Read Our Spring Newsletter!

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Spring 2016
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From Jacob Cytryn, Director
The people we meet through Ramah are
treasures of our experience; so too are our
camp memories.
Season after season we welcome hundreds of
campers and staff who tell us that returning
to Ramah is like coming home. I couldn’t
agree more. As a camper, I felt that I walked
differently – more sure of myself, more
comfortable in my own skin – when I was
in the Northwoods.
And every summer we also welcome over 100 new campers who
are spending their first summer with us. For them, and their
parents, we continue to work to find the answer to the questions
looming in their minds: Was this the right decision? Will a
summer at Ramah really have an impact?
Last December we received a note from alumna Chaviva (Vivian)
Jacobson, who is very much one of our Ramah treasures. A camper
and staff member on the waterfront in the late 1940’s and early
1950’s (including Ramah’s first season), she returned to camp for
the First Decade Reunion in 2003 and came back the following
summer to help train our waterfront staff.
Chaviva’s stories could fill an entire newsletter – she is an outstanding
swimmer who continues to teach swimming. She has written
a book and lectures extensively about her friend Marc Chagall.
In her note, Chaviva shared a heartwarming and powerful statement
of the staying power of Ramah. In December she was planning
a research trip to Paris, Belgium, Amsterdam, and Germany when
she saw the news from Paris about the terrorist attacks. A dinner
party in honor of her 80th birthday with 12 people (including
Chagall’s granddaughter) to be held in a fabulous Paris restaurant
was cancelled. That night she was filled with anxiety and
struggling to sleep.
“Even though I couldn’t visit Paris and Belgium, I had an amazing
trip to Amsterdam and Germany. I even swam in a pool in Germany
that had three Japanese girls in my lane. They were under 30. I blew
them out of the water with my speed and they went into the next lane.”
The message is not usually this distilled, this simple, but it can never
She wrote, “I tossed and turned and could not fall asleep. Then I went be more powerful or resonant. Ramah: as comforting as an old
to my closet and took out my Ramah Wisconsin sweatshirt purchased sweatshirt; memories as soothing as a summer breeze; friendships
and memories that continue to inspire and refresh us for decades;
at the 2003 reunion and put it over my pajamas. I started to
think about all the fabulous memories from 1947 to 1954 and the where passions are nurtured that continue to define us into our 80’s.
Thanks Chaviva, for giving me the perspective to understand, anew,
wonderful friendships I have kept all these years. The happy
the work we do and its potential impact. Keep telling those stories.
thoughts of those Lake Buckatabon memories were the greatest
sleeping pill ever.”
Stay in touch with Camp Ramah via our blog and youtube channel at www.ramahwisconsin.com.
To receive our weekly e-newsletter, HaMirpeset Shelanu, send an email to [email protected].
page 2
So Many Ramah
Live Outside
the Midwest?
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin
programs are available
to children of alumni
regardless of current
residence
2016 Camp Ramah in Wisconsin Sessions
For current 2nd graders:
Ruach Ramah (July 11-14)
For current 3rd graders:
Kochavim (June 15 – 27) or (June 29 – July 11)
For current 4th graders:
Garinim (June 15 – July 11)
For current 5th graders:
Halutzim (July 14 – August 8)
For current 6th – 10th graders:
Full season (June 15 – August 8)
For current 11th graders:
Ramah Israel Seminar
For teens with special needs:
Taste of Tikvah (4 weeks), Tikvah and
Atzmayim Vocational Program (for high school graduates)
In the Chicago area:
Ramah Day Camp
for children entering K-6 in fall 2016 (see page 18 for details)
For more info on any of these programs go to www.ramahwisconsin.com
or contact Robin Rubenstein, at [email protected] or at 312-690-8305.
page 3
Opportunities!
Upcoming Events
Planning is underway for:
Family Camp – August 10-14, 2016
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Our popular Family Camp continues to grow each year and is nearly
full for 2016. If you are interested in a fabulous family vacation in the
beautiful Northwoods filled with sports, music, campfires and a
beautiful Ramah Shabbat, please consider reserving a spot now for
Family Camp 2017. See a sample schedule, slide show and pricing
info at ramahwisconsin.com
Professional Networking Event in Chicago on May 12
Spring Kikar Ba’Ir event in Chicago
Summer Family Fun Day in the Twin Cities
Summer Pool Party in Kansas City
Family Fun Day in Chicago on July 10
13th Reunion of Nivonim 2003 on June 24-26
25th Reunion of Nivonim 1991 on July 22-24
Don’t miss out! Go to
ramahwisconsin.com/alumni for details.
Camp Ramah
in Wisconsin –
Celebrating
70 Summers!
This summer marks our 70th
season! As we plan for upcoming
celebrations, we are looking for
Aidah Captains – representatives of all
Ramah summers – to reach out to
alumni and make these Ramah anniversary events the best yet!
Do you want to help? Sign up at
ramahwisconsin.com/aidahcaptains.
page 4
From Jonathan Sherman, President
Anyone who has seen the glow on the face of a child returning
from a summer at camp knows something special happens at
Ramah. New friends, new skills, and new confidence abound.
At Camp Ramah in Wisconsin and Ramah Day Camp, our
children learn to feel at home in the Jewish world.
Ramah creates an inclusive environment where young people explore
their Jewish identities with guidance from friends, counselors,
teachers, and visiting Israeli staff. At both our overnight and
day camps, learning to speak Hebrew is as natural as going for
a swim. Discussions of Torah, Israel, and ways to strengthen
the Jewish community inspire lives of service and commitment.
The magic of camp happens in a seamless way and stays with
us forever.
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin—the first of the Ramah camps—was
conceived by visionaries in the 1940s. Today, our camps are the
model for Jewish camps throughout North America. And today,
our vision is needed to ensure that our camps remain strong.
As we prepare to celebrate the 70th season of Camp Ramah in
Wisconsin and the 18th season of Ramah Day Camp, we are
excited to launch the Givah Campaign (givahcampaign.org),
a $6 million campaign that will secure the financial needs of both
of our camps for the next three years and beyond. Through the
hard work of our development team and the generosity of our
donors, we are proud to announce that we have already received
commitments of $2.6 million toward our goal. The centerpiece
of the campaign is the construction of a new Nivonim campus at
the overnight camp. Nivonim Hill, known to generations of
campers and staff as the “Givah,” is the home of our oldest campers.
The Nivonim cabins are nearly 70 years old and need to be
replaced. The Givah Campaign will also address other capital
projects and programming needs, including sports, special needs,
and inclusion programming.
Currently, 100% of our families receive a discount from the actual
cost of attending camp. Funds donated to the Givah Campaign will
allow us to continue to provide subsidies for all of our families, along
with need-based scholarships for those who could not otherwise
send their kids to camp. Another important component of the
campaign will be much-needed strengthening of our endowment.
Every dollar that is allocated to the endowment fund will provide
operating and scholarship funds for years to come.
Arnie Eisen, Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary of
America, has written, “We need more Ramah.” Recent studies show
that those who attend Ramah are more likely to attend synagogue,
light Shabbat candles, and feel a strong emotional attachment
to Israel than those who do not attend Jewish camp. It is not
exaggerating to say that Camp Ramah helps ensure the continuity
of a strong, knowledgeable, and vibrant Jewish community.
Each of us plays an important part in securing the future.
With your help, we will look back knowing we did all we could
to strengthen Ramah for years to come. Please consider a
meaningful gift to the Givah Campaign. Thank you for your
support of Camp Ramah.
