Pioneering Educator Simcha Bibi Dies at 82

Simcha Bibi, a pioneering educator in the West Bank settlements of Judea and Samaria, passed away during the Sukkot holiday at the age of 82. Bibi was among the first women to engage in children's education in the region and was a founding member of the Alon Shvut settlement and an early resident of Kiryat Arba.

For decades, she dedicated herself to education and supported families. Alongside her husband, Rabbi and Rabbinical Judge Shalom Bibi, she raised their eight children. The Bibi family was one of the seven original families to settle in Alon Shvut, a period marked by the relocation of the yeshiva from Kfar Etzion. Simcha Bibi established the first kindergarten in Alon Shvut, utilizing her home's living room as the educational space for the settlement's children in its nascent stages.

After living in Alon Shvut for about two years, the Bibi family moved to Kiryat Arba when the settlement was established. There, she continued her educational work, devoting her time to children and families. Her husband played a significant role in the religious life of Kiryat Arba through his teaching and study. Beyond her kindergarten work, Bibi also served as a parental guide, assisting families with challenges related to child-rearing and education.

Her family remembers her as a devoted teacher, with many former students recalling their time in her home kindergarten fondly even years later. The Bibi home was also a center for couples seeking advice and encouragement, embodying a life of kindness and giving. Rabbi Simcha Bibi was laid to rest during Sukkot.