Pioneering West Bank Kindergarten Teacher Simcha Bibi Dies at 82

Simcha Bibi, recognized as the first kindergarten teacher in the West Bank and a founding resident of both Alon Shvut and Kiryat Arba, has passed away at the age of 82. Bibi began her educational career by operating the region's first kindergarten from the living room of her home in Alon Shvut. She and her husband, Rabbi Shalom Bibi, a rabbinical judge and one of Kiryat Arba's rabbis, were among the founders of Alon Shvut. The Bibi family was one of the initial seven families to settle in Alon Shvut when the yeshiva relocated there from Kfar Etzion. Her family described her as deeply dedicated to education, with many former students remembering her warmly decades later. Approximately two years after settling in Alon Shvut, the family moved to Kiryat Arba when the settlement was established. There, Bibi continued her work as a kindergarten teacher, educating generations of children, while her husband was involved in teaching and Torah study, becoming a significant figure in the local religious life. In addition to teaching, she served as a parent counselor, supporting families with educational and child-rearing challenges. The couple raised eight children, and their home often served as a resource for couples and families seeking advice and support. Simcha Bibi was buried during Chol HaMoed Sukkot. Her family is observing the traditional seven-day mourning period at their home in Jerusalem's Ramat Shlomo neighborhood.