Ramah Israel Bike Ride

What a thrill! After hours of mostly uphill cycling in the scorching desert heat (with some of us choosing to climb a very steep mountain), we all began the three-mile final leg of our journey, a descent into Eilat. The road narrowed; we entered a mountain pass, and as we emerged, the Red Sea was visible in the distance. Our destination was within sight, and the sheer natural beauty was almost overwhelming.

As the last rider pulled into our lunch stop on Dekel Beach in Eilat, the 2013 Ramah Israel Bike Ride was officially complete, with everyone safe and pleased. We enjoyed a barbecue lunch, then rode the last couple of miles to our hotel, where bikes were returned or packed for flights, showers were taken, and all began to relax.

Tonight after dinner we held our final group meeting. So much appreciation was expressed, as well as satisfaction over very successful fundraising, a great week in Israel, numerous new friendships, and the tremendous physical challenges accomplished on both the Ride and the Hike.

We continue to express our appreciation to all of our supporters, to a great team of staff, and mostly to all of our hikers and riders who gave so much of themselves to this incredible experience.

Ramah can be very proud of this newest Israel experience and group of peers, ages 13-73. We look forward to another successful Ramah Israel Challenge, hopefully in 2015.

We hope you have enjoyed following our adventures. May all of our participants travel home safely.

Layla tov from the city of Eilat.

All of the Ramah riders and hikers are now sitting around the pool at Kibbutz Ketura enjoying a swim, dinner, and much needed relaxation after another action-filled day. (Click here to read about today’s hike.) Unfortunately, a heat wave has settled over southern Israel and temperatures today reached 100 degrees. Nevertheless, all are healthy and happy and looking forward to tomorrow’s final day of adventure together.

Shabbat at Mitzpe Ramon was magical. Beginning with Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat services, all 72 participants came together as a community, united in the cause that we have all supported. As in any Ramah camp community, services were inspiring, with song and prayer filling the room. Following a wonderful Shabbat dinner with singing of zemirot and birkat hamazon, we all gathered again for a discussion about Tikvah, Breira B’Ramah, and Camp Yofi, Ramah’s programs for children with special needs. Barbara and Herb Greenberg, the founders of the first Tikvah program at Ramah Glen Spey in 1970, spent Shabbat with us as our guests and, together with Ramah New England Tikvah director Howard Blas, spoke about the powerful impact of our programs on the participants with disabilities, their families, the staff, and the entire camp community.

At Shabbat morning services, another guest, Judah Rand-Lakritz, a Ramah Poconos alum, inspired us with a dvar Torah about the importance of inclusion. Judah helps run an amazing program in Israel, preparing children with special needs for bar or bat mitzvah. After lunch, many of us walked over to see the magnificent Ramon crater, a unique vast geological formation, and then the group came together again for an update about the Ramah Camping Movement and some of the plans for future growth and development.

Perhaps the highlight of Shabbat, like in camp, was havdalah. We all returned to the rim of the crater, stood in a circle in the eerie darkness, and blessed the new week. As everyone was singing Eliyahu Hanavi, I couldn’t help but become emotional over the formation of yet another Ramah community–albeit temporary–of new friends, and the commitment of each participant toward our common goals.

Thoroughly exhausted, we enjoyed a restful afternoon and have now regrouped for dinner and relaxation, eagerly anticipating tomorrow’s final ride into Eilat.

We are so pleased to have come so far, both on the road and with our support for this important cause. We will update everyone tomorrow when our journey is complete.

Good night, layla tov, from Kibbutz Ketura in Southern Israel.
Rabbi Mitch Cohen, National Ramah Director; Rider

It’s the end of Day 3, and as Shabbat approaches, our riders and hikers have all checked in safely from today’s variety of routes and challenges. (Click here to read about today’s hike.)

Riders chose among various options. Some chose to leave our hotel at 5:30 a.m. to bike in the cool morning desert air. They took an amazingly challenging route, with long and steep climbs, including the world-class Scorpion’s Ascent overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. The rest of the group cycled to Sde Boker, the home of Israel’s founding Prime Minister David Ben Gurion. Sde Boker is a beautiful Negev center, overlooking the magnificent Zin Valley.

After Sde Boker, some riders switched to mountain bikes and did an off-road ride in the intense heat, happy to arrive at a desert oasis and jump into a cold natural pool. The rest rode another 40 km to Mitzpe Ramon, our home for Shabbat. (Click here to see today’s route.)

