofftoourweekendactivities.”
MazeradmitsthattheworldhaschangedsincehischarmedSouthernJewishboyhood.Largeextendedfamilieslivingincloseproximityarenolongerthenormandonlyfourofhis22cousinsarestillinBirmingham.Camp,hebelieves,helpsfillinthegap,creatingawarm,lovingsummerfamilythattransmitsvalues–muchlikehisgrandfather’stable.
“Ithinkofthestoryofanoldmanplantinganoaksapling.Hisneighborssay,‘Whyareyouplantingitnow?You’llneverseeitfullygrown.’He’splantingforthefuture.MyattitudeisthatinstillingYiddishkeitinourkidsisourresponsibility.“
MakeRamahDaromapartofyourlegacybyjoiningtheMapalLegacySociety.Formoreinformation,callSharonRosenfeldat404-503-2129.
T
T
Exceptional Experience: Rabbis and Jewish Educators study with Dr. Walter Herzberg
at our annual Kallah for Rabbis, Hazzanim and Jewish Educators.
6 The Newsletter of Ramah Darom
Oneglanceatthescheduletellswhy.Everydayispackedwithoptionsforeveryagegroup.Erev Pesachguestscanstillparticipateinthefunofbedikat hametz,thesearchforleaven,withouthavingturnedtheirownhomesupside-downandinside-outintheannualritualofPassovercleaning.Childrenthroughteenshavetheirownage-appropriateprograms.Thereissinging,davening,hiking,studying,cardgames,crafting,filmsandmore.Truly,afamilycampexperiencewithfullPassoverobservance.
TheAaronfamilyfromOttawa,CanadafeelespeciallyluckytohavediscoveredRamahDarom.“Wehavefourkidsranginginagefrom6to18,includingonewithautism.Heis18nowbutwasabletomakethetripthefirsttime.Wewereabletofindapersontobea“shadow”forhimandwealldidquitewell.”
TheyparticularlylovethefamilyfeelingthatdevelopsovertheweekatRamahDarom.“Ourkidsareathomeonthecampus,theyap-preciatethefreedomofbeingabletorunaroundalldayknowingtheyaresafeandlookedafter,andourdaughterwithfoodallergiesneverneedstoworryaboutwhatsheeats.
“Onourlasttriphome,whilewerewaitingforourflightbacktoCanada,twootherfamiliesfromCampwerehurryingby
tocatchtheirflight.Wesaidmoregoodbyesandgaveafewmorehugs.Theexperiencewassoheartfeltthataswereboardingourflight,anotherpassengeraskedifwewereallreturninghomefromafamilyreunion.Weanswered‘yes!’Imean,howelsedoyoudescribeit?”OrlyAaronsays.
ToreserveyourplaceatRamahDaromforPassover5722/2012,[email protected].
Exceptional Experiences at Ramah Darom henewlylauncheddepartmentofExceptionalExperiences istakingoffatRamahDarom.Withournewstrategicplan asaguide,wearedesigningandenhancingprograms,forgingpartnershipsandbroadeningouraudience.
OurfirstnewExceptionalExperiencesinJewishLivingandLearn-ingwillbeaWinterBreakFamilyCamp–fivebeautifuldaysintheNorthGeorgiaMountainsforfamiliestolearn,play,rest,exploreandenjoy.We’llshowcasesomefavoritecampactivitieslikehavdallahanddancingandoffernewchoicessuchasastronomyandcooking.DrawingfromourcommunityandfamiliesnewtoRamahDaromwehopethiswillbethebeginningofagrowingcatalogofprograms.Onthehorizonfor2012wehaveaSinglesWeekend,aSmallCom-munitiesShabbatonandaHealth&Wellness/Yoga&Torahretreat.
Ourpartnershipsarealsogrowing.Limmud,withtheirwelcomingapproach,ishelpingusconnectwithandprogramforanewdiverseaudienceofparticipantslookingforengagingprogramming.WeareworkingwiththeTevaLearningAlliancetobringJewishenvironmentaleducationtosoutheasterndayschoolsatRamahDarom.And,wehavebeguntheprocessofhostingauniqueeducatortrainingwithStorahtelling,afusionofstorytelling,Torah,artandtheater.
Ourgoalistoconnectmoredeeplywithourcurrentclientele,embracenewprogramparticipantsandpartnersanduseourbeautifulfacilityasmanydayseachyearaswepossiblycan.WelookforwardtoseeingyousoonforanExceptionalExperience!
cuy kzn (Mazal Tov)Mazal TovtoHilary Brown(CampRamahDaromstaffalum2005-2011)onhermarriagetoNathan Shumer(CampRamahDaromstaffalum2010–2011)onAugust14,2011inAtlanta.HilaryiscurrentlystudyingforherMaster’sDegreeinMidrashatTheJewishTheologicalSeminary(JTS)andaMaster’sDegreeinJewishEducationfromtheDavidsonSchoolofJTS.NathanisaPhDcandidateinJewishHistoryatColumbiaUniversity.
(Continued from front cover)
T
Passionate About Passover @ RD
Exceptional Experience: Counselors help break the ice for the newly-arrived children at Family Camp with a game.
Exceptional Experience: Campers learn about organic farming at Camp
Ramah Darom.
