Ramah Koreh New Camper Magazine 2024

Welcome םיאבה םיכורב

Dear Camp Ramah Families,

Welcome to Camp Ramah in California. We see our younger chanichim (campers) as taking the first steps on their Ramah “Journey for a Lifetime.” We know that to succeed, special care and attention are needed to create a smooth and successful transition into our kehillah (community). For your children to come home as avid Ramahniks, it takes thought, attention, nurturance, parental partnership, and age-specific staff training.

Our schedule, meals, rituals, and programming reflect a developmentally informed approach. We continue to recruit strong, enthusiastic, and nurturing tzevet (staff) who can’t wait to welcome our kids for an incredible kayitz at Ramah! We have some new and exciting programs this summer for our youngest chanichim, including beach days for Nitzanim and Giborei, and a special sleep-under and evening program for our Gesher chanichim.

Each edah (age group) has a value they focus on at Ramah as part of our educational scope and sequence. This teaching comes through our programming, play, conversations, modeling, and more. We hope that a Ramah graduate embodies these Midot (Jewish values) not just at Ramah but also in the outside world. For our Gesher chanichim, the Midah is friendship, as this is the foundation for the love of camp and often the reason our campers return year after year. For our Nitzanim chanichim, the Midah is good deeds.

Immersing in this value allows campers to think about how to build trust and create a community within their tzrif (bunk) by caring for each other. For our Giborei chanichim, the Midah is Language, focusing on Hebrew language, kind words, and the power our words have. Below you will see the visual of our “Midah L’edah” as they build throughout the years, increasing complexity as campers mature.

We hope these pages help you to prepare your child and get them ready for a wonderful summer experience!

םולשב B’Shalom,

Rabbi Joe Ariella Moss-Peterseil & the Ramah Team Executive Director Camp Director

Who’s Who?

Kayitz 2024

Rabbi Joe Menashe Executive Director

Michal Kogen Kress Assistant Camp Director

Ariella Moss Peterseil Camp Director

Rory Carmer Tikvah Director

Marisa Holt Camper Care Associate

Randy Michaels Chief Operating & Financial Officer

Elana Naftalin-Kelman Tikvah Consultant

Molly Auerbach Program Coordinator

Dr. Aviva Levine Jacobs Director of Camper Care & Staff Wellness

Dr. Andrea Kasowitz Marp Clinical Director

Ben Strom Senior Administrator & Registrar

A Day in the Life of a Ramah Camper

7:45AM המיק Kimah (Wake Up!)

8:15AM רקוב תחורא Aruchat Boker (Breakfast)

9:00AM תירחש Shacharit (Prayers)

9:45AM ןויקנ Nikayon (Clean Up)

10:15AM גוח Chug (Elective 1)

11:30AM דוקיר / הריש / תודהי Yahadut/Shira/Rikkud (Jewish Learning/Singing/Dance)

12:45PM םיירהצ תחורא Aruchat Tzohorayim (Lunch)

1:30PM החונמ Menuchah (Rest Time)

2:30PM טרופס Sports

3:30PM הייחש Schiya (Swimming)

4:20PM Snack 4:45PM גוח Chug (Elective 2)

5:30PM ברﬠ תלועפ Peulat Erev (Night Activity)*

6:30PM ברﬠ תחורא Aruchat Erev (Dinner)

7:30PM תוחלקמ Miklachot (Showers) & הﬠגרה Harga’ah (Getting Ready for Bed)

8:30PM בוט הליל Lilah Tov

*Giborei: ברﬠ תלועפ Peulat Erev (Night Activity) takes place after dinner, followed by showers and bedtime.

What Will I Eat? SAMPLE MENU

At Ramah we work to create balanced meals, made from fresh ingredients, that are both healthy and tasty for our campers. All meals are served familystyle and we have plenty of gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian options!

