Hello again to everyone out there!
So when i left you guys last, the workshoppers were just about to head out of the confines of kibbutz Ein dor, and into the wild world of Israeli society. And there's no better place to start than by speaking with people from Habonim Dror throughout the decades! The group headed out last Sunday to their first stop - the historic Kinneret courtyard and cemetary. Here, the group learnt all about the pioneers of the second and third aliyot, and examined the place and personalities that laid the foundations stones of what was to be, among other things, the kibbutz movement, bituach leumi (national medical insurance), Hadavar (the first circulated modern newspaper in Israel), and the histadrut (the national labour union). Needless to say, it was an inspiring visit.
The group then headed to the beautiful surrounds of Karei Deshe, a picturesque youth hostel situated on the northern shore of the kinneret.
The second day of the History of Habonim seminar was spent visiting the older and earliest Habonim Dror kibbutzim. The group travelled to kibbutz Kfar Hanassi, followed by kibbutz Kfar Blum, the location of the first 13 workshop programs! In the afternoon, the group travelled to kibbutz Mevo Chama, and heard the story of an Australian garin that was the first from Habonim to settle to a kibbutz in the Golan heights. It was a really eye-opening day for the workshoppers, hearing the stories of aliya from the movement and also the privatisation process on the kibbutzim.
The third day of the seminar started with a visit to kibbutz Bet Haemek to speak with Judy and Gary Benet, and their experience as members of Garin Sha'al, the first commune based in a city (Karmiel). In the afternoon, the workshoppers headed to the first of the modern urban kvutsot, kvutsat Yovel, and also headed out to kibbutz Ravid, which was the last kibbutz that absorbed a Garin to agricultural kibbutz from HDNA. The garin unfortunately fell apart, but fortunately today the kibbutz has been revived by members of Hanoar Haoved, and the kibbutz has close to 100 members, and an active seminar centre.
On the third day of the seminar, the group started in the morning at Kibbutz Eshbal, an active Hanoar Haoved kibbutz, made up of smaller kvutsot. The kibbutz also has a horse farm, and a boarding school for juvenile youth, who often have no other options for education and have been removed from other schools in Israel. In the afternoon, the workshoppers visited Kvutsat Ogen, an urban commune of Habonim olim in Hadera, which includes members of the national mazkirut from a few years ago.
On the final morning of the seminar, the group travelled to Poleg, just outside of Netanya, and visited with kvutsat Aseef, the newest commune of Habonim Dror olim in Israel. Made up primarily of bogrim from the north american movement, Aseef are heavily involved in the day to day running of the movement in Israel.
The seminar was an inspiring and intensive look at the past, present, and perceived future of the movement, and gave the workshoppers a great forum to hear some of the great stories of Habonim Dror members from the past 60 years.
The group then split up for the free weekend, and then joined together again for the preparation seminar for Kaveret. The past few days have seen some deep discussion about theoretical concepts, like what a 'messima' is, what it means to be an educator, and the current state of the Israeli education system, and also some practical concepts, like the all important split up of rooms and tzevetim for messima.
The groups will be heading to their destinations and new houses tomorrow, so it will be an exciting day for all involved! I will send the postal addresses for the houses to shani, and we will forward them to all of you in the coming week.
I wish all of you a good week, and for those coming to Israel for the chofesh period, a safe and succesful journey.
until next time,
Leon.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The end of boneh
Hello to everyone!
It has indeed been a busy few weeks on workshop. The last few weeks have included some engaging and intense topics of study, as well as some special guests, and some special sights and tours.
Over the last few weeks, the Workshoppers have been examining recent Jewish history, and specifically, the history of the modern state of Israel. They have also been looking into the British Mandate period, and the relationships between Jews and Arabs in the region, from the beginnings of modern Zionism, to the modern day conflict. The workshoppers also spent a week discussing the birth of Jewish youth movements, and the role that they have played both historically, and contemporarily, in Jewish communities around the world and in Israel.
Some of the great speakers that have come to spend some time with the workshoppers include renowned film-maker Elad Wexler, who spoke about Israeli culture as it is portrayed in cinema, as well as famed Habo Alumni Neil Harris from Kibbutz Tuval, who came to speak about Arab-Israeli relations in the Galil. Rami Tzdafee, three-time shaliach of Habonim Dror and current world Gizbar also came to talk about the British Mandate, and the experience of growing up in an Israeli youth movement during the British rule of Palestine.
