COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

NATIONAL RAMAH COMMISSION INC

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 136161110 · Form 990 · FY2023 · Large ($10M-$50M) · campramah.org
revenue
$17.7M
expenses
$16.9M
net assets
$11.0M
employees
55
volunteers
28
program ratio
79%
mission · from form 990

ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL & RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT IN JUDAISM.

profile · synthesized from sources

The National Ramah Commission supports and coordinates the Ramah Camping Movement, a network of Jewish summer camps and Israel programs affiliated with Conservative Judaism. It provides educational leadership, staff training, and alumni engagement, fostering Jewish identity through immersive experiences in Hebrew language, religious practice, and connection to Israel. The movement serves thousands of children, teens, and young adults annually across North America and Israel.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $4.66M
    RAMAH DAY CAMP IN NYACK PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS CAMP EXPERIENCES FOR CAMPERS AND STAFF ACCORDING TO THE BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM.
  2. #2 $5.47M
    RAMAH PROGRAMS IN ISRAEL PROVIDE SHORT-TERM, SUMMER-LONG, AND SEMESTER-LONG EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS IN ISRAEL FOR JEWISH YOUTH, TEENS, AND ADULTS ACCORDING TO THE TENETS OF CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Day Camps
Local Jewish day camps in North America and Jerusalem offering Hebrew immersion, religious education, and community building
Leadership Development Programs
Initiatives such as Mador National Counselor Training and shlicha (Israeli staff) exchanges that train future Jewish leaders
National Ramah Tikvah Network
Programs for children, teens, and young adults with disabilities, including overnight and day camps, vocational training, and family camps
Ramah Israel Programs
Includes Camp Ramah in Israel, Ramah Israel Seminar, Tichon Ramah Yerushalayim (TRY), and Jerusalem Day Camp, fostering connection to Israel and Hebrew language
Residential Camps
Overnight summer camps across North America providing immersive Jewish educational and cultural experiences for children and teens
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Jewish Youth Summer Camps 2 activities
    • Facilitate international staff and teen participation from Israel
      Hosts approximately 600–650 Israeli staff members annually as counselors, teachers, and specialists across North American camps and provides camp experiences for nearly 250 Israeli teens, including those impacted by conflict through the Campers2Gether initiative.
    • Operate residential and day camps for Jewish youth
      Runs ten residential camps, seven day camps, and Israel programs that serve over 11,000 campers and staff annually, providing immersive Jewish education and identity-building experiences.
  • Holocaust and Genocide Remembrance Education 1 activity
    • Conduct immersive educational trips to Israel and Poland
      Organizes educational trips to Israel and Poland where participants engage in text study, prayer, Holocaust remembrance, and meetings with Israeli leaders, including the President, while also learning local safety protocols such as use of bomb shelters.
  • Youth and Community Research Initiatives 1 activity
    • Conduct research on camp program impact and Israel engagement
      Conducts and publishes research on the impact of Tikvah programs and staff experiences, and studies how Israel is represented across camps, including age-appropriate memorialization and support for Israelis during crises.
  • Structured Jewish Text Study Programs 1 activity
    • Deliver Jewish education through text-based and experiential learning
      Provides structured Jewish education using Tanach as a sourcebook and integrates experiential learning through rituals like musically rich Havdalah services and age-group activities to reinforce identity and community.
  • Specialized Summer Camps for Disabilities 1 activity
    • Provide inclusive camp programs for individuals with disabilities
      Offers Tikvah programs that serve nearly 700 children, teens, and young adults with intellectual, developmental, and learning disabilities, integrating them into camp life through tailored support and programming.
  • Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
    • Raise funds to support program affordability and mental health services
      Raises significant financial support—over $3.8 million documented—to increase program accessibility, fund mental health services, support Tikvah programs, and sponsor travel and training initiatives for college-age staff and alumni.
  • Volunteer and Professional Training Programs 1 activity
    • Support leadership and professional development for camp staff
      Hosts annual training conferences for Rosh Edah leaders and conducts peer-led staff training during staff week, including text study and scenario-based problem-solving, to prepare counselors for summer programming.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$17.68M
Contributions & grants$6.22M35%
Program service revenue$11.08M63%
Investment income$327K2%
Other revenue$58K
expenses
Total expenses$16.85M
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$5.58M
Grants paid out$2.88M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$16.42M
Cash$3.22M
Investments$4.50M
Liabilities$5.45M
Net assets$10.98M
Liquid reserves5.5 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +8.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

