Eligibility for Ramah Israel Seminar
Ramah Israel Seminar is designed for campers of the seven Ramah camps in North America. All participants must have completed their junior year of high school; campers from Ramah Ojai in California must have completed their sophomore year. Given its designation as a Seminar, an intensive program of study and travel that demands motivation and commitment on the part of each participant, all applicants must meet certain requirements outlined below. Touring, hiking and experiencing Israel are major components of the program, and it takes place in the context of relevant text study, challenging group discussion and hand-on, experiential learning. We want Seminar participants to gain an in-depth understanding and appreciation of Israel’s history and future, and develop their own relationship with the country. If this is the kind of Israel trip that interests you, we encourage you to apply.
Current Jewish Studies
Ramah Israel Seminar is committed to ongoing Jewish study for all of its participants. All Seminar applicants are required to be enrolled in a program of Jewish study of at least three hours each week during the academic year. The program can include: Hebrew high school, Jewish day school, synagogue adult education, private study with a rabbi or teacher or Hebrew language courses in school.
If there is no Jewish studies program available in your community, or an insufficient number of study hours, you may be considered for an independent study program. Any independent study program must be started early in the school year before Seminar and only with the approval and supervision of the Seminar Review Committee. The New York office can provide you with the relevant information and procedure for enrolling in an independent study program. Please note that acceptance to Seminar will not be complete until an applicant’s Jewish study program has been submitted and approved.
Religious Observance
As part of Ramah, a Conservative Jewish institution, Ramah Israel Seminar is committed to a religiously observant approach to life. During Seminar, participants are required to abide by the basic norms practiced in camp, including kashrut, daily tefillah, Shabbat observance, brachot before and after meals and observance of any special religious events that fall during the summer, such as the fast of Tisha B’Av. Boys are expected to wear a kippah during prayer, at all meals, when visiting holy sites or studying religious texts. Tefillin are required to be worn by boys – and by girls who choose to do so – at morning tefillot as well as a tallit or tallit katan, according to personal practice. Personal religious items such as a kippah, tallit and tefillin must be brought by participants to Israel.
Behavior
Ramah Seminar is a highly structured program, demanding a considerable amount of maturity and self-discipline. Participants must be committed to abide by the rules and standards of behavior as specified by the Israel Committee of the National Ramah Commission. Please download the Statement on Procedures and Standards for details regarding the regulations of Seminar. Your signatures on the Seminar Application will confirm that you have read and agreed to the Statement on Procedures and Standards.
Recommendations
All Ramah campers must receive the recommendation of their local Ramah camp director in order to be accepted to Seminar, which is handled automatically through the National Ramah office (you don’t need to contact your camp director.) In some cases, a personal interview will be required.
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