Rendering of the new Nivonim cabins and program space.
givahcampaign.org
page 6
From David Soloff, CEO
For many years we have trained our staff to
appreciate each individual camper. Each
summer begins with staff members at both
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin and Ramah Day
Camp learning the names of the campers.
During staff week we read a wonderful poem by
the Israeli poetess, Zelda, called
Every Person Has a Name, and train our staff
to appreciate each individual camper.
Throughout the summer we ask each camper
and staff to be reflective about the multiple ways they can be
known at camp.
Several years ago an alumnus came to visit Camp Ramah in
Wisconsin, and as we toured the camp it was clear that he was
most excited to locate the cabin he lived in during the summer of
1954 and find his name that he remembered scrawling on the
ceiling. For a moment it was like the scene in Sallah Shabbati, the
1964 Israeli movie where visitors to a JNF forest in Israel ask to
see the tree that their family had planted. I was trying to decide if
I should send someone with some chalk to run ahead of us or
just let what will be will be. Fortunately he found his name!
Everyone wants to leave their mark. Over the years we worked
on ways for campers and staff to leave appropriate “footprints in
the sand.” Campers make cabin plaques and aidah projects and
play plaques to hang in the Bet Am. We now proudly display
a plaque that lists the annual winners of the Derech Eretz Awards,
recognizing campers for their mentschlike behavior. One by one
we repainted and upgraded each cabin while carefully cultivating
a culture of respect for the facilities.
The one place campers and staff have continued to write their
names on the buildings has been in the Nivonim cabins, the
home of our oldest (11th grade) campers. The Nivonim campus,
affectionately called the Givah (hill), has housed campers and
staff in buildings that some kindly say are held together by the
forces of the names written from floor to ceiling over these
many years.
Nostalgia aside, these Nivonim buildings need to be replaced as
they no longer meet the needs of the campers or their program.
Our strategic plan calls for the construction of new cabins and
programming space on the plateau behind the current girls’ cabins.
This will open exciting opportunities to expand the number of
teens benefiting from our innovative leadership programs. Read
more about the new Givah Campaign on pages 4-5 and please
make your own mark by joining in this important effort. One fun
way to make your mark in perpetuity is to purchase a customized
brick or paver to line the new Nivonim walkway. More info is
online at givahcampaign.org.
We are grateful to have master architect and alumnus George
Sarfatty (camper in the 1960’s) and his firm designing this next
generation of camp buildings. But the architectural designs are
only one part of this new project. How do we preserve the heritage
and history of all the names currently covering every inch of the
walls, floors and rafters? How do we continue this tradition for
future Nivonim campers?
Last year alumnus Greg Shapps (Nivonim 1986) volunteered his
time and talent as a professional photographer to document the
Nivonim cabins. Through the wonders of technology, you can view
these photos and actually take a virtual reality tour of the cabins
online at givahcampaign.org! Our original campers couldn’t
possibly have imagined that their names would be viewed in this
way decades after they signed the walls.
This summer, we begin the process of transitioning from one
givah to the next. While we have been brainstorming for the last
few months, in dialogue with a committee of alumni and camper
parents, we want your input and ideas as we think about this
question:
How can we best create physical and ritual connections
between the cabins where Nivonim has lived for decades
to the new campus soon to be built?
Please send your thoughts and ideas to me at
[email protected]. At camp this summer, Director
Jacob Cytryn and Rosh Nivonim 2016 Aviva Schwartz will work
with Aviva’s staff and other senior leaders to facilitate a series of
conversations with the campers of Nivonim 2016 to get their
input as well. The plan that emerges from those sessions will set
a framework and standard for Nivonim 2017 and beyond.
As Zelda reminds us, “Each of us has a name given by the mountains
and given by our walls.” Together we carry our traditions and
history with us as we embrace the future.
page 7
Celebrating 70 Summers What do you remember?
From Larry Hoffman:
What camp memories have stayed with you all these years?
As we approach Camp Ramah in Wisconsin’s 70th season we are
collecting camp stories. Please share your stories and photos at
ramahwisconsin.com/campmemories/ or mail to: Camp Ramah
Memories, 65 E. Wacker Place, Suite 1200, Chicago IL 60601.
Todah Rabbah!
My continued strong emotional connection with Camp Ramah
never fails to bring forth a flood of memories, and I’m happy to
say that this year marks the 50th anniversary of my year as a
camper in Yod Aleph, Aidah Machon,1966. Here’s a photo of
my bunk along with the names of my fellow campers and
madrichim:
Back Row from left: Larry Hoffman, Paul Drazen, Jeff Levine, Michael
Bennett, Michael Rosenberg, Harvey Medress - Senior Counselor,
Shelly Elovitz - Junior Counselor
Middle Row from left: Murray Matzner, Bob Billow, Burt Visotzky,
Steve Sweet, Evan Rosen
Front Row from left: David Abelson, David Kantor, Ned Kripke
A Year-round Connection
to the Magic of Camp
On Sunday evenings in the fall, winter and spring, participants in
our special needs programs can tap into a precious resource that is
a source of excitement, comfort, and fun: their Camp Ramah
community. Two video conference calls take place each week under
the guidance of Ralph Schwartz, director of our special needs
programs. One call is for junior high/high school-age Tikvah
campers and another for our post-high school Atzmayim (vocational)
participants. Called Shavua Tov, the calls are hosted by their
counselors and other staff members.
The Tikvah call often focuses on a Jewish question, a social skills
dilemma, or a camp memory. Campers share what is on their
mind, what they are enjoying about the year and any challenges
they want to discuss. For example, one camper who is taking
guitar lessons likes to play what he’s recently learned and get
feedback from his friends.
Participants in the Atzmayim call talk about what’s new with their
jobs, hobbies, and families. Ari Feldman, 2015 Atzmayim Rosh
Aidah, leads this call and encourages participants to share successes
and work through problems as a group. Ari signs off a few minutes
early to give the participants a chance to chat on their own.
It’s a valuable time each week for maintaining strong friendships
and tracking one another’s progress in school, job programs,
and life in general.
The opportunity to process their lives with their camp friends and
mentors is a gift that participants treasure, a connection to the
magic of camp that lasts all year long.
page 8
Donor Honor Roll:
We gratefully acknowledge these gifts and pledges to
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin and Ramah Day Camp since October 1, 2015.
