We didn't know what to expect of our week as "madrichim" (counselors) at a day-camp held at Hadassah Neurim. All of us were feeling a mixture of excitement to meet the 9 to 13 year old soccer players on the Maccabi Netanya team as well as apprehension at the idea of having to scrape together our Hebrew skills in order to be strong leaders. We soon discovered that we had nothing to worry about-full of spunk and curiosity, this group of forty boys filled our mornings with energy and genuine laughter.

Each day, we tried to embellish upon the structure of the programming with our uniquely American style. For example, the first day we taught the kids American ice-breakers. The boys proved to be eager to learn our new games, whether it was a tag game called "the Blob" or "Duck Duck Goose." On another day we gave the boys environmental lessons in a bio-dome. At times, we struggled to explain technical concepts but the boys patiently helped us through the lessons. In the end, we shared conclusions about the importance of clean water based on our own cross-continental experiences!

In retrospect, our lunches together might have been our most meaningful moments. Every day, we Otzmanikim scattered around the dining hall to sit with different groups of boys. In this relaxed setting, the boys bombarded us with questions about life in America and practiced their elementary English. In turn, we learned about their lives and backgrounds. Most of the boys are of Ethiopian descent so they shared tidbits about their customs. On the final evening of our camp, Hadassa Neurim invited the families of the boys over for an elaborate model seder. The boys introduced us to their parents and siblings and helped us through the Hebrew parts of the Haggadah. The family seder was a appropriately intimate ending to a week in which we aquired forty adoptive brothers!

Sivan 5763 - June 2003