Ramah Highlights: Camper Leadership
July 11, 2019
Dear Ramah Family,

One of the most important elements of the growth process at camp is in the realm of leadership. In fact, a profound - but regular - occurrence at camp is when a young person transforms, step by step, into a leader. We see how leaders emerge and we see how at camp, everyone can find and exercise her/his own authentic voice as a leader.
Additionally, as I have started to say around camp: ultimately, camp is not only about camp - camp is about life. Camp can help launch young people into the wider world well equipped with experience as compassionate, strong leaders; as problem solvers; and as team players ready to sacrifice for the sake of the larger community.
There is perhaps no better example of this than what we saw yesterday during Yom Sport . Our Alonimers stepped into leadership roles in a variety of ways, each one inspiring. I saw Alonimers who put their whole bodies (and hair-do's) into the spirit of Yom Sport, many lost their voices by lunchtime because of their energetic cheering for their team-mates. I saw each and every one of them step into their roles, working tirelessly for the first two weeks of camp to plan a day that younger campers will remember for a lifetime. They supervised activities and even led in a camp-wide clean-up after the day. Most of all, one could witness numerous small - but profound - acts of kindness and sportsmanship as the Alonimers and older campers connected with, cheered on, and lifted up their younger teammates.
In the Talmud we learn:
(Rabban Gamliel, in appointing two rabbis to posts of authority) Said to them: You apparently suppose that I am about to bestow rulership upon you. What I am bestowing upon you is service, as it is said, "and they spoke unto him, saying: If you will be a servant onto these people..." (1 Kings 12:7).
אמר להם כמדומין אתם ששררה אני נותן לכם עבדות אני נותן לכם שנאמר (מלכים א י׳ב, ז) לאמר אם היום תהיה עבד לעם הזה

This teaches that the one who is appointed over a community becomes in service to the community.

Our Alonimers, in taking their place of leadership "over" the experience of Yom Sport, became true leaders in their service to the community. Their leadership wasn't focused on raising themselves up - it was focused on raising up all of camp. Camp Ramah in Canada is a place in which we nurture the whole human being. This includes helping our young leaders gain real experience in leadership and in service.

Shabbat Shalom,
Jordan