October 1, 2015 – March 15, 2016
*indicates Camp Ramah in Wisconsin Committee member
©
indicates my.ramahwisconsin.com peer-to-peer fundraising campaign
Director’s Circle
Gifts of $100,000 and above
Anonymous (1)
Zell Family Foundation
President’s Circle
Gifts of $50,000 and above
Dr. Rebecca* and Dan Blumenthal*
The Crown Family
Beverly and Richard Fink
Nina and Arnie* Harris
The Halevy Family
Susan and Marc Sacks*
Dr. Margaret* and Alan Silberman*
Rebecca and Richard Warner
Meredith and Ben Lewis
Naomi Newman and Jason Litwack*
Aviva and David Rubin
Jill and Ben Rubin/Strauss Family Foundation
Willard Shonfeld
Rubin Singer
Arnee and Walter Winshall
Buckatabon
Gifts of $1,800 and above
Marcia Cohodes and David Goldsteen
David Kabiller
Nachshon Project
Karyn and William Silverstein
Dr. Michael Steuer
Heidi and Ben Azulay*
Tamar Dolgen and Sergio Bicas
Michele Bresler and Barry Goldberg
Alison and Isaac Judd
Bryna and Rabbi Vernon Kurtz
Gigi Cohen and Michael Levin
Suzanne and Prof. Jacob Neusner
Barrie and Steve Orloff
Dr. Susan Feigenbaum and Dr. Jay Pepose
Louise and Jerry Ribnick
Randee and Robert Romanoff
Sally and Miles Ross
Tami* and Reuben Warshawsky
Karen Weiss
Rosh Anaf
$18,000 and above
Kikar
Gifts of $1,000 and above
Jack & Goldie Wolfe Miller Fund
Cyndi and Jamie Rosenthal
Deborah* and Adam Winick
Anonymous (1)
Angela and Larry Adler
Elizabeth Lippow and Keith Alperin
Bobbi and Robert Aronson
Sonia Bloch
Debby and Gary Cortes
Marlynn and Rabbi Elliot Dorff
Karen* and David Ebroon
Rochelle and Dr. Arthur Elstein
Dr. Ranna Rozenfeld and Shane Greenstein
Jodi and Adam Gruber
Jonah Harris
Lorie Chaiten and Harold Hirshman
Chaviva and Ralph Jacobson
Debra Glassman and Bob Kaufman
Stephanie* and Dr. Kurt Kavanaugh
Dr. Michael Klein
Sara and Joshua Leslie
Madalyn (z”l) and Robert Less*
Richard Levitt
Elisa Rotman and Rabbi Aaron Melman
Sylvia Neil
Vicki and Gary Phillips
Rachel Goldberg and Bryan Quigley
Rose and David Ross
Robin and Rabbi Steven Rubenstein
Lori Stark and Dr. David Shapiro
Rabbi Zachary Silver
Katy and Joshua Silvers
Stephanie and Michael Smerling
Jane and Josh Sosland
Michelle Steiman*
Tamara and Michael Sugar
Roberta and Leonard Tenner
The Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
at Lurie Children’s Hospital
Mimi and Marc Yoskowitz
Rosh Aidah
Gifts of $25,000 and above
Northwoods
Gifts of $10,000 and above
Anonymous (2)
Julie Strauss and Joel Brown*
Karen and Ethan Budin
Eugene J. Eder Charitable Foundation
Ruth and Mark Harris*
Neera* and Michael Kaufman
W.J. Minkus Charitable Trust
Leslie and Howard Schultz
Fran and Jonathan Sherman*
Leslie and Bryan Sloane*
Idyth and Jay Zimbler
Agam
Gifts of $5,000 and above
Ellen and Yehuda Cohen*
Deborah Shalowitz Cowans* and Bruce Cowans
Heilicher Foundation
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
Nancy Miller-Levin and Edward Levin
Dr. Rebecca Schorsch and Dr. Scott Moses*
Charlotte and Michael Newberger*
Lynne and Andy Redleaf
Northern Lights
Gifts of $2,500 and above
Anonymous (1)
The Cytryn Family
Amy and Rabbi Eric Cytryn
Tamar and Jacob Cytryn
Sarah Cytryn and Gabi Mitchell
Dr. Phyllis Gorin and Rabbi Morris Allen
Julie Hirsch and Ron Feldman
Barb and Andy Fishman
Nancy and Lawrence Glick
Stephanie and Mark Goldstein
Sharon Liebhaber and Rabbi Alan Iser
Dan Hurwich Memorial Tribute©
Rochelle and Dr. Steven Katz
Ally and Jordy Kirshenbaum*
Dr. Lena and David Kushnir*
Lake Forest Bank & Trust Co.
Elyse and Dr. Ron Less*
Joseph M. Levine Foundation
Friends
Gifts of $180 and above
Shira and Rabbi Steven Abraham
Sarah Gold and Avi Allen*
Laurie Allen Schulman
Susan and Joseph Ament
Andre Caraco and David Azulay
Laura Elkayam and Ezra Balser
Lynn Barr
Tali and Dr. Adam Baruch
Nancy Bellew
Karen and Dr. David Benson
Francine Bloom
Karen and Marshall Brill*
Beth and Ron Brodkey
Carol and Scott Burg
Sarah and Samuel Caplan
Jane and Dennis Carlton
Dina and Joey Carr
Beth Cherner
Rita Cortes*
Sara and Steve Coven
Dr. Ada Beth and Dr. Charles Cutler
Babette Levy Daskin and Mark Daskin
Esther Goldberg-Davis and Rabbi Alexander Davis
Dr. Leelach Rothschild Dekoven
Talia and Ari Derman*
Debby and Rabbi Charles Dobrusin
Ellen and Robert Dobrusin
Etty and Giora Dolgin
Ebroon Family Hanukkah Fund©
Betsy and Dr. Julius Edlavitch
Deborah Swichkow and Ray Ellis
Jessica Ettinger
Barbara Fedor
Judy and David Fivel
Naomi and Jeremy Fogel
Barry Fredman
Talya and Josh Gepner
Sarina and Robert Gerson
Sheila and Vern Gideon
Dr. Betsy Gidwitz
Nancy and David Given
Jillian Diamond and Gabriel Gliksberg
Amy Abrams and Ronen Glimer
Joseph Goldberg
Sharon and Dr. Harris Goldenberg
Laurie and Joel Goldsmith
Karen and Jay Goodgold
Shaina Hinton and Jonathan Green
Renee and Mark Greenstein
Anna and Jacob Grossberg
Natalie and Brian Gurin
Solomon Gutstein
Rani Halpern and Joel Green
Cheryl Siegelman and Dr. Nate Herscovitch
Eunice and Bruce Hershman
Linda and Michael Hoffenberg
Barbara and David Hoffman
Daniel Jacobs
Eve and Steve Kafitz
Lindsay and Zachary Kafitz
Lizzie and Micah Kafitz*
Benjamin Kahn
David Katz
Dr. Robert Kavitt
Shelly and Wesley Kennedy
Dalia and Brian Kirschbaum
Vivian and Sheldon Kopin
Beth and Dr. Jeffrey Kopin*
Shosh Korrub
Eitan Korrub
Dr. Yael Smiley and Gabriel Kravitz
Dr. Allison and Joel Kurzman
Sara and Richard Kushnir
Sheryl Robbin and Rabbi Daniel Landes
Jeanine Lange
Elana Levine
Lois and Samuel Levin
Sharon and Howard Levitan
Dr. Susan Goldsmith and Ira Lichtenstein
Lisa Lieberman
Erica and Zachary Lindon
Jane Lippow
Jessica and Matthew Litwack
Sara and Steven Loevy
Arielle Kaufman and Ohad Ludomirsky
Paula and Dr. Albert Madansky
Beate and Stefan Majetschak
Fred Manaster
Danny Mann
Joshua Mann
page 9
We are grateful to nearly 50 synagogues, communal funds and Jewish federations for partnership and
generous scholarship support. View a complete list online at: tinyurl.com/z95zx16
“At camp I meet new friends and get to be closer to Judaism in a fun way.
When I get to camp I can feel the magic in the air and I can’t stop smiling.
Thank you for helping make my summer the best it could be.”
