If you've been at camp any of the last 14+ summers, you probably know our Rosh Performing Arts Jonathan Adam Ross--but you probably just call him JAR. He is back this year for his 14th summer on staff (on top of five summers as a camper and a summer on Ramah Seminar in Israel).
Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, JAR now lives in New York City where he works as an actor. He has a BFA in acting from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
JAR is very excited about all the performing arts that will be happening at camp this summer--from the aidah musicals to the Tikvah Lunch Theatre to the Talent Show to the Bogrim Synchronized Swimming Show and much, much more. He is especially looking forward to this summer's shirah program, which he says "is going to be amazing!" (Many of our upcoming songleaders recently attended Songleader Boot Camp led by Jewish rocker Rick Recht--click here to read more about it.) He also says they "have some surprises up our sleeve in the theater program."
JAR's not all drama though. Every Shabbat you'll find him on the softball field, enthusiastically playing for the "Senior Tour" in the staff softball game.
This weekend Camp Ramah is hosting the Northwoods Ramah Theatre Festival, a weekend of creativity inspired by the two-week residency of the Northwoods Ramah Theatre Company (more on that in another post). One of the components is the Tikvah Arts Festival, which took place on Friday. For many years, Tikvah and Machon have worked together to create the Tikvah Lunch Theatre, a series of short plays written by the campers based on a theme that they would then present at lunch. This year, they expanded the project to include visual art and dance in addition to the theatre component. Entitled "It Could Always Be Worse: Three Artistic Interpretations," campers explored Jewish folktales highlighting the values of tzedakah and gratitude. The campers in Tikvah and the Machon campers who chose to participate spent the last several weeks studying these Jewish texts and then chose visual art, dance, or drama to express their own creative interpretations. The dance and the plays were presented on Friday during lunch for Bogrim, Machon, Nivonim and staff, and an art gallery was set up for everyone to view throughout the day on Friday.
Before and after the performances, campers who participated in the visual arts component stood proudly by their creations and explained their pieces of art. The dancers danced with smiles on their faces and lots of enthusiasm. The actors delivered their lines with confidence and excitement. It was easy to see how much fun everyone was having and how proud they were at what they had accomplished.
Kol HaKavod to Tikvah and Machon, and all the staff that made the Tikvah Arts Festival possible! Click below to see the dance.
It wouldn't be Camp Ramah drama without JAR! Jonathan Adam Ross (aka, JAR) is returning this summer as Director of Performing Arts after spending many summers on staff. Outside of camp, JAR has been very busy with his theater career. He is currently touring with his new solo show, God of Our Fathers, and he has performed his original one-man show Walking in Memphis: The Life of a Southern Jew Off Broadway and around the world.
JAR says, "The performing arts at Camp Ramah are brimming with amazing opportunities both onstage and behind the scenes! We have a rockin' crew in the WRMH radio station, an incredibly talented dance faculty, a season of hits in store on our theatrical stage, amazing musicians to guide the orchestral instrument program, a brand new shirah (songleading) program that is going to blow people away, and on top of it all, an enhanced residency by the Northwoods Ramah Theater Company including some special guests! And I can't wait to get my front row seat!"
Shabbat is a special time at Camp Ramah when everyone can take a step back from the busy schedule and have time for reflection and relaxation. At camp, Shabbat starts a little early as everyone gathers on the Kikar before lunch on Friday for Kikar Dancing. Some of the songs have been around forever, while others are brand new for this summer, and it is so much fun to watch as veteran Ramahniks help the newer campers and staff learn the dances. It is a joyful time as the Shabbat mood begins to settle over camp.
In the evening, everyone in camp gathers by the lake for Kabbalat Shabbat. It is a memorable experience, and there's nothing like welcoming Shabbat as the sun sets over beautiful Lake Buckatabon.
Tessa (Shoafim): The best thing I love about Shabbat is connecting and bonding with everyone--not just people in my cabin, but people in my whole eidah. I also love looking at the beautiful nature and connecting with my inner Jewish soul.
