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.