Kol Ramah

Parsha Talk with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. It is the week before Rosh Hashanah [which begins this Friday evening, September 15, 2023], so the weekly parashah is replaced by the special Torah readings for the holiday: on Saturday, Shabbat, we read Genesis 21; on Sunday, we read chapter 22. Rather than speak directly about the Torah reading this week, we spoke instead on the emotional highlights for us of Rosh Hashanah, and in particular, the prayers or texts that speak to us most directly. Unlike the other holidays, where we might prepare the house by removing hametz [leavened products] or prepare a temporary dwelling such as the sukkah [and even on Shavuot, we prepare cheesecake!], on the High Holidays we have the idea that we have to prepare ourselves. We hope our conversation helps you get ready in a meaningful way. לשנה טובה תכתבו ותחתמו! [L-shanah tovah tikatevu v-te’chatemu]. May you and yours be inscribed and sealed for a good year!!

Parsha Talk with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. This week’s double parashah Nitzavim/Va-yelekh [Deut. 29:9–31:30] is relatively short yet contains memorable lines and ideas that have had a kind of an afterlife well beyond the Torah. The phrase lo bashamayim hee [Deut. 30:12], “it is not in heaven” figures prominently in one of the great talmudic stories, The Oven of Akhnai [b. Bava Metzia 59ab], and the command to choose life [u-vaharta ba-hayyim] is often cited in discussions governing moral choice. As the book of Deuteronomy winds to a close in the synagogue reading, the figure of Moses looms larger and larger, as does the seeming inability of the author, whoever that may be, to appropriately close the book. Deuteronomy seems to have a number of different endings, and we have yet to get to the concluding parashah. Thankfully, perhaps, our conversation did have an end. We hope you enjoy it! Shabbat Shalom!!

Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky present Parsha Talk. Parashat Ki Tavo [Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8] contains a lengthy section [Deut. 28] known as the תוכחה [tokhehah, or “rebuke”], which parallels the similar text found near the end of Leviticus [ ch. 26]. Before we got to it, we spent quite a lot of time discussing the passage about the first-fruits ritual [Deut. 26:1–11], and in particular the declaration made by the farmer [vv. 5–10]. Along the way we discussed the upcoming High Holidays and still had time to touch upon the beautiful haftarah [Isaiah 60:1–22]. Shabbat Shalom!

Parsha Talk with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. Parashat Ki Tetze [Deuteronomy 21:10–25:19] is, to use one of Eliot’s favorite phrases, mitzvah-dense, with 74 of the 613 commandments according to Sefer ha-Hinukh, a medieval compilation and explanation of the laws of the Torah. With so much to choose from, we used a somewhat random method, rolling dice to determine a chapter and verse for our discussion. Please let us know if you like this approach. We certainly had fun! Shabbat Shalom!

Parsha Talk with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. Parashat Shoftim [Deuteronomy 16:8–21:9], as described by Jeffrey Tigay in his JPS Torah Commentary on Deuteronomy, “deals with the responsibilities of public officials, . . . It introduces four main types of human authorities: judges, kings, priests, and prophets . . .” It is thus a political document, outlining the rules intended to check the powers of those in authority. It reminds us, in a way, of the US Constitution, predicated on an intricate web of checks and balances so that no one person or group may exercise ultimate, unchecked authority. As is often the case, it is particularly relevant in this summer of 2023, given the unfolding events both here in the US and in Israel. We hope you enjoy our conversation. Shabbat Shalom!

Fantastic soundtrack of "Alladin". A bogrim production. Take a listen to our live soundtrack recorded in Bet Am Bet by Radio Kol Ramah staff Omer and Ben. Yasher Coach Bogrim!

Sophia , Rebecca , Hannah , Talia , Jolie and Gaby talk on Radio Kol Ramah about their best and favourite moments of Kayitz 23

In our first episode of The Camp Ramah in The Berkshires Summer 2023 Walking Tour, our host Zoe Turnof (Shorashim) takes us to the Agam -the lake- to learn all about what happens at camp. She gets to sit down with Rosh Agam Robbie Kroll, who shares a little bit about what he does at camp, his deep connection to the waterfront and some of his favorite things about the lake. This Kol Ramah podcast series was hosted by Zoe Turnoff and Jayden Weinberg. The Kol Ramah podcast team includes, Mitch Mernick, Omer Patito, Ben Conway, and Darone Ruskay. The music for this podcast was recorded live at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires by Rabbi Josh Warshawsky. You can listen to Kol Ramah anytime by visiting KolRamah.us

