April 6-15, 2012

2012 Online Registration

• A Day in the Life of a Passover Camp Guest (PDF)
• Sample Menu (PDF)

SPECIAL DISCOUNTS FOR GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE.  BRING YOUR FRIENDS AND SAVE MONEY...CALL OR EMAIL FOR MORE INFORMATION

NEW: FLEXIBLE STAY OPTIONS NOW AVAILABLE -

SEE THE ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR DETAILS

We are excited to offer a wide range of specialists and scholars who will be with us throughout the Passover Camp. See below for a listing of our 2012 Passover Camp Program Staff, Educators, Scholars, Specialists and Guests.

Join us at Camp Ramah in California for a Passover of a lifetime. Unplug and leave the holiday preperations to us while you relax in the green hills of the Ojai Valley. Passover at Camp Ramah is an incredible experience conducive to friendship, spirtuality, study, nature, recreation and serious relaxation stimulating your mind, body, spirit and tastebuds!  Your Passover experience promises to be leisurely, fun and educational as you play and learn with our many distinguished guests and enjoy three gourmet meals a day and snacks galore.

LEARN: Stimulating study, discussion and fun with several visiting scholars and distinguished professionals in arts, education, drama, comedy and sports. Opportunities for formal learning geared toward adults as well as fun and educational family programming.  Special daily activities and programs for children of all ages supervised by experenced and dedicated staff.

RELAX: On-site, massage therapist, yoga, tai chi, kosher wine tasking, nature walks, star gazing and organic gardening

PLAY: Swimming, volleyball, tennis, basketball, baseball, Israeli dance and state of the art ropes course.  Evening activities will include movie night at the pool, campfire, magic show, top chef challenge, karaoke, talent show, bingo, off property excursions* and much more!

WORSHIP: The option to participate in traditional, creative and /or semi-private sedarim, 3 daily services - Egalitarian Minyan and Mechitza Minyan (numbers permitting), Shabbat/Holiday Junior Congregation for children ages 6-12 and Tot Shabbat for children 5 and under.

Joel Chasnoff - Comedian and Author

Joel Chasnoff has performed his unique brand of humor in eight countries, including the Montreal Comedy Festival, a U.S.O. Comedy Tour of Japan and Korea entertaining American Marines, and nine performances for Birthright Israel in Jerusalem. On tour, he's been the warm-up act for both Jon Stewart and Lewis Black of The Daily Show. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Joel decided to relax a bit by serving in a combat unit of the Israeli Army. As a tank gunner in the Armored Corps, Joel spent many a chilly night not sleeping in his tank as he and his platoon mates lay in ambush against Hezbollah in South Lebanon. Joel's memoir about his year in the Israeli Army, entitled The 188th Crybaby Brigade: A Skinny Jewish Kid from Chicago Fights Hezbollah, was published by Simon and Schuster in February 2010. Joel's writing has also appeared in The Idiot's Guide to Jokes and the 25th Anniversary Edition of The Big Book of Jewish Humor. A portion of all proceeds from Joel's book and stand-up performances is donated to Joel's charitable foundation, Project Elijah.

Gordon M. Freeman - Rabbi, Author and Calligrapher

Gordon M. Freeman, having served 38 years for Congregation B'nai Shalom in Walnut Creek, California, became its Rabbi Emeritus upon retiring. A graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary, he holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from U.C., Berkeley. He has published numerous articles on the Jewish Political Tradition. He is also a Hebrew calligrapher and has his work exhibited throughout the United States and Israel. He is the proud father of four daughters and nine grandchildren.

Ed Feinstein - Senior Rabbi, Valley Beth Shalom

Rabbi Ed Feinstein is senior rabbi of Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California. He serves on the faculty of the Ziegler Rabbinical School of the American Jewish University, the Wexner Heritage Program, the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and lectures widely across the United States.

He is the author of three books. Tough Questions Jews Ask – A Young Adult’s Guide to Building a Jewish Life, (Jewish Lights, 2003), was chosen for the American Library Association’s Top Ten Books on Religion for Young Readers and a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. Jews and Judaism in the Twenty-First Century: Human Responsibility, the Presence of God and the Future of the Covenant (Jewish Lights, 2007) was also a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. His latest book, Capturing the Moon (Behrman House, 2008) retells the best of classic and modern Jewish folktales.

Rabbi Feinstein was raised in the back of his parents’ bakery on the frontiers of the West San Fernando Valley. He graduated with honors from the University of California at Santa Cruz, the University of Judaism, Columbia University Teachers College, and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, where he was ordained a rabbi in 1981. He is currently completing his doctoral degree at the Jewish Theological Seminary’s Davidson School of Jewish Education.

