by Micah Brandhandler, Rosh Eidah of Chalutzim

Shalom!  My name is Micah Brandhandler and I am going to be the Rosh Eidah (unit head) of Chalutzim this summer.  This past year I finished my senior year at the University of Illinois where I studied music education, and during the fall I will be student teaching in a high school and a jr. high.

This will be my 11^th summer at camp and my 6^th on staff.  Previously I have gone through Avodah corps, the Machon program, and I have been on Chalutzim staff for the past four years.  I am really excited for the kids to get here so that we can start speaking rak Ivrit (only Hebrew) for seven weeks.  We have a lot of great things planned for this year, including our 3-day canoe trip.

Chalutzim is my favorite unit at camp for the shear amount of time that we are able to spend together building a community.  Because we are at camp for seven weeks, we are able to participate in so many different camp activities.  My favorite activity at camp though is the Chalutzim vs. Moshavah soccer game on Shabbat.  It is great to see Chalutzim play and cheer together in a great tradition that I remember playing in when I was a camper.

I can’t wait to meet and get to know all of the campers.  Chalutzim is the only program like it in North America and I know that this summer will be great.