Aruchat Boker

BREAKFAST

Sunday

Bagels & Scrambled Eggs

Monday

Pancakes & Bananas

Tuesday

Breakfast Burrito

Wednesday

Cheese Omelet & Hashbrowns

Thursday

Yogurt Parfait Bar –Blueberries and Granola

Friday

Waffles & Strawberries

Saturday

Chocolate Muffins & Hardboiled Eggs

EVERYDAY ITEMS

Every Breakfast

• Cereal & Granola

• Yogurt & Cottage Cheese

• Fresh Fruit

• Oatmeal & Berries

Every Lunch and Dinner

• Tuna & Hardboiled Eggs

• Plain Pasta

• Salad Bar with Fresh Vegetables

• SunButter & Jelly Sandwich

Aruchat Tzohorayim LUNCH

Sunday

Mac & Cheese

Monday

Pizza with Salad, Carrots & Celery

Tuesday

Wrap Sandwiches & Bissli

Wednesday

Falafel with Pita, Hummus & Israeli Salad

Thursday

Aruchat Erev

DINNER

Sunday

Taco & Burrito Bar

Monday

Stir Fry & Egg Rolls

Tuesday

BBQ (Hamburgers, Hotdogs, French Fries & Watermelon)

Wednesday

Chicken Nuggets & Mashed Potatoes

Thursday

Tortellini & Tomato Soup

Friday

Spaghetti & Garlic Bread םיירהצ

Turkey Burgers

Friday

Make Your Own Burrito

Saturday

Deli Sandwiches, Cholent & Cole Slaw

Shabbat Dinner (Chicken, Broccoli, Potatoes, Chicken Noodle Soup, Challah)

Saturday

THE BASICS

• Kosher – All food is certified kosher and under the supervision of the Conservative Movement.

• Vegetarian – When we serve meat or fish there is always a vegetarian option.

• Gluten-Free – There is a selection of gluten-free food offered at meals for those who need.

• Dairy-Free/Vegan – We offer dairy-free options and can accommodate vegan diets. Milk alternatives are available at breakfast.

• Daily Snacks – We provide healthy snacks like fruit, popcorn, or cheese sticks for all campers and staff during the day.

• Nut-Free – Camp Ramah is a completely nut-free community.

Check out our CHUG (Elective) Options for Campers

Here is a list of SOME chug (elective) options that might be offered during your session at camp:

• Archery

• Baseball

• Basketball

• Bishul (cooking)

• Ceramics

• Fencing

• Jewelry making

• Mad Science

• Pickleball

• Robotics

• Tennis

• Woodworking

Meet Your Kayitz 2024 Roshim

Sam Hirschhorn

ROSH GESHER

Entering 3rd – 5th graders

Becca Martin

ROSH NITZANIM

Entering 4th – 5th graders

Sophia Trief

ROSH GIBOREI YISRAEL

Entering 6th graders

Shalom Gesher, Nitzanim, and Giborei!

We could not be MORE excited to spend this kayitz (summer) with you. We will get to do so many fun peulot (activities) like swimming in the breicha (pool), chilling on the givah (hill), climbing on the ropes course, celebrating Shabbat, learning about the middah (value) of each of our edot, and hanging out in Shetach HaTzrifim (the bunk area) BEYACHAD (together)! You will leave your time at camp with so many new chaverim (friends) and so much camp RUACH (spirit). Don’t forget to pack your smiles and get ready to have so much KEF (fun)! We can’t wait to see you SO SOON!

Love,

Your Kayitz 2024 Roshim

Gesher Highlights

A Camp Style Sleep-Under

Gesher chanichim will adventure to a spot in camp for their nightly harga’ah but with a special guest to play the guitar while singing songs together before going back to their tzrif to sleep.

Hanging on the Gesh Pad

Our Gesher chanichim are a part of the Shetach Hatzrifim (bunk area) and also have their own space that we call the Gesh Pad! The Gesh Pad is a patio found between the Gesher tzrifim (bunks) where chanichim and tzevet (staff) alike can hang out during menucha (rest time), play gaga, and make new friends!

Shir Gesher

Anu adat hagesher v’anu chadasheem Lomdeem v’shareem

Ut’feelot bayn hehareem

S’cheeyah bab’raychah u’shabbat bak’heelah

Anu ohaveem et machanaynu Ramah

Anu adat hagesher v’anu chadasheem Sport v’chugeem chavayreem m’yuchadeem

S’cheeyah bab’raychah v’shabbat bak’heelah

Anu ohaveem et machanaynu Ramah

Nitzanim Highlights

Day Trip to the Beach

Nitzanim chanichim will get a chance to take a trip to a nearby beach to play in the sand, swim in the ocean, and hang out with their friends and madrichim (counselors).

Tiyul to the Treehouse

Chanichim will spend time up at our camp treehouse with special activities.

Maccabiah (Color War)

Make sure to pack red, blue, green, and yellow so you’re ready to join your Maccabiah team for a full-out, all-camp team spirit competition with sports, art, obstacle course, and more!