In the past few weeks, the workshoppers have been on a number of different tours around the country. A few weeks ago they spent a day up in the Golan heights, at look-outs over Syria and Jordan, and famous battle sites from the six day war and yom kippur war. During the day, there were questions and discussions about the status of the Golan Heights and negotiations today. They also spent a day in Jerusalem, which had some grand highlights, like a talk with Gil Hoffman, one of the editors of the Jerusalem Post, a visit to the knesset, a visit to the Rav Kook museum and a discussion about religious Zionism, as well as a talk with a Chabad rabbi about Chabad today.
The workshoppers final tour for Boneh was to Machon Ayalon - one of the great stories of the original kibbutzim and the British mandate. Machon Ayalon was a bullet-making factory that was hidden under a kibbutz, and run by the young members of the kibbutz before and during the war of independence.
The final week of Boneh was spent a lot on reflection, summary, and feedback. There were a number of discussions about how the Workshoppers reflect on their experience, and some interesting points for them to take away from what they learnt over the past 3 months.
Today, the workshoppers said goodbye to kibbutz Ein Dor, and headed off for the first day of Habo History seminar. They will be spending this week visiting different kibbutzim and communes connected to the history, and modern-day story of Habonim Dror in Israel. I am certain that, as always, it will be an inspiring and enriching week!
Next week the workshoppers start kaveret preparation seminar, and will be moving into their houses on Wednesday December 23. I will send the postage addresses for the workshop houses to Shani who will send them out to you.
It is an exciting fortnight of transition coming up for the workshoppers, but they will have a chance to relax and unwind a little with the chofesh break straight afterwards.
I would like to wish everyone a chag sameach, and a shavua tov.
Until next time,
Leon.
It has indeed been a busy few weeks on workshop. The last few weeks have included some engaging and intense topics of study, as well as some special guests, and some special sights and tours.
Over the last few weeks, the Workshoppers have been examining recent Jewish history, and specifically, the history of the modern state of Israel. They have also been looking into the British Mandate period, and the relationships between Jews and Arabs in the region, from the beginnings of modern Zionism, to the modern day conflict. The workshoppers also spent a week discussing the birth of Jewish youth movements, and the role that they have played both historically, and contemporarily, in Jewish communities around the world and in Israel.
Some of the great speakers that have come to spend some time with the workshoppers include renowned film-maker Elad Wexler, who spoke about Israeli culture as it is portrayed in cinema, as well as famed Habo Alumni Neil Harris from Kibbutz Tuval, who came to speak about Arab-Israeli relations in the Galil. Rami Tzdafee, three-time shaliach of Habonim Dror and current world Gizbar also came to talk about the British Mandate, and the experience of growing up in an Israeli youth movement during the British rule of Palestine.
In the past few weeks, the workshoppers have been on a number of different tours around the country. A few weeks ago they spent a day up in the Golan heights, at look-outs over Syria and Jordan, and famous battle sites from the six day war and yom kippur war. During the day, there were questions and discussions about the status of the Golan Heights and negotiations today. They also spent a day in Jerusalem, which had some grand highlights, like a talk with Gil Hoffman, one of the editors of the Jerusalem Post, a visit to the knesset, a visit to the Rav Kook museum and a discussion about religious Zionism, as well as a talk with a Chabad rabbi about Chabad today.
The workshoppers final tour for Boneh was to Machon Ayalon - one of the great stories of the original kibbutzim and the British mandate. Machon Ayalon was a bullet-making factory that was hidden under a kibbutz, and run by the young members of the kibbutz before and during the war of independence.
The final week of Boneh was spent a lot on reflection, summary, and feedback. There were a number of discussions about how the Workshoppers reflect on their experience, and some interesting points for them to take away from what they learnt over the past 3 months.
Today, the workshoppers said goodbye to kibbutz Ein Dor, and headed off for the first day of Habo History seminar. They will be spending this week visiting different kibbutzim and communes connected to the history, and modern-day story of Habonim Dror in Israel. I am certain that, as always, it will be an inspiring and enriching week!
Next week the workshoppers start kaveret preparation seminar, and will be moving into their houses on Wednesday December 23. I will send the postage addresses for the workshop houses to Shani who will send them out to you.
It is an exciting fortnight of transition coming up for the workshoppers, but they will have a chance to relax and unwind a little with the chofesh break straight afterwards.
I would like to wish everyone a chag sameach, and a shavua tov.
Until next time,
Leon.
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