In our second episode of The Camp Ramah in The Berkshires Summer 2023 Walking Tour, our host Zoe Turnof (Shorashim) takes us on a long walk around camp on the way to the Ulam. We discuss things that she loves to do at camp, new Hebrew words that she has learned, the experience of having her have her sister join her as part of the Taam program, and that’s all before we get to the Ulam itself. Once there, we learn about the dance studios, the Ninja course, and all of the fun that happens at the Ulam. Zoe also gets to chat with dance instructors as they prepare for the Rekudia. This Kol Ramah podcast series was hosted by Zoe Turnoff and Jayden Weinberg. The Kol Ramah podcast team includes Mitch Mernick, Omer Patito, Ben Conway, and Darone Ruskay. The music for this podcast was recorded live at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires by Rabbi Josh Warshawsky. You can listen to Kol Ramah anytime by visiting KolRamah.us

In this episode of The Camp Ramah in The Berkshires Summer 2023 Walking Tour, our host Jayden Weinberg (Tikva) and his counselor Rachel takes a walk around camp to go to Animal Care. Along the way he interviews campers, and counselors and specialists as he talks about all the things he likes about camp and sees on his way. Jayden then sits down to talk to his counselor Rachel Kimball. This Kol Ramah podcast series was hosted by Zoe Turnoff and Jayden Weinberg. The Kol Ramah podcast team includes Mitch Mernick, Omer Patito, Ben Conway, and Darone Ruskay. The music for this podcast was recorded live at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires by Rabbi Josh Warshawsky. You can listen to Kol Ramah anytime by visiting KolRamah.us

In our final episode of The Camp Ramah in The Berkshires Summer 2023 Walking Tour, our host Zoe Turnof (Shorashim) takes us on short walk from the chadar ochel to where we have worked all week to create this podcast series. Zoe talks about what she sees in the studio, and then sits down to talk to the rest of the Kol Ramah podcast team, Omer, Ben and Darone. This Kol Ramah podcast series was hosted by Zoe Turnoff and Jayden Weinberg. The Kol Ramah podcast team includes Mitch Mernick, Omer Patito, Ben Conway, and Darone Ruskay. The music for this podcast was recorded live at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires by Rabbi Josh Warshawsky. You can listen to Kol Ramah anytime by visiting KolRamah.us

Parsha Talk, with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. Parashat Re’eh [Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17] is a family favorite because it was the parashah for both my daughters’ synagogue Bat Mitzvahs [albeit 11 years apart; they each also celebrated a camp Bat Mitzvah the year before]. Re’eh, like every other amazing parashah, is chock full of good conversation material. There is the opening scene, setting before the people a blessing and a curse, the beginning of the Deuteornomic core of laws, which goes through 26:15, including the discussion of the false prophet, the dietary laws, the sabbatical year, and the holidays, among other things. I am always surprised that the half hour passes so quickly when so much is left unsaid. But there is always next year! Shabbat Shalom!!

Leora Ladley, Aliza Melzer & Zoe Turnof made a great audio play of the famous book&movie Alice In Wonderland - Listen To it!

Dr. Alison Joseph of chinuch worked in small groups with Solellim and Bogrim. Reading Parashat Ekev they worked all week reading the parsha. Chanichim chose points or questions they thought interesting to explore and developed different segments for the podcast.

Parsha Talk with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. Parashat Eqev [Deuteronomy 7:12–11:26] is perhaps best known for the 2nd paragraph of the Shema [Deuteronomy 11:13-21], but it also contains the scriptural basis for the Grace after Meals, the verse that is quoted in the second of the four blessings in that prayer [8:10], and two verses before that, the list of the 7 species by which the Land of Israel is known. This week, each of us chose a verse or verses to explicate, and to which the others responded. We hope you like the format. Shabbat Shalom!

Parsha Talk with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, BArry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. The shabbat when we read Parashat Va-etchanan [Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11] is known as Shabbat Nachamu, after the opening words of the special haftarah [prophetic portion, this week Isaiah 40:1–26] recited on the shabbat after Tisha B’Av [this year observed Wednesday night/Thursday, July 26–27]. Each haftarah for the 7 shabbatot following Tisha B’Av comes from the last 27 chapters of Isaiah, the section known to most biblical scholars as Second Isaiah, a 6th century B.C.E. prophet, which is distinguished from First Isaiah, an 8th century B.C.E. prophet whose prophecies appear in the first 39 chapters of the Book Isaiah. These haftarot of consolation will provide material for our conversation in the coming weeks. The Torah reading itself is one of the great highlights reels of the weekly Torah reading, containing the 2nd version of the 10 Commandments, the first paragraph of the Sh’ma, and a number of verses which have become part of the

Tamar , Rafi , Joey , Libby , Sarah talk about their favourite moments from first session , what they got up to during intersession and what they are excited for in second session

Recorded live at Bet Am Bet by Radio Kol Ramah.

Great day to welcome Rabbis Eliot Maloment, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky for Parsha Talk; recorfded live in the Bamat at Ramah Berkshires - where Parsha Talk was born!

Solellim hatzagah Seussical, 2023. Soudtrack recorded live at Bet Am Bet