Camp Ramah in California
Encyclopedia
Camp Ramah in California is a Jewish summer camp
located in Ojai, California
.The camp is affiliated with the Conservative Movement
and observes the laws of Judaism
, Shabbat
, and the laws of Kashrut.
summer camps, and it caters to the communities of the west coasts of the United States, Canada, Mexico, as well as the non-contiguous states of Hawaii and Alaska. It has also hosted campers from the United Kingdom. It is one of the only Ramah camps that operates a winter camp and holds winter weekends owing to the favorable winter climate. The summer season is split up into two four-week sessions attended by over 1,350 campers.Prayers are held in a synagogue
in the round.
Chaim Potok
, author of The Chosen, The Promise, and My Name is Asher Lev
, was director of the camp in 1957-59 before embarking on his career as a writer. Brian Greene and Rabbi Daniel Greyber have been executive directors of the camp.
Machon is the oldest age group for campers. The following summer, former campers (or "Ramahniks") are eligible for a six-week tour of Israel
called the Ramah Seminar. Mador is a program for first-time counselors and Madrega is a program for first-time specialists, those entering 12th grade.
The "Tzevet" ("staff") is divided into "Madrichim" (counselors) and "Moomchim ("specialists"), while each Edah is led by a "Rosh Edah" ("head of the age group").
the singer/songwriter began to play Jewish music at the age of 15 by leading Jewish prayer services with his guitar.
Summer camp
Summer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....
located in Ojai, California
Ojai, California
Ojai is a city in Ventura County, California, USA. It is situated in the Ojai Valley , surrounded by hills and mountains. The population was 7,461 at the 2010 census, down from 7,862 at the 2000 census.-History:Chumash Indians were the early inhabitants of the valley...
.The camp is affiliated with the Conservative Movement
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
and observes the laws of Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, Shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
, and the laws of Kashrut.
History
The camp was founded in 1956.In 2007, the camp installed the largest private non-profit solar power generator system in the state of California, a 270kW system.Population-wise, it is the largest of the RamahCamp Ramah
Camp Ramah is a network of Jewish summer camps affiliated with the Conservative Movement. The camps operate in the United States, Canada, and Israel. Ramah camps serve kosher food and are Shabbat-observant.-History:...
summer camps, and it caters to the communities of the west coasts of the United States, Canada, Mexico, as well as the non-contiguous states of Hawaii and Alaska. It has also hosted campers from the United Kingdom. It is one of the only Ramah camps that operates a winter camp and holds winter weekends owing to the favorable winter climate. The summer season is split up into two four-week sessions attended by over 1,350 campers.Prayers are held in a synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
in the round.
Administration
The current Executive Director is Rabbi Joe Menashe and the Camp Director is Dr. Zachary Lasker.Chaim Potok
Chaim Potok
Chaim Potok was an American Jewish author and rabbi. Potok is most famous for his first book The Chosen, a 1967 novel which was listed on The New York Times’ best seller list for 39 weeks and sold more than 3,400,000 copies.-Biography :Herman Harold Potok was born in The Bronx, New York City, to...
, author of The Chosen, The Promise, and My Name is Asher Lev
My Name Is Asher Lev
My Name Is Asher Lev is a novel by Chaim Potok, an American author and rabbi. The book's protagonist is Asher Lev, a Hasidic Jewish boy in New York City. Asher is a loner with artistic inclinations. His art, however, causes conflicts with his family and other members of his community...
, was director of the camp in 1957-59 before embarking on his career as a writer. Brian Greene and Rabbi Daniel Greyber have been executive directors of the camp.
Divisions
The campers are split up into age groups, called Edot:- Gesher ("bridge") is a special 2-week program for younger campers entering 3rd to 5th grade who want to be acclimated to camp-life in shorter sessions.
- Nitzanim ("sprouts"), entering 4th and 5th grade
- Abirim ("knights"), entering 4th and 5th grade
- Giborei Yisrael ("heroes of Israel"), entering 6th grade
- Adat Shalom ("the tribe of peace"), entering 7th grade
- Sollelim ("pioneers"), entering 8th grade
- Tzofim ("scouts"), entering 9th grade
- Machon ("foundation") entering 10th grade
- Amitzim ("the strong ones") is an edah for special needsSpecial needsIn the USA, special needs is a term used in clinical diagnostic and functional development to describe individuals who require assistance for disabilities that may be medical, mental, or psychological. For instance, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the International...
children of camp-age.
Machon is the oldest age group for campers. The following summer, former campers (or "Ramahniks") are eligible for a six-week tour of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
called the Ramah Seminar. Mador is a program for first-time counselors and Madrega is a program for first-time specialists, those entering 12th grade.
The "Tzevet" ("staff") is divided into "Madrichim" (counselors) and "Moomchim ("specialists"), while each Edah is led by a "Rosh Edah" ("head of the age group").
Special programs
The camp holds a family Memorial Day weekend, as well as a week-long program in August for families with children with special needs.Notable staff and alumni
Craig TaubmanCraig Taubman
Craig Reid Taubman is an American singer/songwriter and music producer based in Los Angeles, California. Through his independent label/production office, Craig 'N Company, he has produced 11 albums...
the singer/songwriter began to play Jewish music at the age of 15 by leading Jewish prayer services with his guitar.
See also
- Camp RamahCamp RamahCamp Ramah is a network of Jewish summer camps affiliated with the Conservative Movement. The camps operate in the United States, Canada, and Israel. Ramah camps serve kosher food and are Shabbat-observant.-History:...
- Conservative JudaismConservative JudaismConservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
- American Jewish University
- David LieberDavid LieberDr. David L. Lieber, rabbi and scholar, was president emeritus of the University of Judaism and the senior editor of the Etz Hayim Humash...