May and Walter March
Edward Marks
Hedva and Dr. Moshe Matalon
Dr. Rachel and Taylor McDowell
Ilana Orelle-Meltzer and Ross Meltzer
Dr. Amelia Burgess and Dr. Aaron Milbank
Jaclyn Millner
Susan and Robert Millner
Diane Lowenthal and Bradley Moskowitz
Dr. Beth and Ronn Nadis
Jonathan Oberlander
Sandy Starkman and Larry Pachter
Tamar Rubin and Adam Parker
The Pathology Group in Madison, WI
Christina and Joe Pennington
Lynn and Dr. Louis Philipson
Rachel Pickus
Dorothy and Norman Pink
Brooke and Dr. Matthew Plofsky
Cindy and David Pogrund
Marsha and Bob Polster
Lori and Dr. Richard Rabinowitz*
Rachael Gray-Raff and Elliot Raff
Paulie and Rabbi Carnie Rose
Rabbi Daniel Rosenberg
Dr. Adrienne and Adam Rosenthal
Jennifer Pehr and Jonathan Ross
Ariella Rotenberg
Mathew Rotenberg
Rebecca and Rabbi David Russo
Elana and Seth Schrank
Estherbeth Buchbinder and Jeffrey Schvimer
Marci Dickman and Ralph Schwartz
Renee Locketz Segal and David Segal
Lauren and Marty Segelbaum
Pamela and Michael Shalen
Rebekah and Ilan Shalit
Tamar and Joel Shapira
Dr. Sarah and Andrew Shulkind
Jorie and Andrew Sigesmund
Elizabeth Silver-Schack and Prof. Larry Silver
Lauren and David Silverman
Heidi and Matthew Simons
Faith Roessel and Matthew Slater
Susan Agate and Michael Slutsky
Sarah Small
Mae and Mark Spitz
Miriam and Morton Steinberg*
Rachel Katz and Geoff Storchan
Deborah and Harvey Strauss
Marianne and Stuart Taussig
Barbara and Harvey Temkin
Lindsey Wade
Joan and Jerome Weinstein
Jo Ann Weinstein
Dr. Mary and Dr. Louis White
Gail and Dr. Robert Wilensky
Betty Winer
Erica and Michael Wohlstadter
Robin and Dr. Clifford Wolf
Dr. Toni Ellis Wolf
Matthew Ryan Wynne
Amy Yenkin and Robert Usdan
Audrey and Sahar Zada
Jonathan Zimbler
Jennifer and Michael Zukerman
Ramahnik
Gifts up to $180
Anonymous (3)
Sandy Aaron
Elana Abraham
Howard Abrams
Deanna and Brett Abrams
Dorothy and Bob Abrams
Rabbi Jerome Abrams
Cantor Nancy Abramson
Karen and Eric Adelman
Rochelle Adler
Adina and Adam Aft
Adina Allen
Leora Allen
Shira Altman
Miranda and Steven Altschul
Julia Applefeld
Sari Applefeld
Julie Wolinsky and Homi Arabshahi
Marilyn Susman and Gary Auerbach
Amanda and Berek Awend
Barbara Bach
Naomi Hoffman and Dr. Loren Bach
Leah Baer
Lisa Banoff
Florrie Barron
Amanda Bartelme
Ilana Baumwald
Benji and Faye Bearman
Kara Behr
Yael and Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell
Rabbi Rebecca and Rabbi Joshua Ben-Gideon
Hilary and Michael Benjamin
page 10
Donor Honor Roll:
We gratefully acknowledge these gifts and pledges to
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin and Ramah Day Camp since October 1, 2015.
October 1, 2015 – March 15, 2016
*indicates Camp Ramah in Wisconsin Committee member
©
indicates my.ramahwisconsin.com peer-to-peer fundraising campaign
Alison and Ben Berdass
Robert Berger
Cheryl and Rabbi Kenneth Berger
Sonia Berk
Becky and Shie Berkman
Zach Berkman
Dr. Elizabeth Alpern and Dr. Michael Berkwits
Miryam Bernard-Donals
Lisa Bernkopf
Henry Bernstein
Roberta and Charles Bernstein
Rebecca Holmes and Bennett Berson
Jean Best
Karen and Scott Bieber
Rachel Billow
Abby and Lawrence Block
Marilyn Blonsky
Theodore Bloom
Marissa Platner and Eliot Blum
Lauren Borstein
Eleanor and Albert Boxerman
Elizabeth and Tim Boyle
Tammy and David Brody
Carrie and Adam Broms
Raquel Brown
Joan Brunwasser
Kayla Bryan
Becca and Rabbi Jonathan Bubis
James Burgwald
Wendy Liebow and Scott Burson
Nanci and Ben Caplan
Patti and Alan Caplan
Sandra and Alexander Chack
Rachel Cherrick
Lili and Sheldon Chester
Alexandra Cohen
Benjamin Cohen
Elana Cohen
Naomi and Chaim Cohen
Elli Cohn
Congegation B'nai Amoona Sisterhood
Carly Cooper
Corey Cutler
Jamie Cooper
Shelby Cooper
Sara Daniels Wajcman
Ben Davis
Rebecca Landis Derdiger
Dr. Benjamin Derman
Dr. Carol Rosenberg and Dr. Gordon Derman
Elizabeth Loeb and Henry Docter
Debbie Dolgin
Katherine Doscher
Jeremy Drazner
Benjamin Edlavitch
Dr. Elizabeth Edlavitch- Levin and William Levin
Myron Einisman
Dr. Jacoba and Dr. Drore Eisen
Sara Eisen
Guy Eisenberg
Rebecca Barak and Yuval Eisenberg
Rebecca Elkayam
Fern and Dr. Michael Ellison
Tibor Engel
Corinne and William Engelhart
Talia Engelhart
Marcy Horwitz and Steve Erlebacher
Jayme and Gary Ernsteen
Joseph Eskin
Linda and David Estrin
Robin and Jeff Estrin
Sherri and Donald Ewing
Natalie Blitt and Rabbi Joshua Feigelson
Ari Feldman
Jessie and Rabbi Jeremy Fine
Aaron Fineberg
Ellie Fineman
Jodi Finer
Roberta Fischer
Alexis Fishman
Michael Fishman
Mimi Lutwak-Fitzgerald and Steven Fitzgerald
Sarah and Scott Fleischer
Lilli Flink
Beth and Robert Footlik
Benjy Forester
Betsy and Scott Forester*
Rena Forester
Dr. Avram Fraint
Laura Brock and Zeke Fraint
Wendy and Benjamin Frank
Dawn and Aaron Frank
Jeremy Frankenthal
Kim and Stuart Frankenthal
Sara and Ben Freedland
Laura and Rabbi Alex Freedman
Aaron Freeman
Alice and Dr. David Friedgood
Beatrice and Eugene Friedman
Ursula Ernest Fruehauf
Gloria Galante
Dr. Rebecca and Dr. Gustavo Galante
Gail and Steve Gales
Ilene Schneider and Gary Gans
Dina and Noah Garfinkel
Arianna Gavzy
Asher Gavzy
Elana Gelbart
Benjamin Gellman-Chomsky
Susan Gerber
Steven Gershone
Marlene and Herb Gerson
Isaac Gertman
Jessica Gimbel
Phyllis Gimpel
Rena and Barry Glaser
Anna Glassman-Kaufman
Ari Gleicher
Josh Gleicher
Ilana and Daniel Gleicher-Bloom
Elizabeth Glick
Rhonda and Dan Glick
Judith Levey and Sanford Goldberg
Leora Goldblatt
Dr. Leslie and Bernard Goldblatt
Hope Goldenberg
Nami* and David Goldenberg
Bonnie and Dr. Gary Goldish
Havi Goldscher
Elana and Neil Goldsmith
Angela Goldstein
Shira Goldstein
Ariel and Bryan Goltzman
Ariel Goodman
Edith and Max Goodman
Dr. Michael Goodman
Mindy* and Jeffrey Gordon
Pamela and Rabbi Howard Gorin
Dalia and Daniel Graupe
Robert Greenberg
Fred Greenstein
Beth and Jordan Grey*
Rebekah Grossman
Seth Gruen
Molly Gruesner
