I just arrived in Jerusalem where I will spend Shabbat with the 13 other Fellows and three teachers of the Jim Joseph Foundation Fellowship Program of the Lookstein Center. We have been learning together and traveling together since our arrival in Israel this past Monday. The truth is, more than half of us made it to Kfar Maccabia in Ramat Gan on time; the rest were very delayed due to snow in the US. I was lucky enough to arrive on time and have been enjoying every minute of our ten day program entitled “Community and Leadership: Exploring the Past, Understanding the Present, Imagineering the Future.” Beyond the learning about web platforms and communities of practice, lectures by such luminaries as Israeli conductor, Itay Talgam, Steve Israel of JAFI and Professor Jeffrey Woolf of Bar Ilan, and tiyulim (field trips) to such places as Churbat Etri, the Bar Kochba Caves, and Caesaria, I have been able to connect with various members of the Ramah New England community. And I have had a chance to reflect on the centrality of Israel to Ramah and Tikvah.

No more than two hours after landing, I was sitting in our first fellowship session, held in a private room of the Kfar Maccabia dining room. I looked up and saw Mark Ross, a former Amitzim counselor, here from England for a wedding. Later that night, I connected by phone and email with various friends from the Ramah community – Rotem and Uri, Leah Collier, Max Davidson, the Bensteins, Yediah and Uri Tzivoni, and Tikvah founders and long time directors, Herb and Barbara Greenberg.

Last night, I was honored to attend the bat mitzvah of one of Herb and Barbara’s granddaughters. When our day of learning and tiyulim ended, I cabbed it to Pitaya, a beautiful catering hall in Kfar Saba. I arrived a bit late and was delighted when I saw Uri and Yedida, long time friends of Herb and Barbara’s. The Greenbergs, who came on aliyah approximately ten years ago, speak often of how much the Ramah experience impacted on their love for Israel. They have maintained friendships for years with shlichim and other Israelis who worked at Ramah New England. Imagine my delight when I was greeted by a table of Israelis (including the Reems and the Hanochis) who worked at camp twenty or so years ago. And several of them worked in Tikvah! Israel and the shlichim are so central to camp, and the Tikvah experience has really made an impact on generations of shlichim.

I feel honored to continue the strong relationship between Tikvah, Ramah, Israel and our mishlachat/Israeli delegation. Last year at this time, I was in Israel with fifteen campers and staff members (we had a blast, despite the Gaza War, which caused us to change our itinerary a bit). It was my fourth Tikvah Israel trip; it was a pleasure to restart the Israel trip, started so many years ago by the Greenbergs who brought approximately ten groups Tikvah groups to Israel. Each summer, Tikvah has a particularly strong relationship with the mischlachat, who teach us Hebrew, swimming, sports, omanut, etc. I can’t wait to visit my Ramah Israeli friends in Israel, and to welcome many back to camp this summer.

Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem. (I received a lot of comments yesterday about my Kayitz 2009 Ramah shirt! Several told me to remember to take off my name tag!)


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Like it or not, this is the season of giving and receiving gifts. We are thinking about gifts we will give to our children, their teachers, our co-workers, family members, even our letter carriers.  We may even think about gifts for ourselves! There is always the hope that we will receive as well as give.

I have been thinking a lot about gifts lately. This past Thursday, I participated in a Mitzvah Fair at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun (BJ). It was attended by 70 fifth, sixth and seventh grade students, as well as by their parents and teachers (including our own Jason Fruitlandler!). The truth is, I participate in a number of ‘fairs’ during the off season – but they are usually camp fairs, where people learn about camp programs for children with special needs.

This fair was different. Over a 90 minute period, B’nai Jeshurun Hebrew school students would visit 18 different tables in a “round robin format”, where they would hear a three or four minute presentations from various organizations, including Hazon, the Peres Center for Peace, From Table to Table, Soaring Words, and Give a Mitzvah, Do a Mitzvah (a UJA-Federation of New York program), etc.  The truth is, I didn’t get to visit all of the tables, as I was speaking about our own Tikvah Program.

Before the round robin began, students sat in small circles with their teachers, learning about Tikun Olam, the Jewish concept of “Repairing the World”. As I spoke about the Tikvah Program, I remembered a conversation I had recently with a Tikvah parents. I had been telling her the idea I had come up with, where BJ students would plan and participate in several social activities throughout the year with New York-based members of our Tikvah Program. My vision was for three or four BJ students, three or four Tikvah campers, and two or three Tikvah counselors (or friends of Tikvah) who attend college in Manhattan to jointly plan and participate in such activities as bowling, arts and crafts, holiday celebration, etc. I wanted to continue into the ‘off season’ the very meaningful social and Jewish experience that our Tikvah campers have in the summer. This mother was enthusiastic and supportive, but she wanted to make sure her daughter was not simply the recipient of the kindness of the BJ students. She was absolutely right!

