On Thursday, we welcomed our Garinim campers for their 11-night adventure at Ramah Darom—and their ruach (spirit) and excitement were contagious from the moment they stepped off the bus! What made it even more heartwarming was watching Gesher—their role models and our future tzevet (staff)—greet them with such pride and care. It was a beautiful reminder of the circle of Camp life and the leadership our oldest campers are already beginning to embody.
This week also brought yitziot (outings) for many of our aidot (age divisions), and I was able to meet up with several groups, greeting campers at intercamp games, joining others at a playground, and sharing smiles and sweet treats at a local ice cream shop. Watching our campers laugh, explore, and live out our values beyond the gates of Camp was deeply affirming. These moments outside our usual routine show that Ramah values travel with us wherever we go.
Amidst all the fun, we continue to root our experiences in Jewish learning. This week, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Kochavim campers about derech eretz—the “way of the land.” It’s a phrase that can be hard to define, but at its core, it’s about moral and ethical behavior, carrying oneself in a mensch-like way, doing the right thing, and treating others with respect. I shared with them how I speak to our oldest campers before their trips, reminding them that they represent not only Camp but the Jewish people—and that they should carry themselves with kindness, dignity, and care in every encounter.
In this week’s parsha, Pinchas, we meet some of my favorite activists in the Torah—the daughters of Zelophehad. When faced with an unjust inheritance law, they don’t react with anger or rebellion. Instead, they approach Moshe respectfully and advocate for their rights with humility and strength. Because of their respectful yet bold action, the law is changed. They are a model for what it means to pursue justice with derech eretz.
That is the message I shared with Kochavim: that here at Camp, we strive to treat others with dignity and respect, and when we encounter injustice—whether big or small—we respond with the confidence and character to speak up and seek change through our values. That’s what Camp is all about: preparing our children to be thoughtful, compassionate, and courageous Jewish leaders in the world.
Enjoy our Machzor Bet Week 3 Video.