Ron Wosk says his first Jewish experiences were mostly negative. As the son of a tailor amidst a Jewish day-school crowd seemingly dominated by the children of wealthy and high-powered businessmen, school left him feeling excluded and even a little bitter about his religion. 

That all changed in 1969 when, at the age of 11, Ron’s parents scraped together enough money to sign him up for a session at Miriam. From that very first summer Ron says he felt like he had found a community. “Camp put me on a path to inclusion, acceptance and sharing. Camp Miriam turned around my ideas about what it meant to live a life of Jewish values.” Ron says that his parents really liked the idea that Miriam was a Zionist camp and were happy that Ron had such a positive Jewish experience there. 

After that, he says they continued to send him to camp despite the fact that every summer “it was a struggle to put together the money.” He’s grateful for their efforts because over the eight magical summers he spent at Miriam, he improved his Hebrew and learned about Judaism and Israel. But for Ron, those lessons are overshadowed by the deep and enduring friendships he made at camp. 

Five decades since he was at Miriam, Ron says his camp chaverim are amongst the most important people in his life. “Camp gave me those friendships and in the process shaped my identity,” he says, adding that his wife Roni, who never went to camp, “inherited” those friendships and has come to understand the important inclusive experience that Camp provides to kids. 

Ron and Roni want Jewish kids to have the opportunity to experience the same freedom, independence and inclusion that Ron found at Miriam. That’s why they have committed to leave a portion of their estate to Camp Miriam, with their generous gift specifically designated to camperships so that kids from all backgrounds can experience Miriam. “To me it is really important to leave a legacy. I know firsthand that Camp can make a huge impact and be life changing,” explains Ron.