Many of our bikers and hikers visited a winery in this desert town, sampling some wonderful wine from the only Israeli winery with kashrut certification from the Masorti Movement and Israeli Conservative Rabbinical Assembly.

The scene here at the hotel is fantastic. Exhausted hikers and riders, and many guests, family, and friends, are uniting after today’s adventures, eager to share stories and a very restful Shabbat.

What a wonderful group of people have gathered for this year’s Ramah Israel Challenge–so many new friendships, and re-kindling of old Ramah relationships.

Shabbat will give us all an opportunity to restore our bodies and nurture our souls, ready to continue the adventure as we travel southward to Israel’s southernmost city, Eilat, on Sunday and Monday.

Shabbat Shalom from the Negev desert,
Rabbi Mitch Cohen, National Ramah Director; Rider

Another wonderful day in Israel on the Ramah Israel Bike Ride and Hiking Trip! (Click here to read about today’s hike.)

This morning, some of our bikers rode from Ashkelon to Sderot, on the border with Gaza; others traveled by bus. We all then toured JNF’s Sderot Indoor Recreation Center, which has been supported by many donors in North America–including Ramah counselors–in the wake of so many years of missile attacks from Gaza. This amazing playground provides safe indoor play space for children in a building reinforced by steel and concrete.

All of us then rode the 22 miles from Sderot to Gevulot en route to the Negev desert. One of our riders, Beth Levine, has a friend who teaches pre-school at a kibbutz along our route. What a treat it was to be welcomed with cold drinks and the smiling faces of 20 two-year-olds who came out to the road to greet us!

After a sumptuous lunch of quiche, salad, and fresh vegetables, with lots to drink, half the group continued the ride (in the hot sun!) to our hotel at Mashabei Sade. The other half toured Kibbutz Revivim, the first Jewish settlement in the Negev, which paved the way for the Negev’s inclusion in the Jewish State. We learned about the incredible determination of Zionist pioneers who braved the desert heat and lack of water to establish this community. (Click here to view the map of today’s route.)

Michael Hoffenberg of Chicago commented, “This trip is really wonderful, and had I only met this wonderful group of people, dayenu (it would have been enough). Had I only experienced this trip to Israel, dayenu. Had I only enjoyed this biking challenge, dayenu. And had we only been involved in a fundraiser for such an important cause, dayenu. But put them all together, and this is truly amazing.”

After a great dinner, many riders and hikers enjoyed the opportunity to take advantage of this desert locale by using telescopes and learning about the constellations with a professional stargazer. We then came together for a party at the kibbutz pool (at least the 5 of us who were still awake!), ready for another adventure tomorrow as we head further south to the Ramon Crater for a restful and restorative Shabbat.

Layla tov from Southern Israel,
Rabbi Mitch Cohen, National Ramah Director; Rider

Day 1 of the Ramah Israel Bike Ride and Hiking Trip was wonderful. Beginning in Jerusalem, we all came together for an inspiring opening ceremony at Har Bahar in the Judaean Hills. The hikers spent the next 8 hours enjoying a strenuous but enjoyable hike before settling in to the Kibbutz hotel at Mashabei Sade in the northern Negev desert. (Click here to read about today’s hike.)

The riders spent the morning descending toward Beit Guvrin, biking through vineyards and farms on back roads with very little traffic. The views were spectacular and so was the riding. (Click here to view the map of today’s route.)

After a restful lunch break, some riders toured the ancient caves at Beit Guvrin and then went on to enjoy the hotel on the beaches of Ashkelon, while others continued biking all the way through the plains to this beautiful coastal city. Tonight we all came together for our nightly briefing and some inspiring words from Rick Goldstein, our rider from Colorado who has impaired vision. Rick is able to be part of this trip because his friend Derek agreed to ride a tandem bike with him. Rick’s explanation of his disability and words of appreciation were uplifting.

Jay Ruderman, a funder and leader in the cause for inclusion of people with disabilities, joined us for a little while. He told us of his respect for Ramah and Tikvah, and for everyone’s efforts to raise funds through this great Israel experience. Marty Davis from the World Zionist Organization, an Ashkelon resident and leader at the local Masorti community, spoke to us about issues in Israeli politics and the burden that Ashkelon faces from being threatened with missiles from Gaza.

Finally, the evening included a detailed briefing on tomorrow’s ride. Everyone has now gone to bed thoroughly exhausted but anticipating another great ride tomorrow.

