Beit Midrash / Northwoods Kollel

Beit Midrash

The Beit Midrash Program, founded in the summer of 5760/2000 by Rabbi Josh Cahan and Aryeh Bernstein, gives campers the opportunity to study Mishna and Talmud for up to an hour and a half a day in an interactive and engaging environment in supervised hevrutot (study pairs) and shiurim (seminar-style classes). From an inaugural group of 28 campers that summer, the Beit Midrash has grown to a peak of 76 campers, ranging from Shoafim (8th grade) through Nivonim (11th grade), and spanning the camp community's full range of educational backgrounds including campers from both day schools and religious schools.

The Northwoods Kollel of Camp Ramah in Wisconsin

University students - are you interested in taking your learning to a new level?  This summer you can be a part of the Northwoods Kollel!  Located at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, the Kollel is in the heart of Wisconsin's northwoods region on the shore of clear Lake Buckatabon.

The Kollel is an intensive, summer-long, full-time learning program. Students attend shiurim in Talmud, Halakha, philosophy and Bible and are encouraged to pursue independent learning projects.

Each course is taught with attention to both traditional and academic methods. "I learned in a completely different way than before..., less dogmatic, more methodological... (and) with an incredible rigor." (Naomi Richman, Goucher College '02) Alongside traditional commentaries, students examine parallel texts, such as the Talmud Yerushalmi and the Tosefta, to understand the development of the Talmudic text.

The small group of students and teachers is committed to seeking a real integration of Halakha, equality, and social action. "Only after [this] experience, replete with study, teaching, friendship, and celebration, did I begin to understand what love of Torah is all about." (Adam Rosenthal, Washington University, '02)

The intense but informal camp setting creates an open atmosphere of dialogue and exploration. "The learning never ended when the official blocks of study time were over. There was almost always someone in the Beit Midrash to help us find material about issues we were grappling with personally." (Miriam Walfish, McGill '04)

Integration with the camp community is essential to the Kollel experience. Students regularly interact with campers and staff members, through teaching classes, hevrutot and camp activities - a constant opportunity to share your love of Torah with many who are seeking inspiration.

Kollel participants receive room and board, transportation to camp and a $500 summer stipend, and are expected to be available to contribute to various camp projects.

For more information, contact Rabbi Micha'el Rosenberg at michael_rosenberg@post.harvard.edu                        or at 917-757-8359.