And here is where gifts come in. As I explained to the BJ students, we all have unique gifts. By working with our Tikvah campers, they would be giving, and also receiving. Our Tikvah campers would be receiving, but also giving.

At Ramah, we see campers in other edot giving to Tikvah – by helping friends in motorized scooters navigate the rocky terrain, by socializing with them at various camp activities, or by asking guests to bring art supplies or musical instruments to their bnei mitzvah. The Tikvah Program has received some wonderful donations to the program, thanks to the kindness of fellow campers who thought of their Tikvah friends as they celebrated bnai mitzvah. Tikvah campers have also received a great deal through our various buddy programs, which include Bogrim Buddies and Machon Helpers.

And, Tikvah campers have given so much – to each other, to campers in other edot, and even to staff members. So many of us can picture Eva and others pushing fellow Tikvah camper, Sarah’s, wheelchair. Tikvah campers have spoken on panels during chinuch about having special needs. And Tikvah campers have participated on competitive sports teams and lead Friday night camp wide Shabbat services; through their involvement on sports teams and through serving as prayer leaders, they have shown their fellow campers that we each have strengths as well as weaknesses. We even had a Tikvah staff member who, as a camper, was tutored for his bar mitzvah by a Tikvah camper with particularly good synagogue skills. What a true gift!

I am touched by BJ’s including me and Tikvah in their mitzvah fair. I will need to remind the BJ organizers and volunteers that a mitzvah/tikkun olam project clearly goes both ways. Givers receive and recipients give!

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Original article published on The Jerusalem Post, Jerusalem Post Children’s Articles.

The New York Knicks hosted Maccabi Tel Aviv at Madison Square Garden. The game helped raise funds to keep the Tower of Light shining bright for children in need.

Sport brings the world together. Whether it is the Olympic Games, the World Cup or even just a group of friends watching the game, sport has the incredible power to make everyone stop, drop their political, ideological, social or any other agendas and just enjoy the symphony of skill that is played out before their eyes. The cherry on top is when the fans come together not only for the spectacle, but to do a good deed as well.

Late in 2009, Madison Square Garden in New York City was packed on a Sunday afternoon for a most unusual basketball game. 14,600 fans came out for a pre-season exhibition game featuring the home team, The New York Knicks of the NBA and special guests Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv, of the Euroleague. The Garden crowd was split between Knicks fans, wearing white, orange and blue and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, dressed in yellow and blue. Thousands of people of all ages and from all walks of life came out to show support for an organization in Israel called Migdal Ohr (Tower of Light), the largest orphanage in the world.

Fourteen year old Ben, a New York City native clad in his David Lee jersey, is a Knicks season ticket holder. He and his father Gil came out to see the game and his favorite Knicks players, David Lee and Danillo Gallinari, before the actual season began. I think the Knicks are going to win, said Ben, who also noted, European basketball is rougher and slower than American basketball.

Twenty-something Mendy Fuchs, a student in a Brooklyn Yeshiva, was wearing his yellow Maccabi Tel Aviv shirt and sitting in a section of Israeli and American yeshiva students, all of whom were dressed in yellow to support the Israeli team. Maccabi Tel Aviv will win! screamed Mendy.

Since the event was a benefit to raise money for Migdal Ohr, the game was anything but typical! Boys and men with kippot and women with covered hair were everywhere. Bobby Alter and his five kids, from Englewood, New Jersey, came out to show support for Migdal Ohr. What they do for children is amazing. It is unfortunate how the children start out, but with the help of Migal Ohr they thrive and give back to the Land of Israel, Bobby said amongst the screaming fans.

During the game, the scoreboard showed video footage of Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman, founder of Migdal Ohr and recipient of the 2004 Israel Prize, embracing former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and being praised by current Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. The scoreboard also invited fans to the upcoming Jewish Heritage Night at MSG. Madison Square Garden seems to be sprouting a true Jewish neshoma (soul) these days. It was a pleasure to see.

Meanwhile, the concession stands had special boxed lunches for sale. The chicken and avocado wrap, the knishes as well as the two other deli sandwiches were provided by a kosher restaurant known as Noah™s Ark. The boxes said, Packaged exclusively for The Rematch, a reference to the fact that this was the second time Maccabi Tel Aviv played the Knicks. The Knicks beat Maccabi 112-85 on Oct. 11, 2007, before the largest crowd ever in attendance at an MSG exhibition game.

