Five New Leaders, One Great Summer

Rabbi Mitchell Cohen, National Ramah Director

August 2019

Strong leadership is perhaps Ramah’s greatest asset. Ramah camps and Ramah Israel continue to attract outstanding professional leaders, and summer 2019 was no exception, as we welcomed five new senior year-round professionals into our camping movement.

For Ayala Wasser , assuming the position of Assistant Director of Ramah Sports Academy seemed so new and different, and yet, at the same time, just like coming home. “My childhood was filled with sports and Camp Ramah,” said Ayala, who grew up in Tampa, FL, playing competitive high school basketball. She spent 17 years at Ramah Darom, first in the gan, and then as a camper, Seminar participant, counselor, and rosh edah. “To be able to come back to the incredible world of Ramah, yet immerse myself in sports and coaching, was like a professional dream come true.” 

Ayala and two RSA campers enjoy a day at the ball park (and a little ice cream, of course!)

“Ayala excelled at camp this summer,” stated Rabbi Dave Levy , RSA Director. “Her years of Ramah experience, combined with her training in Jewish education and background in sports, helped us take another leap forward in our camp’s development. She is such a wonderful mentor as an educator and as an athlete, and our campers absolutely adore her!”

Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell was clearly an out-of-the-box choice to become the next Director of Camp Ramah in Canada, not having grown up at Ramah or in the Conservative Movement. Jordan had spent many summers at various Jewish camps, including having served as rabbi-in-residence for Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. Most recently, Jordan was a teacher of Jewish Mindfulness and Program Director for the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, where he taught rabbis and cantors and consulted for summer camps.

During one of his first interviews for the position, Jordan shared, “I cannot think of a better place than Ramah for my next professional challenge, as camp is a place in which I can continue my passion as an educator for helping to support the growth of Jewish community guided by intention and values. It is exciting to focus now on how camp can help our young people thrive as Jews and as human beings. ” 

Jordan and Yael enjoy some family time at camp. Yael: “It’s great to be home!”

“From the moment staff week began,” commented Josh Charlat, Chair of the Ramah Canada Board of Directors, “we started hearing great reports about our new director. And throughout the summer, Jordan exhibited everything it takes to be great in this job— warmth, organization, leadership, caring, and a deep sense of respect for everything Ramah stands for.” Jordan’s wife, Yael Bendat-Appell, former Assistant Director of Ramah Wisconsin, who spent many years at Ramah Canada as a camper and staff member, loved returning to camp with her husband as director and their three young children. “I have so many fond memories here,” Yael reminisced, “and to see Jordan and my children thrive in this setting; I couldn’t have asked for more.”

Rav Na’ama Levitz Applbaum, another new director who did not grow up at Ramah, took Ramah Israel Seminar to new heights this summer. Na’ama grew up in an Orthodox family and received her rabbinic ordination in Israel. She has worked extensively with USY and Schechter schools, and spent two summers working at Ramah Berkshires and Ramah Wisconsin, where she met her husband, Ari, when they both were serving on mishlachat.

Na’ama (L) and Meir (R) with Seminar participants chosen by their camps as Ramah Israel Fellows or Amitei Ramah Tzeirim (ARTZ)

Upon her son’s return from Seminar this summer, one parent wrote: “Just a quick note to express our gratitude for the incredible experience that our son had on Seminar. Rav Na’ama was obviously a significant part of that impact; her leadership, vision, and engagement with the campers was extraordinary. Ramah is very lucky to have her!” According to Meir Hoyzman, Executive Director of Ramah Israel, “This is typical of the feedback we are receiving from Seminar parents. As a new director, Na’ama inspired our participants.”

Wally Levitt and Yoni Saposh represent a new generation of successful business leaders who see Ramah as a logical next step in their careers, moving from the corporate world into the world of Jewish camping and Jewish education. 

Yoni Saposh assumed the position of Chief Operating Officer of Camp Ramah in the Berkshires this summer. “After achieving many personal and professional goals at BlackRock Financial Management,” he said, “and after having chaired the Ramah Berkshires Strategic Planning Committee, I was more excited than ever by the future of Ramah and the potential for me to take an active day-to-day role in helping build that future.” Yoni, who met his wife Arielle Greenbaum at camp, is part of a rare second-generation, same-camp Ramah marriage: Yoni’s parents, Rabbi Stuart Saposh and Linda Holof-Saposh, also met at Ramah Berkshires, and his brother, Ari Saposh, met his wife, Naomi Queen Saposh, at Berkshires as well.  

A new generation of Saposhes takes its rightful place in Wingdale

According to Ramah Berkshires camp president Richie Friedman, “The combination of Yoni’s business skills and experience, together with his deep history with our camp, makes him perfectly suited for this new position.” Director Rabbi Ethan Linden adds: “Yoni has already become a great colleague and I look forward to many years of partnership in leading Berkshires to even greater success.”

Having made a similar career change, Wally Levitt, the new CEO of Ramah Darom, just spent his first summer working at camp after spending many years as a Ramah parent in multiple settings (Canada, Rockies, NorCal, TRY, plus California with his family for Passover). He is also a proud Ramah husband as his wife, Dr. Beth Gamulka, spent many summers at Ramah Canada as a camp doctor and chair of the camp medical committee, and is now on the Executive Board. “For me,” Wally emphasized, “this was an easy decision. Ramah provides transformative Jewish experiences, and I wanted to contribute professionally, giving it my all.” (Read “ Confessions of a Ramah Parent (Turned Ramah Darom CEO).” Wally spent most of his career in the media business in Canada and the US, most recently serving as the Chief Marketing Officer for Comedy Central.

Wally leads the way as our Ramah Israel hikers traverse the Negev desert

in support of Tikvah this past April

“After we interviewed many candidates, Wally just seemed to be the perfect fit. Not only does he possess the business and finance skills necessary for the position,” observed Darom immediate past president Howard Zandman, “but his total commitment to the values and mission of Ramah also made him our ideal candidate. We are thrilled to have Wally help lead our organization into another decade of excellence and growth.”

These five leaders, the newest in our year-round Ramah team, join dozens of outstanding professionals in all our camps. As Ramah grows and innovates, we look forward to watching them flourish personally as well contribute to the advancement of Ramah’s mission.