Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, near

Wingdale, New York Wingdale is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Dover in Dutchess County, New York, United States. It was first listed as a CDP prior to the 2020 census. The community is in southeastern Dutchess County, in the southern part ...

, is one of nine overnight

summer camp A summer camp or sleepaway camp is a supervised program for children conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as ''campers''. Summer school is usually a part of the academ ...

s and three day camps affiliated with the Conservative Movement of

Judaism Judaism ( he, ''Yahăḏūṯ'') is an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion comprising the collective religious, cultural, and legal tradition and civilization of the Jewish people. It has its roots as an organized religion in the ...

and the

National Ramah Commission Camp Ramah ( he, מחנה רמה, Machaneh Ramah) is a network of Jewish summer camps affiliated with the Conservative Movement. The camps operate in the United States, Canada, and Israel. All Ramah camps serve kosher food and are ''Shabbat''-obs ...

. It is accredited by the

American Camp Association The American Camp Association (ACA), formerly known as the American Camping Association, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves the United States. It is an association for camp owners, camp professionals and others interested in summer camps and si ...

. The camp sits on site in

Dutchess County, New York Dutchess County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 295,911. The county seat is the city of Poughkeepsie. The county was created in 1683, one of New York's first twelve counties, and later orga ...

, about southwest of the

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

border and the

Berkshire Mountains The Berkshires () are a highland geologic region located in the western parts of Massachusetts and northwest Connecticut. The term "Berkshires" is normally used by locals in reference to the portion of the Vermont-based Green Mountains that ex ...

, on Lake Ellis.

Religious orientation

Camp Ramah Camp Ramah ( he, מחנה רמה, Machaneh Ramah) is a network of Jewish summer camps affiliated with the Conservative Movement. The camps operate in the United States, Canada, and Israel. All Ramah camps serve kosher food and are '' Shabbat''-o ...

is a religiously oriented camp that observes the laws of

Shabbat Shabbat (, , or ; he, שַׁבָּת, Šabbāṯ, , ) or the Sabbath (), also called Shabbos (, ) by Ashkenazim, is Judaism's day of rest on the seventh day of the week—i.e., Saturday. On this day, religious Jews remember the biblical storie ...

and

kashrut (also or , ) is a set of dietary laws dealing with the foods that Jewish people are permitted to eat and how those foods must be prepared according to Jewish law. Food that may be consumed is deemed kosher ( in English, yi, כּשר), fro ...

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

is widely used in all facets of camp life, from the names for buildings, physical infrastructure, and services, to camp activities and programs. Campers attend daily religious prayer services. On Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays the campers execute the traditional

Torah service Torah reading (; ') is a Jewish religious tradition that involves the public reading of a set of passages from a Torah scroll. The term often refers to the entire ceremony of removing the scroll (or scrolls) from the Torah ark, chanting the ap ...

. Campers also attend classes or programs that thecamp has set up to structure their Jewish background. Counselors and alumni describe their summers at Ramah as one of the most formative experiences of their childhoods and a primary influence on their Jewish identity.

Administration

From 2003 until 2017, the camp director was Rabbi Paul Resnick. Rabbi Jerome (Jerry) Abrams was the founder of the camp in 1964. He is now director emeritus. Rabbi David Mogilner, Rabbi Sheldon (Shelley) Dorph, David August, and Rabbi Burton Cohen were directors in late 1960 and 1970s.

Special programs

The camp annually holds a

Labor Day Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United St ...

weekend for alumni of the camp who are 22 years old and over."Camping Out With 'Ramah Mamas'"
The Jewish Week, November 19, 2004, accessed September 17, 2010

Divisions

Campers are divided by age groups, called ''Edot'' in

: *''Cochavim'' ("Stars"), entering 4th grade *''Nitzanim'' ("Flower Buds"), entering 5th grade *''Shorashim'' ("Roots"), entering 6th grade *''Tzeirim'' ("Youths"), entering 7th grade *''Solelim'' ("Pavers"), entering 8th grade *''Bogrim'' ("Graduates"), entering 9th grade *''Machon'' ("Institute") entering 10th grade *''Gesher'' ("Bridge"), entering 11th grade

References

External links

Camp Ramah in the Berkshires website

National Ramah Commission website"Research Findings on the Impact of Camp Ramah," 2004

Ramah at 60: Reflections
{{DEFAULTSORT:Camp Ramah In The Berkshires

Berkshires The Berkshires () are a highland geologic region located in the western parts of Massachusetts and northwest Connecticut. The term "Berkshires" is normally used by locals in reference to the portion of the Vermont-based Green Mountains that ex ...

Ramah In The Berkshires Buildings and structures in Dutchess County, New York Tourist attractions in Dutchess County, New York Conservative Judaism in New York (state)