Zimriah 2007: 60 Years of Ramah Wisconsin

The lights are low. The cheering is loud. Each aidah enters the Beit Am (auditorium) proudly sporting their colored t-shirts for the Zimriah 2007. The intensity and excitement grows as each new group enters. The orchestra tunes up on the stage, and the production crew tests out the microphones and acoustics. The Nivonim MCs quickly practice their lines before their aidah enters. Finally, the festival begins as each aidah stands up to present their ru'ach (spirit) to the entire camp for the first time. Campers and staff members recount the enthusiasm last night that was Zimriah 2007.

Zach (Rosh Musica): This year's Zimriah was special, because the theme was 60 years of Ramah. It featured songs from decades starting in the 50's until the present and was very exciting. The campers got t-shirts with aidah colors that made a rainbow in the Beit Am. We had great rehearsels leading up to the main event - especially with our great songleaders Itay and Elkana - and it was fun watching the kids sing and get excited about their songs and cheers.

Allison (Nivo camper): The Zimriah has always been one of my favorite campwide events and it was so cool to be an MC last night. I was proud to represent Nivo in from of the camp. The speeches I made were in Hebrew and English. Before each aidah presented, Joseph (the other MC) and I gave a description of what was going on in each decade in both Camp Ramah and in Israel. There was a slideshow which complimented the speeches we gave. This was a theme that everyone could relate to and cared about, so it was fun for everyone.

Zach (Rosh Musica): This year's Zimriah was special, because the theme was 60 years of Ramah. It featured songs from decades starting in the 50's until the present and was very exciting. We had great rehearsels leading up to the main event - especially with our great songleaders Itay and Elkana - and it was fun watching the kids sing and get excited about their songs and cheers.

Florrie (Machon camper): For Machon, one of the most special parts of the Zimriah was uniting with Tikvah for the first time. We really felt like one aidah. Though sometimes we have separate activities, we really are one group of kids who likes hanging out with friends, loves camp, and loves being Jewish. We got to sing two aidah songs - Machon and Tikvah. I am really enjoying meeting new people this summer and coming together as an aidah.

Colin (Shoafim camper): I loved singing our aidah song for the first time in front of the camp. We were so loud and I thought we did a pretty good job. It was also cool seeing the aidah songs for the aidahs older than me, because I cant wait to be in those aidot in the future.

Max (Garinim camper): We were so loud at the Zimriah! Garinim sang the song "Sisu Et Yirushaliem" which is from the 60s. It was very interesting to listen to the other aidah cheers and songs. The t-shirts were cool in different colors. We were yellow.

Abby (Sollelim camper): The Zimriah was a great experience. It was so spirited and really brought the camp together. I loved our green t-shirts. Even though everyone was wearing different colors, it made such a pretty rainbow in the Beit Am and showed that we were all a part of the same thing.

Zach (Bogrim camper): It was so exciting that the camp felt complete. We have been working on our song for such a long time and it was exciting to finally see it come together.