Kol Ramah

Join us on this MLK weekend as we celebrate and remember Dr. King, whose transformative message is tied to our early chapters of the book of Shemot. Parashat Va-era [Exodus 6:2-9:35] opens with a theological bang, the declaration by God that He did not make Himself known to the patriarchs by the same name as He made Himself known to Moses [6:2-3]. A little later, Moses gives, as it were, his first...

Join Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmonofsky and Barry Chesler. Parashat Sh'mot [Exodus 1:1-6:1], which takes its name from the first key word, sh'mot [names], as does the book itself, is better described by the Latin/Greek name Exodus, since that is the, or at least a, great theme of the book. But the events that lead up to the Exodus and the Exodus itself take up less than the first half of the...

The last edition of Parashah Talk 2020 is now available for the New Year with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmonofsky and Barry Chesler. Parashat Va-yehi [Genesis 47:28-50:26] concludes ספר בראשית [Book of Genesis]. With the conclusion of the book comes the blessing of Ephraim and Menashe, Jacob's last words to his sons, the death of Jacob and the return of his remains to Canaan, the last scene b...

Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmanofsky and Barry Chesler bring us Parsha Talk! It is the last Shabbat of 2020 but the penultimate parashah of Sefer Bereshit. Va-yiggash [Genesis 44:18-47:27] describes the reconciliation of Joseph and his brothers, the move to Egypt of Jacob and his entire family, and Jacob's meeting with Pharaoh. As if there were not enough in the parashah itself to talk about,...

Because the first day of Hanukkah was on Friday and we record Parashah Talk on Thursday, we have the 2nd Hanukkah edition of Parashah Talk for 5781. Parashat Miketz [Genesis 41:1-44:17] is the 2nd of the 3 parashiyot which focus on Joseph and his brothers. Joseph rises to 2nd in command to Pharaoh on the basis of his dream interpretation and suggested program for how to deal with the coming famine...

Presented by Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmonofsky and Barry Chesler. Our first Hanukkah edition of Parashah Talk! This week is parashat Va-yeshev [Genesis 37:1-40:23], the beginning of the Joseph story in earnest [we have been previously introduced to him], which will carry through to the end of the book in another 3 weeks. This week we have Joseph's dreams, his sale into slavery, his stay in...

Parsha Talk - Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmonofsky and Barry Chesler. This week, Va-yishlach [Genesis 32:4-36:43], the parashah covers a lot of ground; we perhaps not so much. We wrestle with the texts, particularly the wrestling match between Jacob and the angel, and the reconciliation between Esau and Jacob. Along the way we make connections to a number of other stories in the Torah, which o...

In recognition of our wonderful medical staff, Max shares medical stories from Wingdale, Lake Ellis and Camp Kee - Wah going back to the to the 1940s and 1950s. Did you know one year there was a milk shortage at camp? Join our virtual L'Chaim Gala https://www.ramahberkshires.org/gala2020/, honoring our medical, nursing and Marp staff! December 5, 8:00 PM

Rabbi Barry Chesler writes: This week's parashah, Vayetze [Genesis 28:10-32:3], holds a special place in my heart. A mere 52 years ago I was called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah at South Suburban Beth Israel Synagogue, as it was then known, Park Forest, Illinois. Six years later, unbeknownst to me at the time, Carol became a Bat Mitzvah this same parashah, in University City, Missouri. The parasha...

Rabbis Eliot Malomet; Jeremy Kalomonofsky and Barry Chesler bring us Parsha Talk! Parashat Toldot [Genesis 25:19-28:10] takes us from the birth of the twins, Esau and Jacob, to the leaving of Jacob for Paddan Aram to find a wife from among his kin and the marriage of Esau to a daughter of Ishmael to please his parents. Perhaps the two key stories are the selling of the birthright [b'khorah] and th...

In 1910, Joseph D. Weil founded the College Camp and Pine Forest Colony, which later became Camp Ramah in the Berkshires. In 1939, shortly before his passing, he transferred ownership of the camp to his only child, Linton Weil. In 1942, Linton left Wingdale for New York City to open a nightclub in midtown called The Riobamba. Linton still owned camp, which Joseph's widow Rose operated in his absen...

Parashat Chayyei Sarah [Genesis 23:1-25:18] begins with the death of Sarah at the age of 127 [and Rashi's curious comment about how she was as sinless at 100 as she was at 20, as sinless at 20 as she was at 7], and concludes with the death of Abraham, followed by the genealogy of Ishmael and Ishmael's death. The longest chapter of Genesis, 24 [67 verses], features the story of Avraham's servant se...

Max Silverstone, cantorial student at the H.L. Miller Cantorial School - JTS and member of the music staff Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, shares his research on the history of our camp in Wingdale, NY. He has unearthed wonderful musical recordings from the earliest years of Camp Ramah as well as its predecessor on the site, Camp Kee-Wah. From 1934 to 1963, Camp Kee-Wah operated on the property that...