Helene and Mark Gussin
Andrew Halpert
Betty and Bertram Hamilton
Vivian Handel
Maxine and Jacob Handelman
Rebecca Handler
Andrew Heisler
Billie and Simon Hellerstein
Marcia and Paul Herman
Jeremy Hershey-Nexon
Robin Hertz
Sara Hervitz
Samuel Hirshman
Alex Treyger and Ilan Hofffenberg
Lauren and Noam Hoffenberg
Dr. Sara and Jonathan Hoffenberg
Brenna Hoffman
Judy and Dr. Mark Hoffman
Barbara and Dr. Robert Hoffman
Gila Hoffman
Molly Hoffman
Eliana Horwitz
Lorraine Horwitz
Sarit Horwitz
Tobi Cooper and Rabbi Daniel Horwitz
Allie Hurwich
Risa Hurwich
Lucas Isleman
Dr. Sherry Israel
Ann and Jonathan Jacobs
Shanna and David Jadwin
Mary and Michael Jones
Hugo Kahn
Alex Kahn
Tali and Jacob Kanter
Adrienne Kaplan
Carole Kaplan
Gerry Kaplan
Gita Karasov
Stefanie and Robert Karon
Sarah Leffak Kashani and Michael Kashani
Isaac Katz
Jeremy Katz
Linda and Allan Katz
Yoni Katz
Dr. Ilana Dworin Kehl and Alex Kehl
Rachel Kesner
Shom Klaff
Carla and Tibor Klausner
Michael Klein
Sydelle Klein
Terry and Rick Kleinbaum
Karen Klingberg
Betty Kohn
Brett Kopin
Briana and Gabi Kopin
Judith and Marc Kornblatt
Louisa Kornblatt
Janet and Dr. Burton Krain
Dr. Cindy Reich and Rabbi Harold Kravitz
Talia Kravitz
Hannah Kreindler
Rick Krosnick
Deborah Kruger
Shuli and Noey Kupchan
Laura and Matt Kushner
Jonathan Kutas
Samuel Lachterman
Sandra Lampman
Claire Lazar
Susan Lazar
David Leibman
Adam Leibowitz
Carol and Robert Lepman
Cynthia and Marc Levin
Laurie and Robert Levin
Esther Levitan
Elyse and Howard Levy
Shera and Michael Libraty
Bryce Lindon
Terry Lipkus
Judge Michal and Hazzan Leon Lissek
Naomi Litman-Zelle
Nancy Lloyd
Jonathan Loew
Jessica Lubetsky
Zella Ludwig
Julia Lustig
Abby and Jonathan Maeir
Jacob Magid
Sammy Magid
Justin Main
page 11
Lee Malmed
Rosalie and Dr. Rick Malter
Manitowoc Jewish Federation
Shoshana Mann
Daniele Marx
Judy and Steven Matthews
Shari Cohen and Robert Mayer
Scott Mayer
Sharon McGowan
Jessica Cavanaugh and Rabbi Raif Melhado
Florence and Laurence Meyer
Judith Pinsof Meyer and Marshall Meyer
Aaron Meyerhoff
Kate Minkus
Sarah Cytryn and Gabi Mitchell
Rosalyn and Steven Mokhtarian
Alison and Alan Molotsky
Allison Mooney
Linda and Rafi Moreen
Jean Moses
Rena and Roberto Munster
Deanna Neil
Phyllis and William Neiman
Roberta and Bruce Nemer
Etan Newman
Robert Nooromid
Shira and Zachary Norman
Elaine and Jeffrey Oberlander
Marissa Oberlander
Marcia and Allen Oleisky
Julie Orenstein
Nadine Orloff
Cynthia and Rabbi Raphael Ostrovsky
Avram Pachter
Judy and Dr. Mark Paschen
Rachel Zivic and Rabbi Micah Peltz
Elisa and Jim Pener
Joyce Pollack and Amir Penn
Tamar Fenton and David Pink
Pearl Plotkin
Emily Podgursky
Hannah Berkowicz and Brian Pogrund
Gregg Pollack
Joshua Pomarenz
Hannah Porter
Robert Pratt
Yehudit Pressner Gavant and Aaron Gavant
Alex Prombaum
Keren and Rabbi Simcha Prombaum
Jacob Rabinowitz
David Rappaport
Rebecca Rapport
Marsha Raviv
Howard Reese
Andrea Rein
Jessica Reiser
Frieda Reschke
Harriet and Joseph Resnick*
Rebecca Rich
Ann Lesley and Scott Rosen
Joanne Rosen
Nancy and Rabbi Jim Rosen
Norma Rosen
David Rosenberg
Donna and Alan Rosenberg
Harry Rosenberg
Jason Rosenberg
Dr. Jonathan Rosenberg
Rachel and Charles Rosenberg
Shirley Rosenberg
Michael Rosenson
Lauren Rosenthal
Karen Roseth
Ariella Rotenberg
Gabriel Roth
Janine and Dean Rothschild
Kimberly and Dr. Ari Rubenfeld
Adina Rubin
Marilyn and Dr. Gary Rubin
Raimy Rubin
Ronit and Neil Rubin
Tammy and Joel L. Rubin
Tamara and Joel D. Rubin
Amy Rubinoff
Tracey Rubinoff
Rochelle and Earl Rubinoff
Evelyn and Ralph Ruebner
Yonaton Saadi
Felice and Robert Sachs
Harold and Jacqueline Sadoff
Rabbi Susan Tendler and Ross Sadoff
Judith Levin and Gerald Salzman
Aliza Sandler
Joy Sandler
Susan and Rabbi Neil Sandler
Rachel Sandler Sliva
Brian Sarfatty
Ruth Schack
Deborah and Randy Schepis
Johannah and Sam Schiffer
Albert Schmelzer
Jeremiah Schmulewitz
Dianne and Harry Schneider
Ahoova and Jonathan Schoenberg
Debbie and Robert Schore
Ron Schrag
Alieza Schvimer
Carol Ann* and Michael Schwartz
Dafna Lender and Jonathan Schwartz
Marla Schwartz
Alison and Jonathan Segal
Lea Wohl-Segal and Reuven Segal
Dr. Marcia and Dr. Edwin Segal
Dani Segelbaum
Michelle and Jim Seidenberg
Laura Senturia
Julia Sethna
Ian Shaffer
Micah Shapiro
Mira Hart and Jacob Shapiro
Kim and Greg Shapps
Miriam and Nadav Shelef
Caleb Sherman
Leora Sherman
Sarah and Jeremy Sherman
Dr. Shelley Sherman
Naomi Shisler
Alison Sider
Deena Siegel
Elaine and Morton Silver
Francine Silverman
Jeremy Slosberg
Rabbi Robert Slosberg
Mary and Marshall Small
Maynard Small
Elliana Smerling
Jill and Jeremy Smiley
Joanne and Dr. James Smith
Michelle Wasserman and David Smith*
Tamara and Adam Smith
Jonathan Snitzer
Edis and Prof. Aaron Snyder
Emily and Rabbi David Soloff
Meira Soloff
Roseanne and Ed Sopher
Nori and Robert Spiro
Rachel, Howard, and Naomi Spiro
Gloria and Sanford Spitzer
SSM Health Care of Wisconsin
St Clare Hospital
Christy and Sandford Steinberg
Joshua Steinberg
Melanie and Dan Steindler
Steven Stender
Leah and Tom Steuer
Rebecca Steuer
Rachel Spilker and Adam Stock
Erin Levy and Bryan Stone
Shaina and Brad Sugar
Melinda Tansman
Becca and Samuel Tatel
Michael Taxy
Eli Temkin
Shirley Tenenbaum
Ari Tenzer
Matthew Tepperman
Susan and RobTepperman
Miriam Thorne
Helene Turner
Joan and Dr. Joseph Vander Walde
Lauren Vandersluis
Rebecca Vandersluis
Sarah Vandersluis
Dr. Janna and Bryan Villano
Alicia Vinocur
Andrew Waford
Phyllis* and Otto Waldmann
Barbara and Mitchell Wand
Glenn Warshaw
Daniel Warshawsky
Josh Warshawsky
Dr. Robert Warshawsky
Leigh and David Waterman
Mildred Weber
Hollis and David Wein
Sarah and Daniel Weinberg
Lisa and Michael Weiner
Aliza and Stuart Weinstock
Barry Weiss
Daniel Weiss
Shira and Cobi Weissbach
Naomi King-Smith and Todd Werner
Rhoda Wertheimer
Jody and Phil Weverka
Joshua Wilkenfeld
Neil Wilkof
