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The Newsletter of Ramah Darom 1

The Newsletter of Ramah Darom / Fall 2011Derishat Shalom

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

mailto:[email protected]


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.

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Exceptional Experience: Rabbis and Jewish Educators study with Dr. Walter Herzberg

at our annual Kallah for Rabbis, Hazzanim and Jewish Educators.

http://www.ramahdarom.org


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.

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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.

mailto:[email protected]


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.”

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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.