The Maccabi players, in yellow shorts and blue practice jerseys, took the court first for shooting practice. The players were tired from their long flight from Israel the previous day. Giant starting forward D™or Fischer, who stands at 6 feet 11 inches (2.11m), is a strong defensive player who joined Maccabi after playing college basketball in the States and pro basketball for Poland, Germany and Belgium. Fischer was looking forward to the game. It is going to be a challenge, but playing an NBA team can only make you better and give you confidence against other European league teams, he said between shots.

Raviv Limonad, a 6.3 (1.9m) tall point guard said it was meragesh(emotional) and madhim (amazing) to be playing in the world famous Madison Square Garden. He pointed out that there are different rules in the NBA and in the European league. For one, according to NBA rules, quarters are two minutes longer than European quarters, and three points in the NBA are awarded for shots from further out than in the European league.

Center Yaniv Green also appreciated the historical significance of playing in MSG and knew it was going to be tough against the Knicks. He was right.

Following the exchange of gifts by Knicks and Maccabi players, the singing of Hatikvah by Beat Achon, a male acapella group and then The Star Spangled Banner, Maccabi got out to an early lead, which they held only briefly (2-0, then 4-0). At half time, the Knicks were up, 56- 35. The Knicks won 106-91, though several Maccabi players performed very well. Alan Anderson, who played briefly for the NBA Charlotte Bobcats, scored 20 points, and D or Fischer scored 19 points and had 16 rebounds.

The excitement in the stands, on the scoreboard, during half time and on the sidelines was just as impressive as the action on the court. Fans enthusiastically chanted Mac-Ca- Bee! The announcer welcomed former Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, and other dignitaries in attendance. Fans had an opportunity to cheer for their favorite song in Choose Your Tune. It was no big surprise that the Black Eyed Peas song, I Gotta Feeling, with their Mazel Tov lyrics won the crowd over. Rabbi Grossman came on the court during halftime, wearing his black hat, long black coat, and sporting a very long beard. He led the crowd in the chanting of Shema Yisrael and the singing of Am Yisrael Chai. Finally, Onlysimchas.com sponsored the t-shirt toss into the crowd.

Though Maccabi Tel Aviv did not come away victorious, the State of Israel was proudly represented. The crowd thoroughly enjoyed the game and most importantly, the incredible work of the Migdal Ohr organization was highlighted and given further support by the Jewish and wider communities. It really does pay to be a good sport.

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Many years ago, Marcy Yellin, mother long time Amitzim camper and Voc Eder, Jacob Yellin, raised an interesting observation. I suspect her comment is no different from ones we hear from Ramah parents in all Ramah camps. The Yellin Family has LOVED Ramah and Tikvah. “Our only regret is that Tikvah is only two months and that we have to wait ten months for camp to start again. Why can’t it be ten months with only two months off?

We in Tikvah have been brainstorming ways to allow members of the community – campers, family members, staff members and numerous “friends of Tikvah” to be connected – both in person and virtually. I would like to introduce some of our “off season” projects. I plan to share details of each in future blog postings. I will strive to post entries an average of once a week.

For the past month or so, several Amitzim campers and counselors have been “piloting” a weekly “Shabbos is Coming” conference call where participants sing “Shabbos is Coming,” discuss the parsha, and shmooze. Voc Eders have been having a similar call with their advisors. How nice to share Shabbat all year round with camp friends!

Voc Ed and Post Voc Ed Staff, along with several Washington, DC – area Friends of Tikvah, had an idea – how about a reunion/Shabbaton in Washington! Stay tuned for details of our January 15-17th reunion – and wait until you hear about the “Tikvah Express,” magically transporting us to DC!

Speaking of reunions – did you know this is the 40th Anniversary of Tikvah? Our Tikvah Program was the first of the Ramah programs for campers with special needs and we are celebrating! Details of our July 11th in camp reunion – for former Tikvah campers and staff an families – will follow shortly. For now, send me anecdotes, stories and reflections (howardb@campramahne.org).

And a different type of Tikvah Reunion – Amitzim staff members and their dear friends from Teva Staff are planning a Shabbat get together in New York in early December. They just might be planning to connect with New York area campers…

Please stay tuned for news of the many ways staff, campers and families are staying connected all year round. I wish we COULD make Marcy Yellin’s suggestion of 12 month camping a reality. Short of that, let’s stay connected in person and virtually!


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