Hilary Wiseman
David Witten
Radyne and Dr. Steven Wolf
Aaron Wolf
Danielle Wolf
Jordan Wolff
Robin and Mark Wolff
Joseph Wolinsky
Michael Wolinsky
Ina and Dr. Joseph Young
Jennifer and Jeremy Zacks
Barb and Michael Zaransky
Jonathan Zarem
Ruth and Albert Zimbler
Rabbi Elka Abrahamson and Martin Zinkow
Maya Zinkow
Miriam and David Ziskind
Sarah Zivic
Talia Zuckerman
We are grateful to these individuals and
companies who have contributed valuable
goods and services:
Dentons LLP
Marlene Kaplan
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Abby Maeir
NTI Upstream (Gabe Chasnoff)
Porath Print Source (Gerry Engelhart)
Salesforce.org
Sarfatty Associates Ltd
Greg Shapps Photography
Every effort was made to correctly list donor
names. If your gift was omitted or listed
incorrectly, please contact Linda Hoffenberg
(info on page 18).
page 12
Camp Ramah… an experience
In December, 20 young alumni at call centers in Chicago and
the Twin Cities helped “pay it forward” by participating in
our 6th Annual Scholarship Phonathon. This year the effort
also included online peer-to-peer fundraising through
myramahwisconsin.com (see below). Online giving plus phone
calls to friends brought in over $34,000 for the Scholarship Fund
from 260 donors – a 40% increase in 2014 totals! Kol HaKavod!
My.ramahwisconsin.com
In just the last few months, the new my.ramahwisconsin.com
peer-to-peer platform was used:
• by young alumni to expand the reach of the
Scholarship Phonathon
• by an alumna who organized a campaign for her
family’s Hanukkah celebration
• by camp friends to honor the memory of a beloved
community member
• by members of Nivonim 1990 and 2002 in honor
of their reunions last summer
All of these efforts raised funds to help children experience Ramah
this summer. So what can YOU do to help? Are you running
a marathon? Celebrating a Bar or Bat Mitzvah? Marking a special
birthday or anniversary? Make it an occasion to support Ramah!
The user-friendly site makes it easy to get started. For more info
contact Sam Caplan, Chief Development Officer, at
[email protected] or 312-690-8332.
page 13
that lasts a lifetime!
In February a group of enthusiastic Wisconsin Ramahniks joined songleaders
from around the country in St. Louis for the Songleader Boot Camp.
This energizing leadership training program helps campers and staff members
develop their Jewish music skills and learn more about creating impactful
experiences through music.
Ramah Shabbat Dinner at
the University of Michigan
excerpted from a Reshet Ramah blog post on March 1, 2016
By Jared Skoff, 2016 Camp Ramah in Wisconsin Rosh Aidah
Last semester, 63 Ramah alumni attended a Ramah Shabbat Dinner
at University of Michigan Hillel, with representatives from each one
of our overnight camps. “Michigan boasts having the most Ramah
alumni of any school, but that accomplishment is difficult to visualize
on such a large campus,” said Ramah Canada staff member and
U of M senior Shira Wolf. “Dinner on Friday night was one of the
first times I was able to truly see how many Ramahniks there are
at Michigan, and getting to welcome in Shabbat with them was
a great experience.”
Before dinner, Shira led Kabbalat Shabbat at Hillel’s egalitarian
minyan, where Ramah is often well represented. After the minyan
ended, we all helped rearrange the chairs, to transform our davening
space into a private dining room. When we were ready to begin,
we sang Shalom Aleichem, over sixty voices strong. We had 15 from
Ramah Wisconsin, 9 from Berkshires, 8 from Darom, 8 from Canada,
and staff members from California, Palmer, Poconos, Nyack, and
Rockies as well.
“The Ramah Shabbat dinner was an amazing way of bringing the
Ramah community together on Michigan’s campus,” said Danny
Kahn, a U of M sophomore, Wisconsin staff member, and major
organizer of the event. “Everyone was happy to reunite with their
camp friends and to meet new Ramahniks. After helping to organize
the dinner, seeing friends from all different camps come together
as a unified group at Hillel was both rewarding and exciting for me.
I was watching Ramah traditions and ruach come to life.”
The 2016 National Ramah Winter Leadership Training Conference,
held from January 4-7, was a tremendous success. This year’s gathering took
place at Camp Ramah in California in Ojai under a mix of sun and much-needed
rain. The four-day conference featured several tracks, including the Bert B.
Weinstein Counselor Training Program for second year counselors and training
for counselors of campers with disabilities, senior counselors, Roshei Aidah
and Ramah Service Corps Fellows. Shown here is the Ramah Wisconsin
delegation with Assistant Director Adina Allen.
The annual Ramah Israel Staff Shabbaton was held in January in Jerusalem.
American and Israeli staff members who spent the 2015 season at a Ramah
camp came together to sing, dance, pray and learn together. Director Jacob
Cytryn and Assistant Director Adina Allen are shown with the Ramah
Wisconsin delegation.
Three Wisconsin Ramahniks
are participating in this
year’s Tichon Ramah
Yerushalayim (TRY),
the Ramah movement’s
high-school semester program
in Israel: Jacob Ratner,
Adam Valdman and Zakai Rose.
page 14
Camp Ramah… an experience
Friends for life! From left: Ronnie Ban, Naomi (Boxerman) Ban, David Weber and Harvey Medress.
Missing from the picture, but also part of this mini-reunion was Ricky Aron. From Harvey, “We live in Israel,
St. Louis and Green Bay and last fall we were able to spend some time together reliving our wonderful
experiences at Ramah in Wisconsin. We all started when we were 12 or 13 years old, spent our years as campers
and then moved to the staff in various roles. Although we don’t see each other very often, our friendships have
remained very strong and all of us share an extremely warm feeling for Ramah.”
