[The following are excerpts from a letter written by a parent of a Tikvah camper, to Rabbi Mitchell Cohen, National Ramah Director]

We have always loved Brian and been proud of his accomplishments. We, as his family, never had the imagination, the skills and the courage to push him in new directions that Ramah seems to have done just by existing. He arrived home from camp and immediately set the table, wolfed down supper and followed with birkat hamazon (grace after meals). As he pulled his various papers and craft projects out of his duffle bags, he serenaded us with appropriate Hebrew prayers, songs and words that had been part of his camp life. In spite of his deafness and speech problems, we were all able to recognize the tunes and words he meant…

This is from a child that we thought would never have the capacity to understand what goes on in shul, never mind have a sense of Jewish identity. This is now the child that inspires his four siblings to accompany him to synagogue services and learn his camp songs so that they can all sing together. This is the child who gathers kippot for family dinners and makes sure everyone has a siddur in front of their plate. This is the child who wraps himself up in his tallit and tefillin and quietly davens when he is sad… His family never really enjoyed or felt connected to a synagogue, mainly because of the reception (or lack thereof) that Brian receives. Camp Ramah has given Brian a magical belonging that we were unable to provide and are thrilled to see…

I know you look for special staff and you follow through with special training for the Tikvah staff. In this case, the word ‘special’ becomes overused, and there aren’t really words to describe the bond and the unconditional acceptance that we’ve seen Brian enjoy with his counselors. Yaniv has become an ongoing part of Brian’s circle, taking him out most week-ends and supporting him in Special Olympic Bowling and Swimming. Even though Brian was heartbroken when he finally accepted that Yaniv wasn’t returning to camp this year, we were able to see how he was proud and excited to introduce and talk about Michael and Rafi. In many ways, our family now feels that Brian’s counselors join our ranks, because they have lived with him and recognize the gifts he brings into others’ lives. Brian’s circle, and therefore his family’s because of Camp Ramah, continues to widen and strengthen. Until the Tikvah program, Brian, although he knew he was loved, never knew the wonder of having loving friends and peers…