by Jake Beckert, Chalutzim Rosh Eidah (Unit Head)

As I sit here writing this blog post, I am amazed at how easy it is to communicate when there is an expectation of a shared language between myself and my audience. This expectation, which we understandably take for granted on a daily basis, is instead a luxury which Chalutzim madrichim (counselors) rarely experience. The idea of running an eidah (unit) entirely in Ivrit (Hebrew) is one of those ideas that while impossible in theory, somehow works in practice.

However, just because it is successful doesn’t mean it’s always easy-as I was reminded today, as I tried to explain the word hetzi (half) to a group of chanichim (campers). Even after two weeks in Chalutzim, communication across the language barrier can be difficult. In order to describe the word hetzi without using English, I ripped a piece of paper in two, and held up one of the two pieces. In my mind, I was clearly demonstrating that I was talking about half of something. Instead, I spent the next ten minutes shaking my head as the chanichim logically asked if hetzi meant “to rip” “to cut” or “to divide.”

This constant struggle to communicate is the method through which we teach Ivrit in Chalutzim. Sometimes it can be difficult or frustrating, often it is fun and funny, always it is educational. In the moment, I am sure some of the chanichim were unhappy that I wouldn’t just speak one word of English to tell them what I was trying to communicate, but I’m equally sure these chanichim will never, as long as they live, forget the new word they learned today. The transition to Chalutzim is a challenge, being in a new eidah with different madrichim, and being taught in a new language takes some time to adjust for all of our chanichim. However, for all involved this challenge is a positive one. This year we have an incredibly bright and quick learning group of chanichim. Already, most of them are having so much fun they don’t even realize how much they are learning. With Yom Horim (visitors day) just a few weeks away, you all have the opportunity to come and see the incredible progress your chanichim have made in just a few weeks.

Jake Beckert is happy to be spending his 14th summer at OSRUI as Rosh Eidah of Chalutzim! When not at camp, Jake is a graduate student at Indiana University, studying modern Israeli history.