Last fall over 1,000 Ramahniks
participated in “Shabbat Across
Ramah” organized by the Reshet
Ramah Alumni Network. Shown
here are Ramah Wisconsin alumni at
Brandeis. For more info on Reshet
Ramah programming go to
www.reshetramah.org
The Ramah Service Corps is a program
of year-round leadership engagement and
training for young adult alumni of the
Ramah Camping Movement. This past year
we welcomed Becca Rich (left) and
Dani Marx as our Fellows. Becca was a
camper for six years and spent four years
on staff. After graduating from George
Washington University, she spent
a year in Avodah: The Jewish Service
Corps in Chicago. She is currently a Master
of Social Work student at the University
of Illinois-Chicago and a Ramah Service
Corps Fellow at Anshe Emet Synagogue.
Registration is now open for the 2017 Ramah Israel Bike Ride
and Hiking Trip to support Ramah’s programs for children,
teens and young adults with disabilities. Explore Central Israel from
the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea May 9-16, 2017.
Details at ramahridehike.org
Make sure your Future Ramahnik
is dressed in style!
Email Robin at
[email protected]
for a complimentary onesie.
Dani was a camper for six years, spent
three years on staff and is currently a senior
at Northwestern University studying
journalism, marketing communications,
and psychology. As a Ramah Service Corps
Fellow she has helped recruit campers
at synagogues across the Chicagoland area
for the past three years. According to Dani,
“I’ve loved sharing the importance of
Camp Ramah with prospective campers
and parents, and I’m thrilled to have helped
bring new campers to the kikar!”
page 15
that lasts a lifetime!
Reshet Ramah and Marom Representatives in Berlin. Jonah Harris is standing second from left.
A Visit to Berlin with Reshet Ramah for Marom Europe’s Continental
Networking and Leadership Seminar
By Jonah Harris, Nivo 2009
In March I traveled to Berlin, Germany on a trip sponsored by the
Reshet Ramah alumni network and planned by Marom Olami,
the young adult division of Masorti Olami, the world council of
Conservative synagogues. While I was the only alumnus of Ramah
Wisconsin on the trip, there were eight other Ramahniks from
other camps across the country who participated. In Berlin we were
joined by Marom representatives from 15 countries, spanning six
continents. During the four-day conference, we heard about
Masorti Jewish communities across the world. It was exciting to
realize how Jews across the world are so closely connected – I even
found mutual friends with participants from Brazil and Uganda.
On Friday night we came together with the older members of the
Masorti Conference to pray in the Neue Synagogue in Berlin,
which is over 150 years old. The synagogue was partially destroyed
in the Holocaust, but recently reopened and is now home to an
egalitarian congregation. Although the people in the room came
from across the world, we all prayed as one community with shared
liturgy and melodies.
Originally I didn’t quite understand why the conference was being
held in Berlin. But I soon realized that other than being a fairly
central location in Europe, it also has an important role in Jewish
history. When touring the city with the other members of the
conference, I realized that there was so much to be said about Jewish
life in Berlin for centuries, although many only remember it for
the more recent tragedies there during the Holocaust. We saw the
birthplaces of the Reform and Modern Orthodox movement,
and also spoke to Jews happily living there today.
After the conference I spent a few days touring Berlin with
Ramahniks I met earlier on the trip. During those days I reflected
on what a wonderful experience it was to connect to Jews across
the country and the world and to be a part of a global community.
These new connections I made and lessons I learned will help me
build a stronger local community back home in Chicago.
page 16
Our family’s relationship with Ramah began when our eldest son,
Ezra, started out at Ramah Day Camp, about 10 years ago.
For us, Ramah was initially a convenient place to send our kids to
a Jewish day camp where they could spend time with their cousins.
Joel’s sister-in-law, Ilisa (Adler) Brown, and her siblings were all
Ramah campers, and Ilisa encouraged us to consider Ramah for
our boys.
We were impressed by the strong ruach and energy that set a
positive mood at Ramah Day Camp, and we found the varied
programmatic offerings attractive. The staff, under Lori’s guidance,
was highly professional yet always warm and friendly. We were
very impressed by the seamless integration of Hebrew language and
Jewish values throughout the camp and programming. Ezra found
an easy home at Ramah, and our younger son, Jonathan, soon
followed. The Day Camp was a great introduction to Ramah.
Ezra’s first summer at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin was a big
transitional step, though we were supported in the decision to
send Ezra to overnight camp by family, synagogue clergy and
professional staff and by other families with kids up at camp.
Our initial anxieties (would our kid ever shower or eat?) quickly
abated with the multitude of photos showing Ezra happily
engaged in camp activities and looking (somewhat) clean.
Ezra’s initial summer at Ramah was also our first occasion to visit
camp grounds. We were really blown away by the incredible
communal energies binding the campers into one cohesive Jewish
extended family. All of the campers were so friendly and kind to
one another. Everyone was so steeped in Jewish ritual practice and
values, yet wore their Judaism organically and comfortably.
We were pretty much all-in Ramahniks from that visit on.
After several more years of camp experience with both Ezra and
Jonathan, Joel was invited to join the Ramah Committee, where
he has had the opportunity to learn more deeply about the
tremendous personal commitments and resources that have built
and sustained Ramah. We have also made new friends who are
equally passionate about Ramah camping.
The impact that Ramah has had on our kids – and on our family –
makes Ramah an easy focus for family Tzedakah. About 50 percent
of camper families at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin rely on some
Julie and Joel with sons Ezra and Jonathan at camp
level of financial support to make summer camp affordable, and all
camper families benefit from the built-in fee discount as a result of
the camp’s fundraising efforts and endowment, which have grown
over time through support of camper families and others deeply
connected to Ramah. The “rightness” of supporting this institution
with Tzedakah seems beyond debate or discussion.
We are also happy to provide for Ramah in our legacy planning.
It is clear that our family’s ability to benefit from the unique
opportunities provided by Ramah could only have been realized
through the commitments – financial and otherwise – made by
many families before us. Providing for Ramah in our estate
planning is a simple way for us to provide for future campers for
generations to follow.