In 1982, Rabbi Feinstein became the founding director of the Solomon Schechter Academy of Dallas, Texas, building the school’s enrollment from 40 to over 500 in eight years, and winning national recognition as center of educational excellence. In 1990, he assumed the position of executive director of Camp Ramah in California, the largest Jewish camp and conference center in the western United States. He came to Valley Beth Shalom in 1993 at the invitation of the renowned Rabbi Harold Schulweis, and succeeded Rabbi Schulweis as the congregation’s senior rabbi in 2005.

Rabbi Feinstein is a member of the board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, a member of the school board of the Milken Community High School and an active member of AIPAC. A survivor of two bouts of colon cancer, he speaks frequently to cancer support groups all over Southern California.

Rabbi Feinstein lives in the epicenter of the San Fernando Valley with his wife Rabbi Nina Bieber Feinstein. Nina was the second woman ordained by the Conservative Movement. The Feinstein’s are blessed with three college-age children.

An engaging lecturer and storyteller, Rabbi Feinstein unites the ancient Jewish love of ideas with the warmth of Jewish humor.

Rabbi Joe Menashe - Executive Director, Camp Ramah in California

Ezra Weisz - Drama Specialist -

Ezra, a native of New Jersey, left home to study theater at California Institute of the Arts. After graduating in 1994 with a B.F.A., he moved to the greater Los Angeles area to better pursue his career in the theater and television. The first of his most memorable credits was The Cradle Will Rock, with the Blank Theatre. The success of that show led to award nominations, performing at the Ovation Awards, and produced a CD with a nationwide release. Other theatrical credits include the West Coast premiere of the musical, Chess, Urban Folktales, and the critically acclaimed, Cyberqueer, at the CelebrationTheatre. Ezra was also fortunate enough to have performed in Elekrta-la-la, which traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland as   part of the international Fringe Festival.

Because of Ezra's ability to connect with young professionals in the entertainment industry, he has become a sought after acting coach for kids and teens. He started a Youth Improv Program and bang comedy theater in Hollywood in 2009. He also makes himself available for private coaching and improv workshops nationwide.

Ezra is also a voice over director and actor. His most notable V.O. dubbing directing credits are: "Letter's From Iwo Jima," "House of Flying Daggers," "Waltz With Bashir," and "Curse of the Golden Flower" (all nominated for Academy Awards).
Ezra's on camera credits include: John the Science Teacher, Jack-In-The-Box Clown, and an irate Dad, and an apple in a fruit bowl all on "Wizards of Waverly Place." He was also a Dentist on "Sonny With a Chance" and a Motivation Speaker on a National Direct TV Commercial.

Ezra has been Married to Sabrina Weisz of SabrinaPhotography.net for 12 years and they have 2 beautiful children together. Upon leaving his home for work his children always cry out, “Daddy, Make ‘em laugh”.

Rabbi Paul Steinberg - Author - Celebrating the Jewish Year: The Spring and Summer Holidays

Paul Steinberg is a rabbi and educator at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California.  He is also a faculty member of the Graduate School of Education at American Jewish University where he teaches Jewish philosophy.

Rabbi Steinberg holds masters degrees in both education and rabbinic studies and was ordained by the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in 2004. Currently, he is working on his doctoral dissertation on the significance and development of the Bar Mitzvah at the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Rabbi Steinberg has published several articles on Hebrew Bible and Jewish education, as well as four books including, Study Guide to Jewish Ethics (JPS, 2003) and the three-volume series Celebrating the Jewish Year (JPS, 2009) which earned the National Jewish Book Award.

Prior to joining Valley Beth Shalom, Rabbi Steinberg served as Rabbi and Director of Jewish Studies and Hebrew at Levine Academy: A Solomon Schechter School in Dallas, Texas.

He is married to Maureen Sweeney and they are the proud parents of three incredible daughters.

Our private site in beautiful Ojai Valley encourages a relaxing experience apart from the hustle and bustle of other Pesach destinations.  Passover Camp guests enjoy exclusive use of the entire camp property and facilities supported by our exceptional and highly trained staff.

Our community sedarim are let by our Rabbinical faculy. A limited number of semi-private sedarim are available on the first night of Passover and participants may choose either a creative or traditional seder the second night.

Our food is the BEST. Three gourmet meals and snacks are prepared for all guests each day. Enjoy being pampered and served.

We have dedicated professional staff to ensure the greatest Passover Vacation you have ever had.

Since earning a Masters in Jewish Education from American Jewish University in 1999, Sara has enjoyed working in the Los Angeles Jewish community as a family educator. She served as the Family Education Director at both Valley Beth Shalom in Encino and Kehillat Ma'arav synagogue in Santa Monica. Sara also acted as the Family Camp Coordinator for Camp Ramah in California in past years. Sara currently lives in Sherman Oaks, California with her husband Kevin and their three children.

Teri Naftalin - Passover Hospitality Coordinator (bio coming soon)