3080 Broadway, New York, NY 10027 Tel: 212-678-8883, Fax: 212-749-8251
E-mail: ramahisrael@jtsa.edu


An Introduction to the
Ramah Israel Seminar 2008

A.Qualifications and Requirements
B. Dates and Flights
C. Cost and Fee Schedule
D. Scholarships
E. Program Design
F. Basic Itinerary/Bases

G. Group Organization and Division
H. Staff
I. High School Credit
J. Poland Seminar
K. Ongoing Communication with our Seminar Staff


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Security Guidelines for Seminar 2008

**Click here to start the online Application for Seminar 2008**

A. QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

1. Eligibility for the Ramah Israel Seminar

The Ramah Israel Seminar is designed for former campers of the seven Ramah Camps in North America, who meet the study and other requirements outlined below. As its name implies, the "Seminar" is an intensive program of study and travel, demanding a high degree of motivation and commitment on the part of each participant. While touring is obviously a major component of the program, it takes place in the context of relevant text study, challenging group discussion, and hands-on experiential learning. Our aim is for participants to gain an in-depth perspective of Israel's past and present, and to develop a meaningful appreciation of the significance of Israel today. If this is the kind of Israel trip that interests you, we encourage you to apply.

2. Age of participants

Participants must complete their junior year of high school as of this coming June. Campers from Ramah in California must have completed their sophomore year.

3. Current Jewish Studies (Refer to the "Jewish Education Form")

Ramah Israel Seminar shares a commitment to ongoing Jewish study with our partner Ramah camps. Participants are required to be enrolled, during the current academic year, in a program of Jewish study of at least 4 weekly hours. The program may include: Hebrew High School, Jewish Day School, synagogue Adult education, private study with a Rabbi or teacher, or Hebrew language courses in a secular school. If there is no program of high school Jewish studies available in your community, or if there are not enough hours of study available, you may be considered for an independent study program. Such a program must be undertaken early in the school year, and only with the approval and supervision of the Seminar Review Committee. Our New York office will provide you with the procedures for enrolling in such a program. Please note that your acceptance to Seminar will not be complete until your Jewish study program has been submitted and approved.


4. Religious Norms

Ramah, a Conservative Jewish institution, is committed to a religious approach to life. During the Seminar, participants will be required to abide by the basic norms of religious behavior as practiced by the Ramah camps. These include: kashrut, daily prayer, Shabbat observance, berachot (blessings) before and after meals, and observance of special occasions that occur during the summer. Boys are expected to wear a kipa (yarmulka) during prayer, at all meals, and when visiting holy sites or studying religious texts. Tefillin are required for boys (optional for girls) at daily tefillot as well as a tallit (or tallit katan, depending on personal custom). NOTE: Personal religious items such as Kipa, Tefillin and Tallit must be brought to Israel by the participants.

5. Behavioral Standards

The Ramah Seminar is a highly structured program, demanding a considerable amount of maturity and self-discipline. Participants must commit themselves to abide by the rules and standards of behavior as specified by the Israel Committee of the National Ramah Commission. Available for download during the application process you will find a Statement on Procedures and Standards which details the regulations of the Seminar. Your signatures on the Seminar Application will confirm that you have read and agreed to the Statement on Procedures and Standards.

6. Recommendations

If you are a Ramah camp veteran, you must receive the recommendation of your local Ramah camp director in order to be accepted to the Seminar. (This is handled automatically through our National office; you need not contact your camp director.) In some cases, a personal interview will be required.

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B. DATES AND FLIGHTS

Seminar '08 is scheduled to depart from New York/Newark on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 (arriving in Israel on June 25th ) and is due to return to New York/Newark on Monday August 4th. Some flights will arrive in the US in the evening of Sunday, August 3rd. Details regarding flights and times will be provided in future mailings. As in the past, we will reserve flights on both ELAL and Continental, depending on availability.

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C. COST AND FEE SCHEDULE

The total cost for participation in the Ramah Seminar is $6,650. USD ($6,350. USD for Canadian residents), which includes all fees and taxes for the international round trip flight (JFK/Newark-Ben Gurion-JFK/Newark airports) and all land costs of the program in Israel. The tuition also covers costs for health insurance, materials, a group T-shirt and photo.

NOT included in the cost noted above are: laundry charges (approximately $8 per load), expenditures for personal gifts, entrance fees to sites visited on the participant's free time, transportation to and from host families, and so on.

Please note that the Seminar 2008 fee has been set with consideration of anticipated price increases in land and air costs. However, if a significant change occurs in costs during the course of the year (especially with regard to airfare), an adjustment of our fee may have to be made in order to offer the program without compromising its quality.


"Land Only" Participants: Those who prefer to make their own round-trip flight arrangements to Israel will be billed a total of USD $5,700. ($5,400. USD for Canadian residents) which excludes air travel. Please note that in such a case participants will have to make their own arrangements for grand transportation to and from the airports, ticket reconfirmation, etc. Ramah personnel will not be available to accompany "land only" participants to and from the Seminar base. Participants in the pre-trip to Poland may not enroll on a "land only" basis, as we prefer to have all participants on our group flight to Warsaw.