The latest edition of Parashah Talk, for Parashat Va-yera [Genesis 18:1-22:24] is now available. We ignored chapters 21 [birth of Isaac and banishment of Ishmael] and 22 [binding of Isaac and birth of Rebeccah], most recently read on Rosh Hashanah, a mere 7 weeks ago, and focused on chapter 19, Abraham's famous conversation with God over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah and the curious behavior of L...

It came advertised as the best conversation on this week's parsha, and who am I to argue? Lekh L'khah [Genesis 12:1-17:27] covers a lot of ground: the call of Abraham [12:1-6], the Covenant of the Pieces [ch. 15], the Covenant of Circumcision [ch. 17], the War of the Kings [ch. 14], and the story of Hagar and birth of Ishmael [ch. 16]. Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmanofsky, and I, Rabbi Barry C...

Parashat Noach [Genesis 6:9-11:32] always brings back a flood of memories! Rabbis Eliot Malomet and Jeremy Kalmanofsky, together with yours truly, Rabbi Barry Chesler, discuss the claims to Noah's greatness, the command to leave the Ark when the water subsides, and the disturbing incident of Noah's drunkenness. We find a little time to touch upon the Family of Nations [chapter 10] and the Tower of...

From 1934 to 1963, Camp Kee-Wah operated on the property that we know as Camp Ramah in the Berkshires. It was split as Camp Kee-Wah-We for Boys (today's A-Side) and Kee-Wah-Ke for Girls (today's B side Boys Kikar from 1934-1951, and all of B-side from 1952-1963). In 1961, the camp created a vinyl record. Side one consists of the cheers of the boys camp (first 5 tracks) and girls senior camp (last...

From 1934 to 1963, Camp Kee-Wah operated on the property that we know as Camp Ramah in the Berkshires. It was split as Camp Kee-Wah-We for Boys (today's A-Side) and Kee-Wah-Ke for Girls (today's B side Boys Kikar from 1934-1951, and all of B-side from 1952-1963). In 1961, the camp created a vinyl record. Side two consists of the cheers of the girls junior camp (first 4 tracks) and camp wide Kee-Wa...

From 1934 to 1963, Camp Kee-Wah operated on the property that we know as Camp Ramah in the Berkshires. It was split as Camp Kee-Wah-We for Boys (today's A-Side) and Kee-Wah-Ke for Girls (today's B side Boys Kikar from 1934-1951, and all of B-side from 1952-1963). In 1961, the camp created a vinyl record. Side two consists of the cheers of the girls junior camp (first 4 tracks) and camp wide Kee-Wa...

From 1934 to 1963, Camp Kee-Wah operated on the property that we know as Camp Ramah in the Berkshires. It was split as Camp Kee-Wah-We for Boys (today's A-Side) and Kee-Wah-Ke for Girls (today's B side Boys Kikar from 1934-1951, and all of B-side from 1952-1963). In 1961, the camp created a vinyl record. Side one consists of the cheers of the boys camp (first 5 tracks) and girls senior camp (last...

From 1934 to 1963, Camp Kee-Wah operated on the property that we know as Camp Ramah in the Berkshires. It was split as Camp Kee-Wah-We for Boys (today's A-Side) and Kee-Wah-Ke for Girls (today's B side Boys Kikar from 1934-1951, and all of B-side from 1952-1963). In 1961, the camp created a vinyl record. Side one consists of the cheers of the boys camp (first 5 tracks) and girls senior camp (last...

From 1934 to 1963, Camp Kee-Wah operated on the property that we know as Camp Ramah in the Berkshires. It was split as Camp Kee-Wah-We for Boys (today's A-Side) and Kee-Wah-Ke for Girls (today's B side Boys Kikar from 1934-1951, and all of B-side from 1952-1963). In 1961, the camp created a vinyl record. Side one consists of the cheers of the boys camp (first 5 tracks) and girls senior camp (last...

From 1934 to 1963, Camp Kee-Wah operated on the property that we know as Camp Ramah in the Berkshires. It was split as Camp Kee-Wah-We for Boys (today's A-Side) and Kee-Wah-Ke for Girls (today's B side Boys Kikar from 1934-1951, and all of B-side from 1952-1963). In 1961, the camp created a vinyl record. Side one consists of the cheers of the boys camp (first 5 tracks) and girls senior camp (last...

From 1934 to 1963, Camp Kee-Wah operated on the property that we know as Camp Ramah in the Berkshires. It was split as Camp Kee-Wah-We for Boys (today's A-Side) and Kee-Wah-Ke for Girls (today's B side Boys Kikar from 1934-1951, and all of B-side from 1952-1963). In 1961, the camp created a vinyl record. Side two consists of the cheers of the girls junior camp (first 4 tracks) and camp wide Kee-Wa...

From 1934 to 1963, Camp Kee-Wah operated on the property that we know as Camp Ramah in the Berkshires. It was split as Camp Kee-Wah-We for Boys (today's A-Side) and Kee-Wah-Ke for Girls (today's B side Boys Kikar from 1934-1951, and all of B-side from 1952-1963). In 1961, the camp created a vinyl record. Side two consists of the cheers of the girls junior camp (first 4 tracks) and camp wide Kee-Wa...