paid leadership · 9
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
JEFFREY M GOODMAN - THRU 524 NATIONAL BUSINESS MANAGER 35 $231K
MATT LEVIN CFO 35 $201K
RABBI AMIEL HERSH DIRECTOR, RAMAH DAY CAMP 35 $183K
MICHAEL EDELSTEIN DIRECTOR OF FINANCE 35 $172K
AMY SKOPP COOPER NATIONAL DIRECTOR 35 $153K
MARNI CHERRIN DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT 35 $140K
DANIEL OLSON DIRECTOR STRATEGIC 35 $140K
MICHAEL VAYDA CONTROLLER 35 $119K
YITZCHAK A HARTMAN CAMP CO-DIRECTOR 35 $113K
board members · 16
  • ALAN SILBERMAN — BOARD MEMBER
  • ANDREW BARNETT — BOARD MEMBER
  • ANGELA COHEN — BOARD MEMBER (FORMER)
  • ARI LEVIN — BOARD MEMBER
  • ARNIE HARRIS — PRESIDENT
  • ATARA JACOBSON — BOARD MEMBER
  • BELINDA KRIFCHER LEHMAN — VICE PRESIDENT (FORMER)
  • CHARLES MANN — BOARD MEMBER
  • CLIFF NERWEN — VICE PRESIDENT
  • DAVID KUSHNIR — BOARD MEMBER (FORMER)
  • DEBBIE ALBERT — BOARD MEMBER (FORMER)
  • DEBORAH HOFFMAN GONZALEZ — BOARD MEMBER (FORMER)
  • ELLEN BROWN — VICE PRESIDENT
  • GORDON TUCKER — BOARD MEMBER
  • HUGH POLLACK — BOARD MEMBER (FORMER)
  • JAY REISBAUM — IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
relationships · 35

Who they work with

  • Camp Ramah Canada Partner — Regional overnight camp operated under the Ramah network
  • Camp Ramah Darom Partner — Hosted the annual Rosh Edah training conference for Camp Ramah professionals.
  • Camp Ramah New England Partner — Participating camp sending staff to the Rosh Edah training conference.
  • Camp Ramah New England Partner — Regional overnight camp operated under the Ramah network
  • Camp Ramah in California Partner — Participating camp sending staff to the Rosh Edah training conference.
  • Camp Ramah in Canada Partner — Part of the Ramah network; conducted staff training week (shavua hachana) in summer 2026 with a focus on peer leadership and inclusion.
  • Camp Ramah in Wisconsin Partner — Part of the Ramah network; celebrated its first Shabbat of summer 2026 and hosted Israeli shlichim.
  • Camp Ramah in the Berkshires Partner — Participating camp sending staff to the Rosh Edah training conference.
  • Campers2Gether Partner — Initiative of The Jewish Agency that brings Israeli teens affected by war to Ramah camps.
  • Conservative Judaism Network — Official camping division of Conservative Judaism
  • Foundation for Jewish Camp Partner — Collaborates with and supports Ramah camps.
  • Harold Grinspoon Foundation Partner — Provides support to Ramah camps through funding and partnership.
  • JCamp180 Partner — Partner initiative supporting Ramah camps.
  • Jewish Theological Seminary Government — National Ramah Commission is an affiliate of The Jewish Theological Seminary
  • NOAM youth movement Partner — Israeli youth movement whose members participate in Ramah programs.
  • President Herzog Government — Hosted TRY participants at his residence for a discussion on the State of Israel and leadership.
  • Ramah Berkshires Partner — Regional overnight camp operated under the Ramah network
  • Ramah California Partner — Regional overnight camp operated under the Ramah network
  • Ramah Darom Partner — Part of the Ramah network; visited during early summer 2026 for program observation and support.
  • Ramah Darom Partner — Regional overnight camp operated under the Ramah network
  • Ramah Day Camp in Chicagoland Partner — Part of the Ramah network; operational during the first week of summer 2026 despite adverse weather conditions.
  • Ramah Israel Partner — Regional overnight camp operated under the Ramah network
  • Ramah Northern California (Galim) Partner — Regional overnight camp operated under the Ramah network
  • Ramah Poconos Partner — Regional overnight camp operated under the Ramah network
  • Ramah Rockies Partner — Regional overnight camp operated under the Ramah network
  • Ramah Wisconsin Partner — Regional overnight camp operated under the Ramah network
  • Research Success Technologies, Inc. Partner — Co-conducted a 2013 survey on the impact of Ramah special needs programs.
  • RootOne Partner — Supports Ramah camps, particularly in meeting the financial needs of families.
  • The Jewish Education Project Partner — Parent organization of RootOne, which supports Ramah camps.
  • The Jewish Theological Seminary Government — Provides educational and religious supervision for the National Ramah Commission
+ 5 more
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Emotionally-Responsive Israel Engagement
    methodology: emotionally-responsive Israel education
    By framing Israel education around emotional safety, age-appropriate narratives, and collective memory, we strengthen Zionist and Jewish identity, because trauma-informed, affective connection fosters resilience and belonging more effectively than factual instruction alone.
  • Immersive Jewish Identity Formation
    methodology: immersive_jewish_living
    By immersing campers in Jewish time, practice, language, and values through residential and day camp experiences, we build lasting Jewish identity and belonging, because sustained, experiential engagement fosters deeper connection than formal education alone.
  • Inclusive Community as Educational Foundation
    methodology: inclusive community building
    By integrating training on inclusive language, neurodiversity, and transnational relationships into staff development, we create a supportive environment that strengthens communal belonging, because psychological safety and mutual respect are prerequisites for meaningful Jewish identity formation.
  • Peer-Led Jewish Education Model
    methodology: peer-led education
    By empowering young adult staff to serve as educators and role models regardless of expertise level, we increase engagement and authenticity in learning, because the principle "If you only know aleph, teach aleph" fosters humility, accessibility, and peer-to-peer transmission of Jewish knowledge.