Deposits: A deposit of $1000 (US funds) must accompany applications in order for them to be considered. The deposit is refundable in full until January 31, 2008.
Payment in full is expected by April 1, 2008.

Cancellation Fees: Cancellations received before March 31, 2008 - the cancellation fee is $100. (USD)
Cancellations received between April 1st and April 30th - the cancellation fee is $200 (USD)
Cancellations received between May 1st and May 31st - the cancellation fee is $400 (USD)
Cancellations received between June 1st and departure - the cancellation fee is $600 (USD)

You may wish to purchase a trip cancellation policy from your travel agent to cover any possible financial loss should you have to withdraw from the trip.

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D. SCHOLARSHIPS

The Ramah Programs in Israel has limited scholarship available. Therefore, we request that all scholarship applicants also seek funding from other sources, such as the following:

1. Synagogues, rabbi's discretionary fund, men's clubs, and women's league groups.

2. Local Federation and Community Foundations often provide scholarships and/or matching grants to participants in high school programs in Israel. Please remember to determine with your local agency if you have put aside money in Passport-to Israel type programs.

3. Occasionally, students can receive stipends in advance of their summer in Israel in exchange for a time commitment to work in their local synagogue, Hebrew school, and/or youth program upon the student's return from Israel. Please contact your rabbi or youth director regarding possible employment.

Ramah Programs in Israel and the Ramah camps are strongly committed to the ideal that no qualified participant should be prevented from joining Seminar due to lack of funds. To this end, we have developed a Scholarship Fund which will enable deserving youth, who would otherwise be unable to do so, to come to Israel.

If you wish to apply to Ramah for financial aid through the Seminar Scholarship Fund, please indicate so in the appropriate space on the Seminar application form, and a Scholarship Application Form will be sent to you. In addition, please contact the Director of the Ramah camp you attended last.

We urge you to seriously consider a voluntary contribution to the Fund. Please check the appropriate space on the application form.


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E. PROGRAM DESIGN

One of the primary goals of the Seminar is to offer realistic insights into Israel, its people, achievements, dreams, and challenges. You, the hanich/a (participant) are presented with a broad perspective of the country, and hopefully you will begin to define your own relationship to Israel and the Jewish people.

Every program day of the Seminar (other than Shabbat or choice days) has a theme which focuses on a particular aspect of Israeli society, values, and history. Around each theme, the staff plans the sites to visit, the texts to study, the personalities to meet, simulation games, relevant Hebrew vocabulary, and evening activities for any given day.

In Camp Ramah terms, every day of the Seminar is like a Yom Meyuchad (a day specially-planned around a theme) at camp. Each day provides you with a window through which you can glimpse a different view of Israel, and inspires you to explore further. For an idea of the kind of themes we deal with during the summer, see the sample itinerary.
(NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only; your actual itinerary will be sent out later in the spring.)

In a sense, the entire summer is one extended "seminar" in which the State of Israel is our "text." Informal education takes place through Sourcebook study, field experiences, meetings with Israelis, debates, street interviews, and many other activities. While there are no formal Hebrew classes, we take advantage of every opportunity in the world's greatest Hebrew language laboratory to help you improve your ability to understand and to speak.

More than just touring, the Ramah Seminar is an active way of experiencing Israel:

DESCEND the breathtaking slopes of Mt. Arbel
PLANT trees and leave your mark in one of Israel's forests
TREK through the desert where the Jews became a people
ASCEND Masada in time for a sunrise morning service
CHANT Eicha (Lamentations) overlooking the Old City
DEBATE the future of the West Bank, Gaza and Golan
PERFORM Mitzvot which can only be done in Israel
EXCAVATE coins from the Roman period at Bet Guvrin
HIKE through your historical and religious roots
SIMULATE the Peace Talks between Israel and her Arab neighbors
WALK through 4000 years of history in Jerusalem
LEARN about your Jewish roots
LIGHT Shabbat candles in the Jewish Quarter
FAST on Tisha B'Av in Jerusalem: the stage of Jewish history
SWIM in the Kinneret and Israel's other seas: the Red, the Dead and the Med
(and in the swimming pools of our bases)
DAVEN in synagogues with Jews from different countries and ethnic backgrounds
RIDE through the desert...on camel back!
PREPARE to return to Camp Ramah on staff
SING new Hebrew songs as well as the oldies
GET to know Ramah teens from all over North America

The ETGAR is a 5-day special-interest segment, offering you an opportunity to specialize in an area of your choice. ETGAR means "challenge", an appropriate name for this segment, since each option will require a physical or intellectual effort. Tentatively, the ETGAR choices will include:

All Seminar participants will take part in ETGAR at the same time. ETGAR is thus an opportunity to spend a block of time with new or old friends from any and all of the Seminar bus-groups, while being involved in an activity of your choice. Further information will be provided in the winter.

