The Ramah-NOAM Summer Camp,
held annually at the Hodayot Youth Village in the Lower Galilee, creates a unique
atmosphere in which both campers and counselors enjoy an informal Jewish educational
setting. Established by the Masorti Movement in 1988, the Ramah-NOAM Summer Camp
is a meeting place for children from varying religious and secular backgrounds,
with many campers encountering Jewish tradition in daily life for the first time.
Growing from 101 campers in its initial year, the camp hosted some 500 youngsters
in 2003.
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Objectives of Ramah-NOAM Summer Camp
To create a unique youth community where religious pluralism and tolerance
are among the main emphases;
To enable campers to work, play and create together in the singular Masorti
atmosphere;
To present each age group with a specialized, dynamic program of educational
and fun experiences;
To generate a special camp environment conducive to allowing the youngsters
an opportunity to enjoy, experience, grow and make friends;
To provide a meeting place for children from varying religious backgrounds
and encourage their interaction;
To develop leadership skills for the continuation of NOAM and the Masorti
Movement and provide a middle ground for religious choice in Israel.
A three week camp session for campers entering 7th to 10th grades
Nitzanim, a one week encampment for children entering 6th grade
Machanon, a three day encampment for children entering 4th and 5th grades
Netaim, a two-week program for campers with special needs
Maayan, for young adults with special needs to work as staff members of the
camp
Kaytana, a day camp program for new immigrant children from Natzeret Illit
In addition, the camp hosts visits and interaction programs with Masorti youth
from North America (USY) and Europe (NOAM)
Staff
The Ramah-NOAM leadership team, headed by NOAM and Camp Director Ze’ev Kainan
and NOAM Rabbi Claudia Kreiman, is made up of professional Jewish educators. The
camp staff comprises an assistant director and a dedicated group of counselors,
the vast majority of whom are graduates of NOAM and its counselor-training program,
as well as members of NOAM Garinim and Marom, the Masorti young adults and students
organization. Counselors take part in various training programs throughout the
year and undergo a week of preparation, during the week leading up to camp. The
camp program is regularly revised and new features are always being added.
Scholarships and
outreach
In the present economic climate in Israel, the cost of sending one child to summer
camp is prohibitive for many families, let alone the costs involved when there
is more than one child in the family of camp age.
Ramah-NOAM Summer Camp, as part of its budget, allocates resources for scholarships
to children from underprivileged families. Many of these children regularly attend
NOAM activities in the various branches of the youth movement, throughout Israel.
However, as part of its outreach program, Ramah-NOAM also offers scholarships
to children from disadvantaged and new immigrant families.
Through the integration of children from outside the regular intake to Ramah-NOAM,
the Masorti Movement hopes to send a clear message of pluralism and inclusion
to the families involved.
Scholarships and
outreach 