Kol Ramah

Live soundtrack of the original cast, edited. Performed by Gesher 2021 produced with Tzevet Hofa'a and our own Ramah Berkshires Band.

Bogrim talks about pasta.

Tzeirim talks about the Gesher Show and whatever else is on their minds.

For over fifteen months, Eliot, Jeremy, and I have been meeting on Zoom each week to discuss the parashah [the weekly Torah reading] and other items of interest, and to record a podcast known as Parashah Talk. It has become one of the highlights of my week, both the opportunity to meet in friendship and the opportunity to talk Torah, one of my great loves. Week in and week out we met, sometimes on a Wednesday, sometimes on a Thursday, sometimes on another day. Finally, our respective schedules caught up with us, and a week ago Sunday we recorded two shows. So, I do not quite remember what we talked about! Parashat Mattot-Massai [Numbers 30:2-36:13] is one of the longest readings of the year, and concludes the Book of Numbers. There is the cancellation of vows by a father or a husband for his daughter or wife, which often occasions comment in the modern world for the apparent bias/discrimination against women; there is the successful [and problematic] war against Midian after which Moshe will be gathered

Hayom Shehaya - July 5, 2021- Part 3- Solelim by Camp Ramah in the Berkshires

Continue with Max on his journey as camp historian. Recorded at Camp Ramah Berkshire July 4, 2021 There is nothing new under the sun, from health scared (Polio 1949)through July 4th parties. Picture raising the flag, undated photo.

The Solelim Show of July 7, 2021.

Excerpts from Bogrim and Tzeirim shows.

An episode of the Kochavim show. So much fun.

Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler, and Jeremy Kalmanofsky discuss Parshat Pinhas! Parashat Pinhas [Numbers 25:10-30:1] concludes the story with which last week’s parashah [Balaq (Num. 22:2-25:9)] ended, the apostasty at Baal Peor and the extra-judicial killing of Zimri and Cozbi by Pinhas. We discuss whether or not zeal can be a good thing, and how we should evaluate Pinhas’ actions. We spend some time on the census, noting some of the anomoalies this time around, on the appointment of Joshua as successor, and on the daughters of Zelophehad, whose query of Moshe about inheritance law leads to a change in how women who have no brothers inherit from their fathers. As always, there is much we leave out, such as the apportionment of the land and an extended discussion of the holidays. But, there is always next year! Shabbat Shalom!!

An hour of Disney soundtracks, mostly in Hebrew with Israeli Mishlachat members, Shira Gross and Yaniv Morozovsky.

Listen to old-time Israeli songs and hear Shabbat greetings from staff at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires.

Excerpts from the 4th of July at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires: A special morning show with Amy Erlanger and Yaniv Morozovsky interviewing campers from all edot and giving shoutouts to their friends and family on this special day. Also, listen to the first Gan and Chaverim show, featuring Rosh T'filah, Rabbi Uri Allen.

Listen to the interviews and the highlights of the Opening Day Show for Kayitz 2021 on Kol Ramah, including camp staff, campers, and guests.

The first day of Kayitz (summer) 2021 was more exciting than ever! After a 1 year break, the campers were thrilled to come to Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, meet their friends (and new buddies) and enjoy their summer. As always, Kol Ramah aired the event on a special 4 hour show, including interviews with camp director, Rabbi Ethan Linden, camp staff, Israeli Mishlachat and of course - lots of happy campers! This year, Kol Ramah has a brand new mobile studio, and our own Amy Erlanger used it to capture the exciting first moments of the summer. Yaniv Morozovsky and Mitch Mernick were in the studio, talking to special guests from the Ramah family, calling in from all over the USA, and as always, playing the best Israeli music - new and old.

Which sauce is better - Tomato or Pesto? That's only one of the major questions asked on the first full day of camp. Listen to the Solelim and Bogrim shows, and to interviews aired on July 1st 2021 on Kol Ramah. Hosted by Amy Erlanger, Mitch Mernick and Yaniv Morozovsky

Parsashat Balaq [Numbers 22:2-25:9] is perhaps best-known for the story of Balaam and his donkey, one of the few animals in the Torah to be given a talking role. Balaq, the king of Moab, is eager to protect himself and his nation from the Israelites, and tries to hire Balaam to curse the Israelites. In short, that mission ends in failure for Balaq, since Balaam is compelled to bless the Israelies. One verse [Numbers 24:5] is well-known to synagogue-goers, recited on entering a synagogue, Mah tovu ohalekha ya’aqov, mish’knotekha yisrael [How goodly are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling-places, Israel]. The parashah ends with half of the story of the apostasy at Baal Peor [Numbers 25:1-9], which will conclude next week. Staff week has begun at Camp Ramah Berkshires, where this show originated. A shoutout to all the staff, especially Mitch Mernick! Shabbat Shalom!!

Parashat Huqqat [Numbers 19:1-22:1] begins with the curious ritual of the red heifer, the cow which is completely burned so that its ashes might be sprinkled on all who come into contact with any part of a dead human being [corpse, bone, battle death, grave] in a ritual designed to restore to ritual purity those who have become impure by what is known as corpse contamination or corpse defilement, the highest degree of impurity. This ritual, also read on Shabbat Parah, the third of the four special shabbatot before Passover, is followed by the story of Moses & The Rock, which we have discussed before, but offer something new this year. We also consider the death of Aaron, compare it to the death of Miriam, which introduces the Moses & The Rock story, and Moses as diplomat, in his dealings with the locals whose land he wishes he and the people can traverse. It was a robust conversation, if I do say so myself, though as is often the case, we do not get to all that we thought we wanted to discuss. Please send

Parashat Korach [Numbers 16-18], featured on this week’s Parashah Talk, is primarily concerned with Korach’s rebellion. As Jacob Milgrom observes in his JPS Torah Commentary on Numbers, the Torah story combines elements of 4 discrete rebellions. I would like to say that we discussed these rebellions in full, but technical difficulties prevented me from participating as much as I would have liked. For stretches of the recording, my colleagues were frozen on my screen, and I was unable to hear them. Such is life in the 21st century! I hope my comments in this portion of the recording were to the point, but I am certain that Eliot and Jeremy had much to say even without me! Shabbat Shalom!! Image: The Punishment of Korah (detail from the fresco Punishment of the Rebels by Sandro Botticelli (1480–1482) in the Sistine Chapel) - Wikipedia

Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky invite you into the rabbi's study once again! The main focus of Parashah Sh’lach L’chah [Numbers 13-15] is the tragic episode of the spies, the tribal chieftains sent to scout out the land. Their negative report sets back Israelite history a generation, for those over 20 are condemned to die in the wilderness, leader and follower alike. For the rabbis, the day of their evil report, the 9th of Av, prefigures the destruction of both the First and Second Temples, among other bad things that befell the Jewish people, and some have associated any number of catastrophes since then with this date. Our conversation focuses likewise on the spies, exploring the psychological dimensions of the portrayal and comparing this sin with the sin of the Golden Calf [Exodus 32:1-33:23]. We conclude with a consideration of the mitzvah of tzitzit, the fringes traditionally worn on four-cornered garments. Shabbat Shalom!