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Friday March 2, 2007

Ramah Camp celebrates 50 years of Conservative camping

Ojai’s Camp Ramah ushered in its golden anniversary with more than 800 alumni, staff and friends enjoying a nostalgic day for the ages.

Men and women now in their golden years participated in the camp events of yesteryear, including Israeli dance, arts and crafts and sporting events

The recent celebration was a decided contrast to what Ramah officials call “a rubber-chicken affair.” All 14 of the camp’s past directors were honored, including Chaim Potok, author of “The Chosen” and “My Name Is Asher Lev.”

Jacob Pressman, rabbi emeritus of Temple Beth Am in Los Angeles, co-directed the pilot summer session in 1955, which had 62 campers. Rabbi David Lieber, president emeritus of the University of Judaism, directed the first official summer in 1956. Today the Southern California camp — the closest Conservative-affiliated overnight camp to the Bay Area — serves about 1,300 kids in several sessions over the summer.

“Camp creates in our minds and hearts and souls an ideal memory of ourselves, and an ideal memory of the Jewish community that gives people a sense of hope and a sense of what is possible in the Jewish community,” current director Rabbi Daniel Greyber said.

The yearlong celebration kicked off with Shabbat reunions at local synagogues and a dinner in Manhattan. Festivities included veteran alumni joining young campers for a day of singing oldie-but-goodie camp songs — songs that haven’t changed since the days when people other than Pat Buchanan wore coonskin caps and gathered around the campfire.

For more information, visit http://www.campramah.org.

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