On Sunday, October 30th, Jewish Federation Los Angeles will proudly hold our 4th annual Tour de Summer Camps, the community-wide cycling fundraiser that helps provide scholarships to send more of our kids to Jewish summer camp and help them build a lifelong connection to Jewish identity and values. Each year, hundreds of community members fundraise for months, do training rides, and show up to bike our course for either 18, 36, 62 or 100 miles.
This year, we are profiling a few of our riders to find out why they participate in Tour de Summer Camps. Longtime Federation supporter and veteran rider Rabbi Richard Camras is looking forward to this year’s event.
How many years have you been riding in Tour de Summer Camps?
Richard Camras: I have ridden in Tour de Summer Camps every year except one, given an injury I had that year. This will be my third ride.
How many miles are you riding?
RC: I am riding the metric century this year — 62 miles.
Are you on a team?
RC: I am part of a team from my synagogue called Shomrei Torah Riders. For the last few years we have been one of the top three teams in number of riders and amounts raised.
Why are you riding?
RC: I spent many years as a camper and counselor at Camp Ramah and spent close to 12 years going for one week as Rabbi-in-Residence. Camp Ramah was a major influence in my life and perhaps a significant factor in my deciding to pursue the rabbinate as a career.
I certainly concur with all the studies and recognize how important Jewish camping is to establishing and developing Jewish identity in children and believe it is one of the most important Jewish experiences we can give our children. If there is a way in which I can facilitate through bike riding (a particular passion of mine) a way to ensure that more families have the financial wherewithal to send their children to Jewish summer camp, why not ride, and recruit many members of my synagogue to join me as well?
Both my children have attended Camp Ramah and one is currently on staff now, along with my wife.
What would you say to people who might be nervous about the distance of the ride?
RC: Tour de Summer Camp provides many options for all riders and therefore one should not let even 18 miles be a distraction. When riding with groups, there is a sense of encouragement by others and excitement over the ride and cause, and that helps in giving people the boost necessary to ride the distance.
Join Rabbi Camras out on the Tour de Summer Camps course this October 30th! Sign up to ride, volunteer or donate today!
Questions? Please visit the Tour de Summer Camps website or contact the Tour de Summer Camps team at (323) 761-8013 or info@tourdesummercamps.org.
