by Rabbi Steven Bob, Chalutzim Segel (Faculty)

Every summer for over 30 years I have taught Kita Aleph in Chalutzim, our Hebrew immersion program for teens entering tenth grade. I love the opportunity to help these teens succeed at learning Hebrew. We have fun together as we build confidence and vocabulary. We have been focusing on the most commonly used Hebrew words learning how to describe our activities. I am a lively teacher who creates a positive sense of common cause with the students. Our corner of the moadon (club house) during class time is a noisy spot! We chant, shout, laugh and learn. Sitting quietly is not important. We practice kinesthetic learning!!

One of the highlights of the summer, the “Annual Kita Aleph Alumni Breakfast,” took place this morning. The students in the 2018 Kita Aleph invited the 13 alumni of Kita Aleph now serving on the camp staff to be their guests for breakfast in the Rotunda. The current students cooked the tasty breakfast and hosted the Alumni from Kita Aleph in Chaultzim 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2012.

We shared the running jokes that make Kita Aleph so much fun. The alumni recalled the “famous phrases” they learned in Kita Aleph years ago from the Ish Yarok (Green Man) story and from Yehuda Amichai’s poem about a key and a door. We even all raised our hands in solidarity to form the “official” Kita Aleph Hand Sign! Each year we declare the senior member of the association to be our Queen or King. This summer we have a new Queen of the Kita Aleph Alumni Association, Jami Goldberg, the Rosh Eidah (Unit Head) of Gesher. Jami was in Chalutzim in 2012.

In Amichai’s poem he asks what is sadder – a door without a key, or a key without a door? As I prepare to conclude my three weeks with Chalutzim,  I ask what is sadder – Chalutzim without  Rav Bob, or Rav Bob without Chalutzim?

Rabbi Steven Bob AKA Rav Bob

Rabbi Steven Bob is Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard, IL.