This was very well written and expressed. Oddly, it made me sad. I think because despite the somewhat regimented aspect to religion at Ramah, it was a time where I had unquestionable community which reflected my level of Judaism, which is something I frequently have trouble seeking out these days, especially since graduating from JTS. Interestingly, this is my Ramah experience pretty much to a T, except I wasn't on staff and thus wasn't in a choir. I went to Ramah Canada, so I expect that it was pretty much the same across all the Ramah (Ramot?)

I was only at Ramah for three years, and then I went on Pilgrimage. My pilgrimage experience probably would have been beautiful if I had not been so sick. Out of all the nights to be ill in Israel, that was the night I managed to get food poisoning. I don't remember what I ate, but I do remember sitting up on the hill above Jerusalem, with all the candles in bags of sand, reading Eicha and looking down at the old city.

And then, unfortunately, I remember the frantic drive to medical care. I don't even remember how I got there, so I must have been pretty out of it. I remember little else of the experience, except that we got back in time to hear the end of Eicha. I don't remember what we did in the daytime.

May your day be meaningful, and your fast be gentle.