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Joan and Harvey Bucholtz
Joan and Harvey live in South Orange, New Jersey, and have been connected to Ramah Berkshires for many years. Harvey is a practicing Endocrinologist, and Joan is a retired Nurse Educator. While Harvey was in medical school, Joan taught elementary school. She then went back to school for her BSN, and went on to work as Diabetes Educator and as a “jack of all trades” in Harvey’s medical office.
Joan and Harvey are the parents of three daughters and sons-in-law (one, Rabbi Adam Feldman, sadly deceased). Their daughters are Sara, a corporate lawyer and mother of two daughters and one son; Stacey, an oncologist in Miami who is the mother of one daughter and two sons; and Jessica, the Executive Director of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles and mother of one son. All three of the Bucholtz daughters were Ramah Berkshires campers, and two returned on staff, and their years in camp spanned from 1979-1993.
More recently three of Joan and Harvey’s grandchildren have been Ramah Berkshires campers, and the youngest will be a Gesher camper in Kayitz 2022. In addition, this grandson will attend the TRY in Israel program this winter, which is an opportunity for 10th, 11th and 12th graders to experience a semester in Israel.
Joan and Harvey’s other grandchildren have been campers and staff members at Ramah Poconos and Ramah Rockies, and next summer their granddaughter Talia Feldman will work at Ramah Berkshires as a Program Coordinator as a part of a partnership with Congregation Beth El in South Orange, NJ.
In addition to Ramah, Joan and Harvey are actively involved in their local Jewish community. Joan was Sisterhood President at Congregation Beth El in South Orange and a Vice President of the Board. She is also a past President of Golda Och Academy (then SSDSEU). Harvey was on the Education Committees and the Board of Governors of both Congregation B'nai Israel, Millburn and Congregation Beth El, South Orange for many years.
Amy and Rick Atlas
Amy and Rick Atlas live with their family on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Rick is a “lifelong Ramahnik” (a camper from 1983-1987 & 1989, and a staff member in 1991,1992, and 1994) and has served Ramah Berkshires in many capacities, including as the former Treasurer. He currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee as the VP of Development and Chair of the Development Committee. Rick is also an active and long-time Ramah Basketball Association (RBA) player. Rick has worked in real estate, healthcare, and as a private equity executive and investor. He is co-founder and former Chief Investment Officer of Atria Senior Living.
Amy was brought into the Ramah Berkshires family as soon as she met Rick in 1996. She is a bestselling cookbook author, and stylist, and she led a successful event planning company that catered to clientele such as Oprah, Brooke Shields, Ben Stiller, and Kelly Ripa. Amy served as a Keynote Speaker at multiple industry events and regularly appeared on The Today Show. She also spent a few years practicing law at her family's small law firm, has worked as a lobbyist for The City of New York, and is admitted to practice law in NY State.
Rick and Amy’s sons Zach (Gesher ’21) and Josh (Gesher ’22) are in 11th and 10th grades at Riverdale Country School and have been Ramah Berkshires campers since Ta’am. In addition to Ramah Berkshires, Amy and Rick are also actively involved as volunteers and supporters of Riverdale Country School, Park Avenue Synagogue, and Magen David Adom.
Amy’s favorite thing about Camp Ramah is the ruach (spirit) and how it builds Jews with character and a strong sense of Jewish identity and Jewish community. When she met Rick, she really loved how special his Ramah community was to him. That community is still strong all of these years later. And Rick and Amy both love the fact that Ramah Berkshires consistently makes mensches.
Josh, Sigal, Sarah and Max Hirsch
Josh:
Josh Hirsch (Gesher ‘01) spent seven summers at Ramah Berkshires as a camper, attended Seminar on an otherwise very sparsely-populated 2002 trip and then spent three years molding impressionable youth as a Ramah Berkshires counselor. Most notably, he went 15-7 with a save and a 2.74 ERA on the mound in his MGBSL (Machon Gesher Boys Softball League) career, while hitting .562 with an all-time best 41 hits and helping win two championships.
Josh met most of his friends at Camp and, many years after their final summers there, favorite rituals, traditions, and habits stick to this day. He stayed involved with Camp through RBA and the Golf Outing, co-chairing the Golf Outing in 2014, 2015, and 2016 . After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with an extremely relevant Urban Studies degree, Josh spent five years announcing minor league baseball and hockey in Texas and Louisiana, before coming back to the northeast where he works in digital advertising at Bridge Marketing. Josh and his wife Jenny Leon live -- with their two children (Miles, Gesher ‘34, and Lyla, Gesher ‘35) -- in New Jersey and are very touched to be honored in this way.
Sigal:
Sigal Hirsch (Gesher ‘05) began her Ramah Berkshires journey in Cochavim ’98 and never looked back! Sigal loved Ramah Seminar so much, she went back a second time on staff. She was a member of CRB tzevet (staff) for three summers, as a madricha (counselor) and on the programming staff, plus a wonderful week as a madricha for Ta’am Ramah. She coached the varsity girls’ chug softball and basketball teams to multiple victories.
