I
World
Back In Time
Camp Ramah reunion revives memories for Detroit alumni.
Gabriella Burman
Special to the Jewish News
celebration that rekindled friendships and
resulted in some serious nostalgia for the
Ontario lakeside setting of their youth.
"When we were all singing together at
the Havdalah service marking the end
of Shabbat, I could have closed my eyes
and just as easily have been standing
outside, with the stars of Muskoka shin-
ing above my head:' said Sheri Wagner
Toronto
D
ozens of Detroit alumni of Camp
Ramah in Canada gathered with
more than 400 of their peers in
Toronto Nov. 12-13 for a 50th reunion
Jewish Senior Life of
Metropolitan Detroit
Save The Date And Nominate!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
EfailT
EIGHTY
The Tikkun Olam Award
WHAT:
Eight Over Eighty — The Tikkun Olam Award
Eight Over Eighty is an annual event at Jewish Senior Life of
Metropolitan Detroit that honors eight senior adults, eighty years
or older, who have dedicated their time, talents and lives to
our community.
WHY:
To recognize eight senior adults for their lifetime achievements
WHEN: Sunday, May 15, 2011, BRUNCH 11:00
WHERE: Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Southfield, Michigan
Do you know
a deserwhig
older whet who...
• Is at least 80 years old?
• Has been a long-standing
volunteer in the community?
• Is active or volunteering today?
• Is dedicated to maintaining
strong Jewish values?
• Is an inspiring leader or mentor
in the community?
How to Nominate:
Write or email JSL describing the
worthiness of the nominee. Please
include (as applicable):
• Name and age of nominee
• Duration of volunteer
• Involvement in Jewish organizations
and causes
• Leadership positions held
• Current accomplishments
• Letters and newspaper articles
supporting nominee's
accomplishments
• Explain how the nominee's long-
standing activities exemplify a
commitment to the Jewish value of
Tikkum Olam (Repairing The World).
Nominations are due by January 24, 2011.
Honorees will be inducted in the
Mail or email nominations to:
Senior Adult Jewish Hall of Fame at a
community brunch held During Older
American's Month in May.
Proceeds go to:
The JSL Quality of Life Fund,
which enriches the lives of our
residents.
A
28 November 25 • 2010
Eight Over Eighty
Jewish Senior Life of Metro Detroit
6710 W. Maple
West Bloomfield, MI 48322
Or nominate on line at:
www.jslmi.org
Email: jscott@jshni.org
Jamie Scott, Resource Coordinator
(248) 592-1144
Greenbaum, a West Bloomfield native
who was a camper, counselor and rosh
edah (unit head) from 1984-1994 at the
camp in Muskoka, Ontario.
Newly married, Greenbaum added
that she will insist on sending any
future children she has to Camp Ramah.
"It was the greatest gift my parents
gave me:' she said. "I want to pass it on:'
The reunion was initially conceived
as a dinner honoring founders of the
camp; through Facebook, it snow-
balled into a weekend event at Beth
Tzedec Congregation, culminating in a
Havdalah dessert reception featuring
a sing-along led by singer/songwriter
Craig Taubman, a Ramah alum. By and
large, attendees left their spouses and
children behind, creating a real sense of
having returned to the Ramah fold.
Ramah Canada, one of eight overnight
camping programs affiliated with the
Conservative movement, was founded
by members of Toronto's Jewish com-
munity in 1960. Annually, it serves
approximately 450 campers from across
Canada, Michigan, upstate New York,
Ohio and Pittsburgh. While the camp
includes typical waterfront, sports and
arts activities — and is known for its
tough canoe trips in Algonquin National
Park — there is also an emphasis on
Zionism, Hebrew language and Jewish
studies, with daily tefilot (prayers) and
classes.
Ramah campers tend to carry their
experiences with them throughout their
lives. According to Ariella Keysar, a
researcher at Trinity College in Hartford,
Conn., graduates of the Ramah system
are three times more likely than their
peers to exclusively date Jews, to spend
time in Israel and to attend synagogue
services.
In many cases, having gone to Ramah
has directly influenced decision making
about where to live, how to live and who
to marry.
Mark Leuchter, director of Jewish
studies at Temple University in
Philadelphia, chose to pursue his doc-
torate at University of Toronto "because
of the friends I had made at camp:' he
said.
Although Leuchter grew up in an
observant home in Southfield and
attended Hillel Day School, he says
Ramah cultivated his academic interest
in looking critically at early Judaism.
"There was an awareness and respect
for tradition without it being paint-by-
Former Detroiters Mark Leuchter of
Philadelphia and Ariella Goldfein of New
York City
Sheri Wagner Greenbaum of West
Bloomfield and Amy Wagner Biloon of
South Orange, N.J.
numbers Judaism," he recalled. "We were
able to ask questions."
For example, Tisha VAN; a fast day
that falls during the summer, and which,
at Ramah, includes a campwide candle-
light reading of Eicha, or the Book of
Lamentations, was presented "symboli-
cally, not only literally as a date histori-
cally in which all these terrible tragedies
befell the Jewish people. This had a pro-
found impact on me:' he said.
All told, "Ramah is an intense experi-
ence," said Lowell Friedman, an attorney
in Royal Oak and former Ramah coun-
selor. "You're with people 24 hours a day,
for two months straight; and you form
some pretty close bonds."
So strong, he said, reflecting on the
reunion, that "when you come back and
see people 20 years later, you don't miss
a beat. It's like you never left:' ❑