Yaniv, Alicia and Nadav are in the board of Habonim Netherlands

Dear Robbert, Sasha, Asher, Margalith, and other attendees,

Everyone present here has a connection with Rebecca in one way or another, and we feel honored that our bond with Rebecca was formed a long time ago, namely because we were in the JK (Jeugdkader) together. The JK is the cohort in Haboniem where you attend all activities together from childhood. We grew up with Rebecca, a bond determined by fate simply through our birthdates, creating a connection for life. And that fate brought our group many beautiful, educational, and extraordinary moments.

Rebecca had many facets, and the side we know best is her as a Haboniem member. We know Rebecca as a fellow chanich (participant), co-madrich (counselor), mazkiroet member, and later as Rebecca, the Haboniem world.

Rebecca, the chanich, during the time when we were still “kids.” Rebecca, the chanich, did her own thing. She always had a book with her that she would read in bed at night. On Haboniem, this was quite unusual, but Rebecca did it anyway. She could nerd about Harry Potter for hours, always being headstrong and smart. Oh yes, and she came from The Hague, something she was always proud of in a group mostly consisting of people from Amsterdam and Amstelveen.

Rebecca, who somehow found tranquility for a book in our overly busy JK, could also goof around with us and fully engage in our enthusiasm and craziness. She hit the hardest during Kung Fu Master and played football with the most fervor. Moreover, we remember Rebecca as the brain and conscience of the group. Sometimes the quieter strength, Rebecca always steered the program in the right direction and taught us as fellow participants something new. Rebecca really disliked Dutch language mistakes; whether it was “onrespectvol,” “respectloos,” or, oh no, “ondisrespectvolloos.” We, as JK, gladly used this word. Not only fellow participants but also counselors, she kept sharp with critical questions and facts, like our old Israel trip counselor Maya. She shared the following anecdote: “It was Friday evening at winter camp, and I was helping the kitchen team distribute food. I had a note with the names of participants who wouldn’t get a salmon package but a vegetarian option. ‘Rebecca?’ I called out at one of the long tables. A tough-looking girl with glasses looked up. ‘Are you vegetarian?’ I asked, thinking I could quickly put the plate down and move on to the next one. ‘I am not made of plants. I eat vegetarian, and I am a vegetarian,’ this girl said. I felt caught; this little participant had just pointed out my mistake, and I couldn’t ignore it. I thanked her for the lesson, and from that moment on, I told everyone who wanted to hear it that you’re not ‘vegetarian’ but ‘eat vegetarian.’ And to this day, when someone tells me they’re ‘vega,’ I think of Rebecca Baruch.”

In short, she often served as the group’s conscience and made sure to call us out when we went too far, like when we wanted to walk through a desert full of cliffs and ravines in Israel in the middle of the night. Rebecca could handle a lot, but she truly hated one thing: lying. Sure, a little lie is fine, but during serious moments, it was better to be honest with her.

We are certain that Rebecca was a fantastic child to lead for all counselors. Our Israel trip counselor Asher said the following: Rebecca was the kind of participant every counselor dreams of. Enthusiastic but also critical. Funny and headstrong. I have been incredibly grateful to Rebecca on multiple occasions because she knew how to give the conversation the right turn or steer the group in a certain direction. Her strong sense of responsibility and critical mind were inspiring, not only for her JK peers and participants but also for her counselors.

All in all, Rebecca made a lasting impression on us and our counselors as a participant.

Then, Rebecca became a counselor with us. Just being a counselor wasn’t enough for Rebecca. She immediately entered the mazkiroet as Rosh Indoctrination, um, oh no, Rosh Chinuch, as she unfortunately had to call it. Every week from The Hague to Amsterdam in her final year of high school. In her chinuch (education) role, she wanted to go “back to basics.” She opted for a broad general concept in a specific context. Her November weekend was about socialism in specific countries of the Habo world. Her winter dealt with mass manipulation, Purim with music, May weekend with the Six-Day War, and summer with superheroes. Quite a wide range of topics. Rebecca allowed us to dance our legs off on Purim and spent the entire May weekend talking seriously about the Six-Day War. Rebecca, as Rosh Chinuch, in short, a Rosh Chinuch of contrasts.

After that, Rebecca went to Israel. This was the moment when we unfortunately couldn’t see Rebecca as often. She came back a few times for Habo activities. Even during the May weekend in the corona era, where I had the honor of leading with her again and seeing Soldier Rebecca up close. She was, after all, on leave, but there were some problems in the unit she led. During the weekend, she called Israel several times and was angry with a few girls in her unit. Not because they did something wrong, but because they hadn’t communicated and, more importantly, had lied to each other. And we know Rebecca doesn’t like lying. Leading with her during that weekend was, like everything with Rebecca, a weekend full of interesting lessons.

Furthermore, she guided Israel trip groups in Israel several times. Every summer, the Israel trip counselors enjoyed letting the participants talk to Rebecca about her experience in Israel. Participants left the visit with new insights, seeing her as a source of inspiration.

When Rebecca joined JK5 for a day last summer, she almost ended every sentence with: “Israel is a land of contrasts.” Thinking of these words, I understand more than ever why Rebecca made the choices she made. She went to a place where she fits in completely. Rebecca, the participant full of contrasts; Rebecca, the counselor full of contrasts; Rebecca, the Israeli full of contrasts in the land full of contrasts. We feel grateful to have met Rebecca, and the lessons we learned from her will stay with us for the rest of our lives. Rebecca has inspired us as JK and also as Haboniem to think in contrasts. To think with nuance. Rebecca taught us how powerful it can be not to ‘shout’ from the sidelines but to be part of something for real change. Rebecca taught us that you can serve the country in the army but also be a huge advocate for peace. Rebecca taught us how to realize the ideals of Haboniem, but more broadly, our own ideals.

Especially now, in our last Habo year as JK14’ers, we had all hoped to see Rebecca at the Summer Camp. Not only to finish our Habo career together but especially to give the madgroup and the participants the last knowledge and tools to transfer the right knowledge to all future Habonim. And precisely because she can’t do that herself anymore, we will talk about it even more and, together with the JK, ensure that her insights and energy she invested in Habo are not lost.

Even now and in the coming years, Rebecca will remain part of Haboniem. We will pass on her lessons and deeds to our participants for a long time. Haboniem will continue to mention Rebecca as an example, and we will continue to remember her so that she is never forgotten.