Thank you Alex!

Today we are announcing a staff transition, saying goodbye to our Camp Director Alex. She wrote her own letter explaining her decision to part ways with this position. Luckily, she will stay as a valued member of our community! Thank you for all of your work in these unprecedented times, Chazak ve Ematz!

Dear Hashomer Hatzair Camp Shomria Community,

As a 3rd generation to Hashomer Hatzair and an education professional, I was honored to take on the position of Camp Director at Shomria a year ago. Just as I began learning the organization and working at Shomria, the COVID pandemic started. The work I was hoping to do shifted and changed, as did so many things in our everyday life. 

Once Summer Camp 2020 (Mosh Kayitz) was canceled, my family and I decided to travel to Israel where we were hoping to have in person education for our two daughters. We are now in Jerusalem, working remotely and missing our US and Brooklyn community everyday. Our daughters were not only lucky to have school in person most of this year, they are also thankful for the opportunity to spend time and build relationships with family on a weekly basis. Following hours and days of contemplation we have decided that at this point it is best for us to stay here and continue to build our life here in Israel. 

Thank you to Adi, Odelia, Tal, and Minna as well as the whole Hashomer Hatzair board and Hadracha for welcoming me into the organization and the position. I have learned and grown tremendously in such a short year. I welcome Lior Ben Zvi, a camp alumni and a movement Bogeret, into our staff. With her understanding of the combination of both a camp and a youth movement, I am confident that she will do an amazing job working with Adi and Yoni, preparing and leading during the coming summer camp season and beyond. 

It is my hope to continue and work with Shomria on a smaller capacity and see many of you in person this coming summer.

Sincerely,

Alex Ben-Abba