Dina (Shoafim): My favorite thing about Shabbat is hanging out with my friends and having lots of free time.
Austin (Machon): What I like most about Shabbat is probably the sunset by the water while we pray with friends and relatives of all sorts.
Sadie (Solelim): My favorite thing about Shabbat is everyone getting all dressed up.
Rebecca (Solelim): My favorite thing about Shabbat is the services by the lake.
Amanda (Solelim): I like the services by the lake and having lots of time to rest.
Alyssa (Solelim): My favorite part of Shabbat is Kikar Dancing.
Jacob (Machon): I love all the free time on Shabbat.
Hillel (Bogrim): I love spending time with friends on Shabbat.
Olivia (Machon): I love sitting around and chillin' on Shabbat.
Having only recently appeared for the first time in seven days, the sun is setting over beautiful Lake Buckatabon. From my office window, I see thin rows of purple clouds interspersed among lines of orange and dark yellow. The camp is filled with the voices of children and teens running to or from their peulot erev, their evening activity. It is hard to believe that they have only been here for twenty-four hours.
It seems like just yesterday that we were all sitting in the chadar ochel, the entire staff, mesmerized by Yoni Bundt's final charge before the campers started to arrive. Yoni talked about the powerful impact camp had on him and his family, about lifelong friendships that formed at camp, and how wonderful it was for him to be back in the capacity of staff trainer. Combining the energy of a great motivational speaker with the intensity of a parent, Yoni related how he was feeling entrusting his child over to counselors for the first time. You could feel the sense of responsibility descending on the staff. This was no longer a theoretical situation, it was real. For the tzevet (staff), there were real things at stake and real souls to care for. The campers were about to arrive and this was an actual parent talking about an actual camper. Echoing an old tag line for the US Marines, Yoni had the entire staff repeating after him "The few. The proud. The tzevet." When he was finished, music came on, the staff got up and the dancing started.
In the middle of breakfast, prior to Yoni's talk, the Hanhala executed the first flash mob of the summer and possibly the first ever conducted at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. According to UrbanDictionary.com, a flash mob is:
A group of people who appear from out of nowhere to perform predetermined actions, designed to amuse and confuse surrounding people. The group performs these actions for a short amount of time before quickly dispersing.
Performing to a song in Hebrew, and expertly choreographed and taught the night before by our outstanding Tzevet Rikkud (dance staff), the Hanhala got up from various tables throughout the chadar ochel in what appeared to be individuals going to get more breakfast. In fact, they were getting into position for the seemingly random dance. The performance was greeted by surprise and cheers as we introduced another way to add seemingly spontaneous fun to the summer. Between the flashmob, Yoni's inspirational message, the hard work of preparing all week, and the dancing, the energy level was high as we awaited the arrival of the campers.
And now, twenty-four hours later, the flashmob, the talk, the dancing feel as though they took place an eon ago. Since then, buses arrived, campers ran screaming into each others' arms or into the arms of staff members, great meals were eaten, and the sun finally came out. As of today, I finally know the names of all the staff members and I have learned the names of about 50 campers - just about 400 names to go...
It is dark. The Big Dipper hangs over Lake Buckatabon, so big that I can almost reach out and touch it. The whistles of staff basketball ligot blow in the background. The campers are in for the night. Another season is underway. And I, I have the best job in the world and love being back at my old summer home, Camp Ramah in Wisconsin.
A Little Bit About Camp
Camp Ramah is 150 acres of magical space, tucked away in the heart of Wisconsin's Northwoods. Within this space, campers and staff from throughout the Midwest and Israel unite each summer to form a very special Jewish community. Together, they experience the joy of overnight camp while leading vibrant Jewish lives. Ramah is a second home where young people learn new skills, gain independence, make lifetime friendships and explore what Judaism can mean in their lives.
To find out more, visit us at www.ramahwisconsin.com.
