Kol Ramah

Parsha Talk with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. When either Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat, this week’s parashah, Ha’azinu [Deuteronomy 32] is also Shabbat Shuvah, with a special haftarah [Hosea 14:2-10, Joel 2:15-27, according to the Ashkenazic tradition recorded in the Etz Hayim]. Though the Shabbat takes its name from the first word in the Hosea text [as Shabbat Hazon, the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av, takes its name from the first word of its haftarah, Isaiah 1:1-27, and Shabbat Nahamu, the Shabbat following Tisha B’av, takes its name from the first word of its haftarah, Isaiah 40:1-26 , the Shabbat is sometimes called Shabbat T’shuvah, the Sabbath of Repentance, after the season. Our conversation this week also took its cue from the season, and we devoted it entirely to a discussion of Yom Kippur, observed Sunday evening and Monday, September 24-25. Wishing everyone a Shabbat Shalom and a meaningful fast!

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 (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 (Shorashim) and Jayden (Tikva). 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 (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 (Shorashim) and Jayden (Tikva). 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