The Newsletter of Ramah Darom 7
Life 101: They Learn It at Camp! ifeskillsarelearnedearlyatsleep-awaycamp.Whetherit’s makingyourbed,sweepingthecabin,gettingalongwith strangersorlearningbirkat hamazon,childrenwhogotocampcomehomewithtremendouscompetenceandconfidence.
It’sevenmoretruewhenourcampersbecomecounselors.Fully98%ofRamahDaromstaffis“homegrown.”Bythetimetheybecomecounselorsthey’vespentyearslearningthecultureofcamp,trainingtobecomeleadersandunderstandingthatbeingentrustedwiththecareofotherpeople’schildrenisanawesomeresponsibility.
CampDirectorGeoffMenkowitznotonlybelievesthatCampuniquelypreparesyoungpeopleforlifeandleadership;heassertsthatitcatapultsthemaheadoftheirpeers.“Whenouralumnigettocollegeandlaunchtheircareersthey’vehadawealthofexperi-enceintimemanagement,conflictresolution,workinginteamsandquickdecision-making.They’vehandledreallifesituationsthatrarelycomeupinanofficeorinaninternship.”
DarylBrown,nowasenioratWilliamsCollege,didnotattendorworkatCampRamahDarom,buthedidspendatleastonesummerasacampcounselor.Theexperiencewassorewarding,itpromptedBrowntowriteanessayforUSA Today Collegethatnotonlypraisestheoccupation,butsuggeststhatbeingacampcounselorcanbeabetteralternativetothesummeremployment’sbiggestcompetitor:internships.
Brownwrites:“Interninginanyoffice,regardlessofthefield,willlikelymeanyouwillbeperformingmoresecretarialdutiesthanindustry-specificones.[Beingacounselortaughtme]themostimportantskillforanyjob:grit.WorkingatasummercampnecessitatesthatIhavetheabilitytoseemhappyandenthusiasticevenwhenIamnot.Ihavelearnedtodealwithchangesintheworkplaceonthefly,andIhavelearnedtodealwithpeopleintheworkplacethatIdonotlike.Inshort,youshouldspurntheskull-duggeryofyourpotentialinternshiptoworkatasummercamp.”
AndCampRamahalumniagree.AllanHorn,whoisnowafresh-manattheUniversityofPennsylvaniapursuingadualdegreeprograminManagementandTechnologythroughtheWhartonSchoolandPennEngineering,saysCamptaughthimvaluablelifelessonsininterpersonalcommunications.
“MyRoshAidah,DavidJaffe,emphasizedtheimportanceofdisagreeingwithsomeone’sidearatherthanthepersonthemself.Hesaidthattherewerethreewayswecouldrespondtosomeone’ssuggestionsinastaffmeeting.Wecouldstartoffourresponsesbyeithersaying,‘No,butwecould...’‘Or,wecould...,’or‘Yes,and...’David’spolicywasthatinordertocreateafriendlyworkingatmosphere,beingcautiousofhowyouspeaktoothersisessential.EnteringcollegeIdidn’tthinkmuchaboutmysummeratCamp,butbythetimeIarrivedoncampusandstartedmyManagementclass,Ifoundmyselfimplementingsuggestionsfromthatsummer.Itbecameclearthatworkingwithothersinsuchatight-knitenvi-ronmentforextendedperiodsoftimedoesn’tonlyexistatRamah,andthattheabilitytoeffectivelydosowouldbenefitmegreatly.”
FormercounselorLeahMargolisadds,“Afterspendingelevensummersinabunkforeightweeks,youlearnhowtolivewithotherpeople.Peopleincollegecomplainaboutsharingsuchsmalllivingspaces,butIloveit.Itremindsmeofcamp!Asamadrich,youlearnhowtomanageyourtimeefficientlysoyoucanplanprograms,spendtimewithyourchanichimandstillhavesome
timeforyourself.Incollege,thesetimemanagementskillshavehelpedmebalancemysociallifeandacademiclife.IfeelasthoughIamaheadofmyclassmates,becauseofwhatIlearnedatRamahDarom.”
L
Exceptional Experience: Campers learn wood-working with veteran
Camp specialist and artist, Paul Rovin.
Exceptional Experience: Campers learn the art of Hebrew calligraphy.
Exceptional Experience: Tefillah and Torah reading is a meaningful experience in our nature-filled davening areas.
U.S. Postage
PAIDAtlanta, GANon-Profit
Permit No. 0462
Ramah Darom6400 Powers Ferry RoadSuite 215Atlanta, GA 30339
toourRabbiswhohaveearnedthedegreeDoctorofDivinity,honoris causafromTheJewishTheologicalSeminaryinrecognitionoftheirservicetotheJewishcommunityforatleasttwenty-fiveyears.Yasher Koachto:
RabbiJonathanCaseBethShalomCongregationColumbia,SouthCarolina
RabbiMarkBoonFitzermanCongregationB’naiEmunahTulsa,Oklahoma
RabbiPaulKerbelCongregationEtzChaimMarietta,Georgia
RabbiNoamMaransAmericanJewishCommitteeNewYork,NewYorkRabbi-in-Residence,RamahDaromPassoverRetreat
RabbiRickSherwinCongregationBethAmLongwood,Florida
RabbiStefanJ.WeinbergCongregationAnshaiTorahPlano,Texas
cuy kzn (Mazal Tov)
Exceptional Experience: Mountain biking is a popular new addition to the Camp Ramah Darom activities.