Julie Strauss and Joel Brown
page 17
Legacy Society Members
Anonymous (6)
Shira and Rabbi Steven Abraham
William Agress
Dr. Phyllis Gorin and
Rabbi Morris Allen
Abby and Sheldon Badzin
Faye and Benji Bearman
Betty Benson (z”l)
Miriam and Dan Berger
Robert M. Berger
Jean Best
Marilyn Blonsky
Cookie Feldman Bloom
Karen and Marshall Brill
Julie Strauss and Joel Brown
Elizabeth Holtzman and David Bubis
F. Bruce Cohen
Roberta (z”l) and
Rabbi Burton Cohen
Sarah Bierman and
Rabbi Joshua Cohen
Ellen and Yehuda Cohen
Margaret and Lee Cohn
Debbie and Gary Cortes
Rita M. Cortes
Deborah Shalowitz Cowans
and Bruce Cowans
Tamar and Jacob Cytryn
Evan Dreifuss
Dr. Arthur Elstein
Jennifer and Stewart Flink
Betsy and Scott Forester
Kim and Alan Frankel
Kim and Stuart Frankenthal
Charlotte Singer Gelfand
Marvell Ginsburg (z”l)
Leslie and Bernie Goldblatt
Nami and David Goldenberg
Laurie and Joel Goldsmith
Marlene and Sam Gordon
Mindy and Jeffrey Gordon
Rabbi Yosi Gordon
Harold Grinspoon
Michal and Uzi (z”l) Halevy
Evelyn Harris (z”l)
Nina and Arnie Harris
Ruth and Mark Harris
Linda and Michael Hoffenberg
Sara and Jon Hoffenberg
Vivian and Ralph Jacobson
Shanna Baumgarten Jadwin
Camille and Rabbi Rob Kahn
Orlee and Jeffrey Kahn
Beth and Dr. Jeff Kopin
Gabriel Kopin
Rabbi Myer Kripke (z”l)
Dr. Lena and David Kushnir
Elyse and Dr. Ron Less
Madalyn (z”l) and Robert Less
Renee and George (z”l) Levine
Shary and Marc Levitt
Leslie and Michael Litwack
Arthur and Lois Marc (z”l)
Adam Margolis
Edward and Roslyn (z”l) Marks
Julie Rabinowitz and Gary Marx
Judy and Harvey Medress
Judy Teibloom Mishkin and
Larry Mishkin
Dr. Rebecca Schorsch and
Dr. Scott Moses
Barbara and Donald Newman
Barrie and Steve Orloff
Sandy Starkman and
Larry Pachter
Tamar Rubin and Adam Parker
Dana Yugend-Pepper and
Larry Pepper
Benjamin Philipson
Roselind and Sheldon Rabinowitz
Lisa and Mark Ratner
Harriet and Joseph Resnick
Mindy and Dan Ribnick
Jaynie Schultz and Ron Romaner
Ann Lesley and Scott Rosen
Shari (z”l) and Dr. Herbert Rosen
Jonathan Adam Ross
Dena (z”l) and Fred Rothschild
Betty and Dr. Irving (z”l) Rozenfeld
Robin and Rabbi Steven Rubenstein
Susan and Marc Sacks
Martha and Arthur Salkin
Louise and Steven Schoenberger
Carol Ann and Michael Schwartz
Phyllis and Sidney (z”l) Shalowitz
Lori Stark and Dr. David Shapiro
Fran and Jonathan Sherman
Karen and Hal Sider
Dr. Margaret and Alan Silberman
Sarah Small
Sheila and Michael Small
Emily and Rabbi David Soloff
Melissa and Marc Spellman
Adam Steinberg
Miriam and Morton Steinberg
Mayer Stiebel
Rebecca and Rabbi Loren Sykes
Anna Tarkoff
Lisa and Steven Tenzer
Phyllis Hofman Waldmann
Joshua Warshawsky
Tami and Reuben Warshawsky
Richard D. Weiner
Debbie and Adam Winick
David Wolkin
Declaration of Intent
In the Jewish tradition of sharing our blessings, I/we take deep satisfaction in declaring my/our intent to help Camp Ramah in
Wisconsin provide for the needs of future generations of Jewish children.
I/We have made provision, or
I/We will make provision to include Camp Ramah as beneficiary in:
a bequest in my/our will
a deferred lifetime gift
through a trust fund and/or foundation
through a retirement fund
a life insurance gift
Please add my/our name(s) to the Ramah Wisconsin Legacy Society.
Print your name as you would like to be listed in the
Ramah Wisconsin Legacy Society
I/We do not want to be listed.
Name
Address
City
State
Phone
Email
Signature
Date
Zip
Please fax to 312.606.7136 or mail to: Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, Legacy Society, 65 East Wacker Place # 1200, Chicago IL 60601
Please consult your attorney or tax advisor for professional guidance in this area.
For additional information contact Linda Hoffenberg, Director of Institutional Advancement, at 312.606.9316 ext. 225 or
[email protected]
page 18
From Lori Stark, Director
As we gear up for our 18th season (Chai!) we look forward to
welcoming hundreds of children to our beautiful Ramah Day
Camp (RDC) site in just a few weeks. Assistant Director Judy
Jury and I – together with our talented Israeli staff, counselors and
specialists – are preparing for another summer filled with laughter,
friendship and fabulous Jewish fun.
Behind the scenes, guiding the months of preparation that lead
up to the summer, there is a very dedicated lay leadership and
professional staff shared by Camp Ramah in Wisconsin and Ramah
Day Camp working together to strengthen both camps.
Lori Stark (left) and
Judy Jury
I’d like to take this opportunity to highlight and acknowledge
the work of the Ramah Day Camp Advisory Committee, led by
co-chairs Karen Ebroon and David Smith. These volunteers serve
as enthusiastic camp ambassadors promoting Ramah Day Camp in
their communities and within their networks. They plan special
events and help make Ramah Day Camp a welcoming, nurturing
and inclusive experience in every way.
One member of the RDC Advisory Committee, Meredith Dubner,
recently wrote a welcome letter to new camp families. It is so lovely
that I want to share it:
Welcome to Ramah Day Camp! As a parent of three RDC
campers and a former Ramah camper and counselor myself,
it is my great pleasure to welcome you into the Ramah family.
I know that you share my excitement about the journey that
your children and your family are about to embark on.
At Ramah Day Camp, your children will get the first taste of
what makes Ramah so special. They will swim, they will play
games and sports, they will do craft projects, and they will sing
and cheer. But in the very small moments — when they are
walking on a nature trail and learning the Hebrew words for
different leaves, or when they are talking about the Jewish value
of tikkun olam, making the world a better place — you will
begin to see the magic that is Ramah Day Camp.
Your children will bond with counselors and staff that are
caring and nurturing and energetic and enthusiastic. They will
have fun learning all kinds of new things, and you will be
Ramah Day Camp is a warm and nurturing environment where
kids come to make great friends, grow socially, learn Jewish values
and most importantly - to have fun! Campers entering kindergarten
through sixth grade enjoy sports, swimming, music, cookouts,
arts & crafts and so much more!
Chicago area campers entering grades 4, 5 and 6 can experience both
Ramah Day Camp and Camp Ramah in Wisconsin in one summer at
special rates! Kochavim offers entering 4th graders the opportunity to
spend twelve action-packed days at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin and the
rest of the summer at Ramah Day Camp. Two sessions are available.
Garinim (for entering 5th graders) and Halutzim (for entering 6th
graders) offer four weeks at Ramah Day Camp and four weeks at
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin.
For details call (312) 606-0444 or email [email protected].
Karen Ebroon and
David Smith
amazed by the creativity of RDC’s counselors and the
commitment to making each activity of each day remarkable
for our children.
They will get off the bus each day with tired smiles, and as
the songs of camp and the ruach of Ramah fill your home
and your hearts, you will realize that there is no better place
than Ramah for your children to strengthen their pride in
being Jewish.
I am confident you will fall in love with Ramah Day Camp
the way my family has.
Enrollment is still open for our 2016 season – it’s not too
late to experience “the magic that is Ramah Day Camp” this
summer! Feel free to contact me at [email protected]
or at (312) 606-0444 for more information.
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin
65 E. Wacker Place, Suite 1200, Chicago IL 60601
Rabbi David Soloff, Chief Executive Officer
Jacob Cytryn, Director, Camp Ramah in Wisconsin
Adina Allen, Assistant Director
Lori Stark, Director, Ramah Day Camp
Benji Bearman, Chief Operating Officer
Sam Caplan, Chief Development Officer
Jonathan Sherman, President
For additional information contact:
Linda Hoffenberg, Director of Institutional Advancement,
312-690-8325, E-mail: [email protected]
www.ramahwisconsin.com www.ramahday.com