Layla tov from Ashkelon,
Rabbi Mitch Cohen, National Ramah Director; Rider

Cliff Nerwen currently lives Riverdale, New York. He resumed riding a bicycle when he began training for the Ramah Galil Ride 2011 two years ago and has been hooked ever since. He feels that biking in Israel to support special needs camping at Ramah is a great combination and he can’t wait to ride through the Negev.

Cliff also has a long relationship with Ramah camps. He was a camper at Ramah Canada and a counselor and rosh edah at Ramah New England for 5 years. He is the father of two Berkshires alumni. This upcoming summer will be Cliff’s 17th as a camp doctor at Ramah in the Berkshires where he also serves on the board and is chair of their medical committee. Cliff also serves as the chair of the National Ramah Commission Medical Committee.

Outside of camp Cliff is a pediatrician and Medical Director of the Division of General Pediatrics at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. He also serves at the President of his synagogue, the Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale.

You’ll get the chance to meet Cliff in person in just two weeks when the Ride begins!

Gene Sacks is a 69-year-old retired general surgeon. He currently lives on a small farm in Brentwood, Tennessee with his wife Ruthi. The two also have a second home in Edwards, Colorado where Gene’s interest in cycling first began two years ago. He has ridden up the Vail Pass and has been looking for bigger riding challenges ever since.

Gene is a founder and past president of Ramah Darom’s board and is greatly committed to the camp. He is very excited to be able to be a part of the upcoming ride with fellow Ramah lovers. You should all know that Gene is also a passionate golfer and plays wherever there are good courses. If there’s time, maybe you will be able to find some of these courses and play a game with Gene in Israel!

Be on the lookout fore more rider bios in the weeks leading up to the Ride!

Brad Rabinowitz grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, but moved many times during his youth. He graduated from the University of Florida in 1988 with a degree in mechanical engineering and has been a practicing engineer in the HVAC business ever since. Brad and his wife were introduced to the Ramah world when they sent their sons, Zach and Seth, to Ramah Darom for the first time last summer. During a meet and greet before camp began, Alan Sussman (2013 and 2011 Ramah Bike Rider) stood up and spoke to the group about his experience on the previous Ramah Israel ride in the Golan. At that moment Brad looked at his wife and knew he would be participating in the next ride.

Brad’s 48th birthday falls shortly before the ride, adding to the simchas we will celebrate as a group!

Be on the lookout for more rider bios in the weeks leading up to the Ride.

The Kutno Family hails from Westchester, New York. The patriarch of the family, Steve is a recreational bike rider and runner. He spends his days working with public schools across North America. He is excited to be participating in his fourth charity bike ride in Israel, only this time he gets to share the experience with two of his children.

Steve’s daughter Sheva is a senior at White Plains High School and is very much looking forward to riding in support of Ramah Special Needs programs. Sheva was a camper at Ramah Nyack and has seen first hand how campers can benefit from the various special needs programs that Ramah offers. She plans on spending the upcoming year in Israel on a gap year program and will then pursue a degree in engineering.

Sheva’s younger brother, Matan, is an eighth grader at the Solomon Schechter School of Westchester. Last year he celebrated becoming bar mitzvah in Israel, and recently took a school trip to Israel as well. He is super excited to be riding in support of Ramah and to be privileged enough to visit Israel three times within the span of 9 months.

The Kutno family will be riding alongside other members of their extended family in celebration of their saba, Harold Kellner’s (also a rider), 80th birthday. We are ecstatic to share this simcha with the family while uniting for a fantastic cause!

The Kutnos are looking forward to seeing all of the riders in just over a month. In the meantime, they are hoping the New York weather improves so they can start training someplace other than their basement.

Be on the look out for more rider bios in the weeks leading up to the Ride!

Beth Gamulka is a pediatrician in Toronto, Canada. She has spent the past seven summers as a camp doctor at Camp Ramah in Canada. She also has three children who are Ramah campers; Jonah and Talia, ages 14 and 10, are both campers at Ramah Canada, and her other son Ben, age 13, is a camper at Ramah Outdoor Adventure in the Colorado Rockies. Beth and her husband, Wally Levitt, are thankful for the fun and meaningful Jewish experiences Ramah has been able to provide for their children. She is also very excited about being involved with this ride because of the integration it will foster for children with special needs into the larger Jewish community.

Beth is looking forward to reconnecting with many friends on the trip and is excited to play Jewish Geography with all.

Be on the look out for more rider profiles in the coming weeks!