As the bus rolls up to the army base, A., one of the participants on the first ever Amazing Israel: Ramah Tikvah trip, begins to cry. “No, there are soldiers here and they’ll have guns,” she moans. “No, no, no, no.” Staff member Liz Offen speaks quietly and calmly. “I know this is… Read more...
A partnership between Ramah and Birthright brings young adults with disabilities to experience Israel Los Angeles Jewish communal professional Michelle Wolf’s daughter had been on a Birthright Israel trip, and she wanted her 22-year-old son Danny to have the same experience. But until recently… Read more...
For chalutzim (campers) at Ramah in the Rockies, the masa (outing) is an integral part of camp. This summer, our Tikvah campers spent three days and two nights at Chatfield State Park, a very
Social Justice may be understood through the many lenses found in Jewish texts, but perhaps none as foundational as “love thy neighbor as thyself” (Leviticus 19:18). In an interview conducted by Covenant Award Recipient and Director of National Ramah Tikvah Network Howard Blas, Shutaf… Read more...
In a special guest post for Covenant Classroom, Covenant Award recipient and Director of the National Ramah Tikvah Network Howard Blas shares some of the latest and greatest creative and original educational programming from Israel and reminds us yet again how the land of our ancestors is truly… Read more...
This talk was produced in partnership with the Covenant Foundation: http://www.covenantfn.org People with disabilities have more to offer the Jewish community than we realize, argues Howard Blas. In fact, they may become the cornerstone of your business. ;hellip; Read more...
How do you you create a meaningful Israel experience for young adults with special needs? Video blogger Aaron Herman spoke with Covenant Award winner Howard Blass, Director of the Tikvah Program at Camp Ramah in New England, Tali Cohen, Director of Tikvah Vocational Services and participants about… Read more...
How does the Jewish community help individuals with a range of disabilities participate meaningfully in Jewish education and Jewish life? A panel of experts discusses key innovations and challenges in the field as they apply to both formal and informal Jewish education, and explores which programs… Read more...
As more Jewish camps across the country expand their programs to welcome campers of all abilities, a new online resource has been created in a partnership between the Foundation For Jewish Camp and the Ramah Camping Movement. The “Inclusion Training Guide for Jewish Summer Camps†is a… Read more...
"Having kids with disabilities is just as normal as having sports at Camp Ramah. It’s what we do,” said Howard Blas, director of the Tikvah Program at Camp Ramah. That is great news for
When I first began working in the Tikvah Program at Camp Ramah in New England in 1984, all of the counselors came to Tikvah from OUTSIDE of Ramah. My co-counselor, for example, was studying learning disabilities at Yeshiva University and came to Ramah, a Conservative Movement camp, to work with… Read more...
(JTA) – Like many 22-year-olds, Ben Nadis has somewhat murky career goals. Though he likes his job at the Kroger near his house in Farmington Hills, Mich., he doesn’t want to work there forever. Maybe he’ll be on TV instead, he jokes” he’s not sure. But Nadis isn’t like most 22-year-olds. He was… Read more...
The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and the Ruderman Family Foundation have launched the URJ Ruderman Disabilities Inclusion Learning Center, an innovative and interactive online resource center. A key element of the
How do you create a meaningful Israel experience for young adults with special needs? Video blogger Aaron Herman spoke with Covenant Award winner Howard Blas, Director of the Tikvah Program at Camp Ramah in New England, Tali Cohen, Director of Tikvah ocational Services and participants about their… Read more...
For nearly 45 years, Camp Ramah – the summer program of the Conservative movement — has promoted a policy of inclusivity, involving children and young adults in a range of camping programs, from overnight, day, and family camping, as well as
David Weisberg of Oradell has had a particularly valuable – and enjoyable — summer. David, who is 21, has Cohen syndrome, a developmental delay involving both low muscle tone and vision impairment. He spent two months at Camp Ramah in New England, and is ending the summer not only… Read more...
I came to the Tikvah Program at Camp Ramah in New England in 1997 and was a camper in the Amitzim (the brave ones) division of the Tikvah program for campers with disabilities for about five years. Coming to Ramah was mostly my parents’ idea. We were looking for a Jewish camp mostly, and that was… Read more...
Times of Israel writer Howard Blas among the winners NEW YORK (JTA) — Three Jewish educators are being honored with Covenant Foundation grants. The recipients of the annual grants given for excellence in Jewish education in America are Howard Blas, director of the Tikvah program at Camp… Read more...
With the last day of school on the horizon, some Jewish educators are receiving not just