About Us:

The Ramah Young Alumni Leaders (RYAL) is a dynamic group of Ramah alumni, ages 21-35, who share a passion for camp and a desire to give back to the special place that has given so much to us. Throughout the year, we meet with leaders of the extended Ramah community to share our unique ideas about the future of camp and fundraise through targeted alumni programming.  

But RYAL is so much more than a fundraising group; we are a community of young alumni who want to stay involved with camp and continue to make Ramah relevant in our young professional and personal lives while preparing to assume leadership roles in the future. 

Founding Members:

Hannah Aftergood ’03               Stacey Janks ‘00                         Amy Shapiro Miller ’97

Michael Auerbach ’99                Tova Leibovic ‘00                        Joey Miller ’97             

Samantha Platt Auerbach ’98     Deborah Levine ’97                     Adam Shapiro ‘01                 

Oren Gabriel ’01                       Simonette Lowy ’02                     Jonah Platt '01

Special thanks to the RYAL Founding Families:

Amy and Robert Bressman

Lela and Norman Jacoby

Sharon and Leon Janks

Nancy Beren and Larry Jefferson

Sheila and Aaron Leibovic

Allyn and Jeffrey Levine

Janine and Peter Lowy

Debby Barak and Etan Milgrom

Judith and Louis Miller

Julie and Marc Platt

Annette and Daniel Shapiro

Past Events & Initiatives:

First Ever Ramah Young Alumni Weekend August 26-28, 2011

Our first RYAL Alumni Weekend was a rousing success with over 80 young alumni in attendance.   As we arrived at camp and checked in at the gazebo, we were greeted by old friends, music, and of course, food.  From canteen favorites like rolos, pretzels, and red vines, to our favorite square pizza and sushi, a new addition especially for the weekend, we all felt re-energized after our drives up to camp.   As the music played under the gazebo, we made Shabbat-o-grams and hung out with friends. 

Shabbat was beautiful.  After gathering in the chadar to light candles we moved to Alon Benyamin for Kabbat Shabbat and Ma’ariv led by Alex Jefferson and Rabbi David Saiger, our Rabbi in residence for the weekend. Our delicious Shabbat meal prepared by Miriam and the wonderful kitchen staff, was followed by a fun filled oneg on the mirpesset katan.  Saturday was full of some of camps favorite activities.  After services in the morning, everyone spread out around camp playing basketball, swimming in pool, and of course, chilling on the hill. 

We caped off the afternoon with a ruach filled Mincha led by Julie Auerbach and a discussion about Israel led by Rabbi Saiger.  Samantha Auerbach, Julie Auerbach, Maya Cohen, and Hannah Aftergood led us beautifully in Havdalah as we said goodbye to Shabbat.  After enjoying a wonderful camp barbeque, we sang karaoke and danced the night away with a live band.  At the end of the night, we spontaneously erupted into a joyful rendition of Ain KeMachaneh Ramah. 

On Sunday morning, after delicious bagels and lox, it was once again time to say goodbye to old friends and our beloved camp.  The good news is, we won’t have to say goodbye to camp for long since we’re already planning next year’s alumni weekend!!!  Save the Date and join us next year June 1-3, 2012.  (Photos)

Ramah Young Alumni Leaders Raise $30K+

In 2011, RYAL undertook a significant fundraising campaign in order to ensure the kickoff and sustainability of the Ramah Young Alumni Weekend through funding 30% of the Weekend for the next 3-5 years. After significant planning and various meetings with Ramah leaders, the RYAL Fundraising Committee determined that it would set out to raise $30,000 from a few historically committed Ramah California families. With the help of these "Founding Families," RYAL exceeded its goal and raised over $30,000.

The first annual weekend was a resounding success, due in no small part to these incredible members of the Ramah California community. Even more importantly, these families have ensured that the Alumni Weekend will occur for a number of years to come.

Ramah Young Alumni Leaders Meet with Camp Ramah’s New Executive Director

In 2011, RYAL had a group discussion with the new Executive Director of Camp, Rabbi Joe Menashe.  It was great to be one of the first groups to spend time with Rabbi Joe after he became the new Director.  Rabbi Joe told the group about his background and his vision for camp but mostly asked the members of RYAL what we would like to see done at camp.  It was an intimate and wide ranting discussion.  RYAL is excited about Rabbi Joe's leadership and is looking forward to a close relationship with him as he settles in to his new role.

RYAL Brings Modern Sephardic Folk Band to Camp, Summer 2010

In the Summer of 2010 RYAL was thrilled to sponsor a concert and week long cultural music program for Camp Ramah campers. DeLeon is an indie rock band from New York that plays 15th century Sephardic folk songs in a modern context. On July 28, 2010 the band performed an evening concert in the Amphitheater for the entire camp, concluding the week of special music programming led by DeLeon for every Edah. At the concert, the band played a variety of songs, had all of the campers dancing, doing conga lines, and at one point even crowd surfing. The campers and staff alike loved the program and RYAL looks forward to bringing other unique and exciting programs to camp, for camp in summers to come.

Ramah Young Alumni Leaders First Alumni Event

The first even Ramah Young Alumni Event was an End-of-Summer-Bash in August 2010 at Dominick's in West Hollywood.  We had a fantastic turnout of more than 50 young alumni who caught up over drinks on our private outdoor patio.  We raised enough money from ticket sales and young alumni donations to give back to Ramah by funding a special concert for the second session campers and staff (see above).

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Email us at: ramahyoungleaders@gmail.com

Contact: Randy Michaels, 310-476-8571, ext. 226

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