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F. BASIC ITINERARY / BASES

The Ramah Seminar is based at two principal sites: the Israel Goldstein Youth Village in Jerusalem (in Hebrew: Havat Hanoar Hatzioni, commonly referred to as the Hava) and the Hodayot Youth Village, adjacent to Kibbutz Lavi near the Sea of Galilee.
Take a virtual tour of our Jerusalem base.
These facilities are well-suited to the informal atmosphere of the Ramah program, providing open green areas, recreational facilities, and "camp-like" housing facilities. Each group (see "G" below) is housed in one or two dormitory - type buildings with rooms accommodating 3-6 participants.

Following is the basic division of time spent at each of the above bases and in other contexts as noted:

In Camp Ramah terms, every day of the Seminar is like a Yom Meyuchad (a day specially-planned around a theme) at campEach day provides you with a window through which you can glimpse a different view of Israel, and inspires you to explore further. For an idea of the kind of themes we deal with during the summer, see the sample calendar for Seminar 2008.
(NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only; your actual itinerary will be sent out later in the spring.)

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G. GROUP ORGANIZATION AND DIVISION

The participants in the Seminar will be divided into bus-groups (usually, each group is drawn from areas covered by two or three Ramah camps), consisting of 35-40 participants each. Each bus-group (referred to as a kvutza) will be led by five staff members (see below). Most field experiences, study, and social activities will take place within the framework of these groups. Campers from a given Ramah camp may be divided among two or more groups, however, all of these groups will have the same base schedule; i.e., they will be based in Jerusalem together, travel through the Negev together, and go off on ETGAR and Host Shabbat at the same time.

Ramah will apply a variety of criteria in constituting groups so that each bus-group (kvutza) is well balanced. There will be an opportunity to request group assignments along with a limited number of friends.

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H. STAFF

The staff of counselors and advisors consist of experienced, mature educators who have a love for and a commitment to Israel and Judaism. North American staff members have often had previous Ramah experience, have lived in Israel, and have a knowledge of the country and its people.

In each group, one staff member functions as the Group Leader (Rosh Kvutza), one serves as a tour educator (Mehanech), and three are counselors (madrichim) responsible for the social and individual well-being of campers. Some counselors are North American or from other English-speaking countries, others are "sabras" (native Israelis). All undergo intensive training throughout the spring in Israel. Additionally, an "armed escort" who is responsible for security accompanies each bus.

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I. HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT

Many high schools (public and private, Jewish and otherwise) throughout the USA and Canada award high school credit for participating in the Ramah Seminar. Some schools have granted one or two academic credits; others up to five. Schools not prepared to award credit per se will often list the Seminar on the official high school transcripts.

While Ramah does not actually award credit (this is up to each participant's school), we are authorized to issue an official course transcript in conjunction with The Jerusalem High School of the Ramah Programs in Israel, which is accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges. If you elect to register for the Seminar as a "course," you can do so either on a pass/fail basis or for a letter grade (the latter requiring you to write additional work during or after the Seminar itself), depending on the requirements of your school. A High School Credit Kit of information and documents (including a course syllabus to bring to school personnel) will be available online. For further information about credit at this time, please contact our New York office.

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J. THE POLAND SEMINAR

The Poland Seminar complements and enhances the six-week Israel Seminar experience. This option is open to a select number of Seminar applicants who are highly recommended by their local Ramah camp directors and agree to complete several specially designed assignments in preparation for the trip. The number of participants is limited and we recommend that you send in your Poland Seminar application no later than December 15, 2006. Applications recieved after this date will be placed on a waiting list.

Participants in this highly acclaimed Ramah program will spend eight days exploring the history and rich culture of the Jewish communities of Poland and learning about the destruction which took place prior to and during the Holocaust. The Poland Seminar is an intense emotional and intellectual journey through one of the most significant periods in Jewish history. The program will culminate with one day in Israel, tying together themes relevant to the Poland Seminar.

The dates of the Poland Seminar are: June 15-24, 2008. Flights will depart the NY/NJ airports on Sunday June 15th and the group will arrive in Israel on Tuesday, June 24th. The fee for this unique program is $2,200. above the tuition of the six-week Israel Seminar.

For further information, please refer to the separate materials on the Poland Seminar.

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K. ONGOING COMMUNICATION with our SEMINAR STAFF

The Ramah Israel Seminar maintains two offices - one in Jerusalem and the other in New York. In the NY office, Ramah's Israel Programs Coordinator, Ms. Judy Greene, handles most administrative details pertaining to the Seminar. The Seminar Director, Rabbi Ed Snitkoff, coordinates the educational program and land arrangements in Israel from our Jerusalem office. Inquiries should be addressed to the New York office at the following address:

Ramah Programs in Israel
3080 Broadway
New York, New York, 10027
212-678-8883 (Tel) or 212-749-8251 (Fax)

ramahisrael@jtsa.edu
Website: http://www.ramah.org.il

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