After graduating from Tufts University with degrees in Middle Eastern Studies and Judaic Studies (and 3 years of Arabic language classes!), Sigal followed her passion for cultivating meaningful connections to the Jewish past and present to JTS, where she earned master’s degrees in Jewish Education and Jewish History. Sigal is thrilled to be continuing her engagement with JTS as a new addition to the Davidson School Advisory Board. Upon graduating in 2015, she began her role as the Director of Youth Education and Programming at Congregation Or Zarua, working to ensure a vibrant Jewish future. Sigal has stayed connected to Camp by serving on the RBAA Hanhallah (Alumni Association board) as the Secretary since 2016. She has also served as the “Yom Give Back” Chair and is responsible for the RBAA Mentorship Program. In addition, Sigal is also a member of the CRB Educational Advisory Group. Sigal lives on the Upper East Side with her fiancé, Shalom Cohen. She is excited to share this honor with her siblings.
Sarah:
Sarah Hirsch (Gesher ‘09) began her Ramah Berkshires career in Cochavim ‘02, and eagerly awaited the first day of Camp for the next eight summers (including Ramah Seminar). She spent 3 summers as a madricha (counselor), coaching varsity chug softball to a stunning victory during her third summer on tzevet (staff). After graduating from Tufts University in 2015, Sarah got her masters in Occupational Therapy at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Currently she works at the Cooke School as an occupational therapist with children ages 8-13. Sarah’s passion for Camp has continued throughout her life and given her amazing lasting friendships. Her lifelong bunkmate became her roommate in adulthood, and she even got an iPhone just so she could be included in her Camp friends’ group chat. Sarah constantly looks forward to any Camp gatherings, virtual or in person, knowing they will always be filled with ruach (spirit) and often leading to spontaneous zemirot (singing) and rikkud (dancing). As a lifelong Ramahnik, Sarah is very honored to be receiving this award with her siblings.
Max:
Max Hirsch (Gesher ‘12) spent 8 wonderful summers at Ramah Berkshires as a chanich (camper) and an impactful summer on Ramah Israel Seminar. During his 3 summers as a madrich (counselor) (Shorashim, Solelim, and Machon), Max was happy to work with so many different campers and is proud to have instilled a love of rikkud (dancing) in them all. In his time on staff, Max loved coaching JV and Varsity Chug Ultimate teams. After spending a semester in Israel with The Nachshon Project, Max returned for his 4th year on staff - to work in the programming office (his most exciting office job to date). A graduate of Tufts University, Max is currently working as a marketing strategist at Horizon Next. Overcompensating for not being able to experience a gardening bechira (elective) as a camper, Max is now a proud volunteer gardener in Riverside Park. From Shabbat dinners with Camp friends to serving on the RBAA Hanhallah (Alumni Association board) since 2019, Max loves keeping Camp a part of his life however possible. Max (along with the fluffiest Hirsch, Leslie) is touched by this honor and ecstatic to share it with his siblings.
When?
Saturday, February 26, 2022
7:45 PM EST
Where?
Temple Emanu-El of Closter
180 Piermont Rd
Closter, NJ 07624
COCKTAIL ATTIRE
Our AUCTION is now LIVE: Bid on the auction HERE!
COVID PROTOCOLS
Please note: For the safety of our guests, we will ensure this event is compliant with the CDC, local, and national guidelines at the time of the event. Vaccination is required for all Gala attendees and documentation must be shown at the door. Masks will be required when not eating. Outdoor space is available for those who wish to eat outside (uncovered area). If needed, we will update our protocols as we get closer to the Gala date.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Please note: The deadline to register is Friday, February 11th. Please submit all virtual journal wording by Sunday, February 13th.
For help registering, paying by check or if you have questions, please contact Associate Development Director Emily St. Lifer estlifer@ramahberkshires.org or 845-832-6622 ext. 149
Individual Tickets - $250
Young Alumni Gala Tickets
Age 27-32 - $118
Age 26 & younger - $72
**PLEASE NOTE: If your sponsorship includes an ad in the Virtual Gala Journal, or if you are purchasing a journal greeting or quarter page ad, you will be able to submit your ad text and any images you would like to include following the submission of your registration. Tribute Journal Ad due by February 13th.**
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For help registering, paying by check or if you have questions, please contact Associate Development Director Emily St. Lifer estlifer@ramahberkshires.org or 845-832-6622 ext. 149
Thank you for registering for the Ramah Berkshires 2022 Gala!! Please stay tuned for event updates by email.
**PLEASE NOTE: If your sponsorship includes an ad in the Virtual Gala Journal, or if you have purchased a journal greeting or quarter page ad, you will be able to submit your ad text and any images following the submission of your registration.**
Any questions, please contact Associate Development Director Emily St. Lifer estlifer@ramahberkshires.org or 845-832-6622 ext. 149
We can't wait to celebrate with you on February 26th!