Shir Nitzanim

Ma ha’aydah hatovah b’ramah Adat hanitzanim

Lomdeem, M’sachakeem

S’maycheem lee’hiyot Yihoodeem toveem

G’doleem vachazakeem

N’h’yeh tameed hareeshoneem

Giborei Highlights

Surfing in Ventura

Our Giborei chanichim get to throw on their swimsuits, grab their towels, sunscreen, and water bottles and spend a day learning to surf at the beach! It’s an amazing opportunity to swim in the ocean, learn a new skill, and play in the sand with new friends and madrichim.

Giborei Machazemer (Musical)

Each summer, the machazemer is revealed to the chanichim when they arrive at camp. They spend the session learning lines and songs (all in Hebrew!), preparing their dances, and practicing to perform their machazemer in front of others.

Leading Shetach Talks

Giborei chanichim are the oldest campers living in the shetach hatzrifim (bunk area) — and our younger chanichim look to them as leaders! At the beginning of each session, Giborei chanichim plan skits with their tzrif-mates to teach everyone living in the tzrifim how to communicate kindly, pick up their trash, be a good friend, and more.

Shir Giborei

Giborei israel kadima (huh!) u’veyachad koleinu narima giborei (hey hey) giborei (hey hey) giborei israel

yseh lanu ruach maleh gevora darkeinu batuach tavo hatzlacha anachnu anachnu anachnu anachnu anachnu giborei israel anachnu anachnu anachnu anachnu anachnu giborei israel Link

https://ramah.org/ShirGiborei

Hebrew Words Commonly Used at Camp

רשג Gesher – 2 week edah for entering 3rd–5th graders

םינצינ Nitzanim – edah name for 4th/5th graders

לארשי ירובג Giborei Yisrael – edah name for 6th graders

םולש תדע Adat Shalom – edah name for 7th graders

םיללוס Sollelim – edah name for 8th graders

םיפוצ Tzophim – edah name for 9th graders

םיבכוכ Kochavim – edah name for 10th graders

ןוכמ Machon – edah name for 11th graders

םיצימא Amitzim – edah for kids with disabilities

ארזע Ezra – Vocational ed program for young adults with disabilities

םינב Banim – boys

תונב Banot – girls

ןוזמה תכרב

Birkat Hamazon – the prayer after a meal

הכירב Breicha – the swimming pool

םיכינח Chanichim – campers

לכוא רדח Chadar Ochel – dining hall

הדע Edah – a division in camp divided up according to grade

ןג Gan – a group of young children with parents working in camp

העבג Givah – the hill

אי צ ומה Hamotzi – Blessing Over Bread

העגרה Harga’ah – story or other “soothing” program in cabin before sleep ץיק Kayitz – Summer

רכיכ Kikar Zion – the outdoor sanctuary area in front of the breichah

המיק Kimah – morning wake-up

םיכירדמ Madrichim – counselors

האפרמ Mirpa’ah – (known as the “Marp”) – Health Center

תספרמ Mirpeset – porch or patio area

להוא Ohel – tent

ברע תלועפ Peulat Erev – evening activity

תולועפ Peulot – activities

הדע שאר Rosh Edah – a division head

חור Ruach – spirit

הייחש Schiyah – swimming

תוליפת T’fillot – morning, afternoon or evening prayers

תווצ Tzevet – staff

ףירצ Tzrif – cabin

דחוימ םוי Yom Meyuchad – special day

Wow! This ____________(season) is going to be so fun! I can’t wait to pack my _____________(noun) and go to Camp Ramah! I am excited to meet new friends and do ______________ (adjective) activities together!

I can’t wait to meet my ________________ (Hebrew word for counselors).

I know I will love going to the breicha (pool) and I know I won’t forget my ___________________ (noun) and _______________ (noun). After schiya (swimming) maybe I will head down to the sports courts and play

_________________ (favorite sport) with my new bunk mates! And I am excited to taste the delicious camp food — I hope they serve ___________________ (favorite food).

Yay! That would be a pretty awesome day. After such a long day, I am sure I will be __________________ (adjective) to head back to my tzrif (bunk) for bedtime. I hope my madrichim (counselors) sing ___________ (favorite song) or read _______________________ (favorite book). Lilah Tov! Good Night!

Can’t wait for camp to start in _______ (number) days!

COLOR ME IN!