Friday, March 29, 2024 -
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Ramah in the Rockies is more than buildings

The main lodge at Camp Ramah in the Rockies burned to the ground early Monday morning, destroying the camp’s kitchen, dining hall, administrative offices and even one of its Torah scrolls. A traumatic event, to be sure, on an unseasonably cool Colorado summer night. The fire, however, focused a different kind of light on the indefatigable ruach — spirit — of the Camp Ramah culture, as well as the warmth and generosity of those who rallied around the campers and staff at the time of the emergency and in its aftermath.

First, a huge shout out to the Ramah in the Rockies staff, headed by Rabbi Eliav Bock, who, according to Tammy Dollin, “exercised extraordinary leadership” in moving 231 campers and staff to safety and security. Kudos to staffer Zach Slavin, “a hero who escaped from the lodge and warned camp.”

We take pride in the Hebrew Educational Alliance and the greater Denver Jewish community for stepping up immediately — as in the wee hours of the morning! —to care for the evacuated campers. HEA’s Rabbis Bruce Dollin and Salomon Gruenwald opened the doors of the synagogue to the campers and staff. Volunteers and HEA staff and members, spearheaded by Tammy Dollin, a founder of Ramah in the Rockies, prepared hot meals and provided sleeping arrangements in the shul within a matter of hours. They certainly honored the mitzvah of hachnasat orchim, welcoming others into their home.

Social media video clips show the weary campers happily engaged in song, dance and prayer in their temporary camp at HEA. They are resilient!

Prayer was never far from the campers and staff during the ordeal. As soon as campers received breakfast nourishment the morning of the fire, they came together for prayer, “filled with gratitude, hope and simcha,” according to Ramah leadership. Then, once safe at HEA, they gathered for the morning prayers. A rousing “Hallelujah” went up upon their learning that JCC Denver had graciously offered the use of its Ranch Camp for the Ramah campers for the duration of the session.

JCC Ranch Camp and Ramah in the Rockies became community partners. They exemplified the spirit that, we believe, others in our fine Jewish community would show if faced with a similar difficulty.

In nearly every comment on the fire, one word keeps coming up, “kehillah, community.” If Ramah campers did not grasp the concept of community before, they surely do now. This was an important lesson on how communities — kehillot — can include people they don’t even know. Perhaps it is the best lesson for the campers in this session.

Matt Levitt, a former assistant camp director at Ramah, put it best: “Things are replaceable. Buildings are rebuildable. Our kehillah is safe, comfortable and cared for. That is what matters.”

Copyright © 2017 by the Intermountain Jewish News




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