Daber Hebrew Language Initiative Launches
to Great Success in 2010    

by Julie Berger, October 2010

When children return home from Ramah camps each summer, their vocabulary is often sprinkled with "camp-speak" terms that include “peulat erev” (nighttime activity), “chadar ochel” (dining hall), and “shiur” (class). This summer, with the launch of a new Hebrew language initiative that was pioneered at 11 Ramah camps across North America, that sprinkle was turned into a flood.

The Daber Hebrew Language Initiative—which was made possible by funding from the AVI CHAI Foundation and the National Ramah Commission—focused on enhancing Hebrew usage within the bunks, at meals, and during other day-to-day activities. Cheryl Magen is the grant supervisor and a consultant to the Ramah camps from the Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education at The Jewish Theological Seminary. According to Magen, “Fostering and nourishing Hebrew ability has always been a part of Ramah’s mission, but the inaugural year of the Daber program reawakened a passion for Hebrew that enlivened all of our programming.”

“I definitely think that because of Daber, Hebrew was vibrant all over camp.”

– Britty Cohen, Ramah Nyack Daber fellow

The 45 Daber fellows participated in a four-day training seminar before coming to camp, in addition to completing assignments throughout the year that included reading, listening to, and watching news, songs, and Israeli television. Fellows also spoke Hebrew in online discussion groups and conference calls with other fellows and the NRC director of Hebrew language. This work, and key training on the principles of language acquisition, served as the backbone for the programming that the fellows developed once they arrived at camp.

“The training … was incredibly important. I took with me the tools and understanding of language acquisition that accompanied me throughout my work as a fellow.”
– Jonah Cohen, Ramah Poconos Daber fellow

Fellows also drew from a wealth of support materials that included suggestions for both formal and informal ways to further infuse Hebrew into camp activities. A senior Hebrew educator provided on-site support that proved invaluable to helping the fellows achieve program goals. This support was bolstered by a visit to almost every camp from Devora Greenberg, the Daber program director, who helped fellows troubleshoot and recognize other opportunities for infusing Hebrew in daily life.

While each camp was given license to develop the program as best fit its needs, all 11 camps had great successes with the program. One element that was implemented at Ramah overnight camps nation-wide was “Plays Plus,” the modern Hebrew translation of two musicals—The Wizard of Oz and Fiddler on the Roof—that were performed at all the camps, accompanied by related educational materials, including vocabulary lists and divrei tefillah (prayer lessons) on related themes.

Each camp also introduced Rami and Chani, Hebrew-speaking characters who presented short dialogues and popped up around camp throughout the day. Fellows were very inventive in utilizing these characters to creating exciting learning opportunities. Rami and Chani gave weather reports, performed in skits, promoted camp-wide events, and appeared as surprise guests at programming all over camp. At Ramah Poconos, fellows even created a Rechov Daber (“Daber Street”) lined with Rami and Chani cartoons with Hebrew speech bubbles that were changed every few days.

The sharing of programming ideas with fellows at other camps brought out new creativity and helped programs continually grow and evolve. Ramah New England fellows initiated secret Hebrew pen pals, enlisting mishlachat (Israeli staff) members to write to and receive letters from younger campers. Fellows at Ramah Canada utilized “Chevruta Debruta” (“Team Up and Speak”), giving pairs conversation topics to discuss in Hebrew while waiting in line for snacks from canteen. Fellows at many camps also devoted certain mealtimes to having shulchan Ivrit, Hebrew-only meals. In addition to these creative methods of embedding Hebrew in the camp routine, fellows also “Daberized” traditional programming, turning basketball games and scavenger hunts into further opportunities to utilize Hebrew and make it even more integrated in the flow of each day.

“The campers wanted to use Hebrew and loved learning the language.”
– Marni Bronstein, Ramah Darom Daber fellow

The success of the Daber program resulted from the passion and ingenuity of the fellows. They worked tirelessly to not only bring Hebrew into programming, but to do so in ways that helped campers truly learn the language. As they carry their lessons learned with them to future summers and future experiences, the staff and campers who participated in this program are forming a new generation that has a love for the Hebrew language, increased fluency, and a desire to use and continue to learn it.

“I am really thankful that I had the opportunity to work as a Daber fellow this summer. Daber is a phenomenal initiative and I think that it is going to make a profound impact in future years.”
– Amy Mendelsohn, Ramah California Daber fellow

The program funding provides for its continuation for four more years, so we look forward to seeing this program continue to grow and flourish.

“When the end of summer came around for Chanichim (campers) to evaluate their summers, many of them said being the “Daber” edah was a highlight of their experience. Hearing that and seeing Chanichim learn so many new and wonderful things this summer has made me feel like this program is working beautifully and that next summer it can only get better.”
– Amy Winiker, Ramah Berkshires Daber fellow

“The campers wanted to use Hebrew and loved learning the language.”
– Marni Bronstein,
Ramah Darom Daber fellow

“The training … was incredibly important. I took with me the tools and understanding of language acquisition that accompanied me throughout my work as a fellow.”
– Jonah Cohen, Ramah Poconos Daber fellow