JUDAISM AT CAMP

Camp Ramah in the Poconos offers an immersive experience rooted in Jewish tradition and values, with the goal of fostering a lasting love of Judaism. You can read more about our overall philosophy here. Central to our mission is the joyful practice of mitzvot, and we expect campers to engage in these practices actively and respectfully as part of their growth throughout the summer. While we acknowledge that Jewish practices may vary at home, the following outlines our shared expectations at camp:

• Campers are expected to be punctual, respectful, and present participants in all Jewish educational and tefillot experiences including Birkat Hamazon.
• Male identifying campers, and female identifying campers who choose to do so, are required to wear a hat or kippah for all tefillot and meals. Hats are not permitted on Shabbat.
  • Please send an ample supply of labeled kippot.
• Male identifying campers, and female identifying campers who choose to do so, who have had a Bar/Bat Mitzvah are required to wear tallit and tefillin.
  • If your child does not currently have tallit or tefillin, please plan to purchase prior to camp.
  • Please clearly label tallit and tefillin.
• Campers are expected to respect and uphold Shabbat observances at camp. These will be reviewed with campers prior to the first Shabbat at camp.

B'NEI MITZVAH TUTORING AND PREPARATIONS

Mazal tov to those families who have shared in a B'nei Mitzvah since the end of last kayitz and to those who will celebrate this year.
We are happy to support your child in their B'nei Mitzvah preparations by reviewing material they have already learned during their time at camp. Unfortunately, camp staff are not able to teach new material. Campers should bring to camp previously learned materials needed for review, such as digital audio files pre-loaded onto their screenless mp3 player and/or hard copies in a folder. Review of materials will take place approximately once or twice per week. Parents of chanichim with B’nei Mitzvah dates between August and November 2026 will receive a form at the end of January to sign up for one or two virtual tutoring sessions with their home teacher. We will do our best to accommodate these requests, knowing that space limitations and other camper care needs may take priority. Families are responsible for initial coordination of these meetings and for sharing relevant details with your child's yoetz/et, via email, prior to summer. To maintain the integrity of the camp experience, we offer virtual tutoring solely for B’nei Mitzvah preparation. Camp Ramah in the Poconos does not provide or accommodate academic tutoring of any kind. Please reach out to Rachael Besser, Camper Care Coordinator, at rbesser@ramahpoconos.org with any questions about B’nei Mitzvah tutoring.

To preserve the immersive camp experience, and to have campers participate in the full camp program, our team is unable to accommodate requests for academic tutoring, specialized skill instruction, or private activity lessons, whether with outside providers or onsite, while your child is at camp.