History of Habonim Hagshama Seminar

This past week, the chanichim traveled around the country, meeting former members of Habonim Dror who have gone on to live in Israel and founded kibbutzim.

The central goal of the seminar (History of Habonim Hagshama) is to learn about the exciting impact HDNA has had on the development of Israel through old and new kibbutzim. Sunday, the workshoppers traveled to the kinneret cemetery and chatzer kinneret to learn together about the roots of the chalutzim (pioneers). Monday was a trip to kibbutzim kfar hanassim, amiad and yizrael, all founded by Habonim Olim (those who have made aliyah) from around the world. There they met with kibutznikim who were there in the early days and some who grew up in Habonim in their respective countries. On Tuesday they attended the WZO candle lighting celebrating Hanukah with all of the youth movements from around the world at Har Hertzl, in Jerusalem, and visited Kibbutz MIshoal, the largest urban kibbutz in Israel. The next day they traveled to Kibbutz Eshbal in the north, home to members of Hanor Haoved members (Habonim Dror's sister movement in Israel). Some of kibbutz Eshbal's members work along side with Habonim Olim doing educational work with Israel's underprivileged youth. And finally on thursday they learned about urban kibbutzim of young Habonim Olim in Haifa. Here they had a panel of former HDNA leaders talking about what it was like to grow up in the movement and continue movement work in Israel.

Visiting the grave of Theodore Herzl and past state leaders

 at Har Herzl in Jerusalem

Visiting Kibbutzim

Lighting Hannukah candles...

Lately on Boneh

Hi Parents and Families!

Its been a busy few weeks on Boneh. The Workshoppers attended the Rabin Rally in Tel Aviv, visited the Diaspora Museum, learned around 1500 years of Jewish history, hiked Har Tavor, heard from a few guest educators and capped it off with a trip to Zichron Ya'akov today!

Every year, a rally is held in Kikar Rabin to honor Yitzak Rabin and remember his assassination during a rally for peace in 1995. Before the rally, the Workshoppers went through an exhibit about his life. They learned about his past as an important military figure, a Labor Party leader and his transformation into a leader in the peace process. You can read more about Rabin here.

The exhibit about Rabin's life. 

This year, the theme of the rally was Israeli democracy, addressing the murder not as a random act of violence, but as an attack on a democratically mandated process. The rally was attended by a wide spectrum of Israeli youth movements, and Habonim was proud to take a role in the rally. And to meet up with some old friends.

Moshniks with former Moshava shlicha Maya Goren. 

Next weekend, Workshop 63 will be at the Rabin Seminar. The seminar is an annual event held in conjunction with the Rabin Rally, and is a chance to have a more in depth look at the fractures within Israeli society at the time of the murder and its ongoing legacy. The Workshoppers will be at the seminar with the Australians, South Africans and New Zealanders that they met on Yam l'Yam. 

The educational theme on Boneh this week was Early Zionism. In their shiurim, they covered the origins of Zionist thought in 19th century Europe, and today went to Zichron Ya'akov for a tour of a 1st Aliyah settlement. In the afternoon, they visited the Pioneer Settlement Museum at Kibbutz Yifat, which houses a recreation of 2nd Aliyah settlement. 

They've also been plenty busy decorating their houses. 

Tiyul Yam l'Yam

Yam l'Yam is an annual tradition for English-speaking Habonim Dror. Gap-year participants from all over the world gather to hike from the Mediterranean to the Sea of Galilee while getting to know each other and the movement. On Sunday, the Workshoppers met up with 39 others at the Mediterranean just past Nahariyah for a brief tekkes (ceremony) before they began hiking. Below, representatives from the Northern and Southern hemispheres fill the ceremonial bottle of Mediterranean water that will be carried to the Galilee. 

Opening tekkes.

Afterwards, the Workshoppers were split into hiking groups mixed with participants from other countries. They spent the next three days with their group and a guide, hiking through the north of the country. They learned about the geography of the area as well as playing lots of games and consuming lots of chocolate spread. 

Halfway up Mt. Meron.

All the way up! 

Hiking is through a river.

Dumping the bottle at the Sea of Galilee.

Saying goodbye to their friends. 

 Workshop 63 are now back on Ein Dor and finally starting Boneh! Succot finishes today, and Simchat Torah is tomorrow, and next week will be their first normally scheduled week. Everyone is very glad to be settling into a routine after the adventures of the last month.

Boneh Orientation

Boneh is an intensive three-month learning experience located on Kibbutz Ein Dor. The aim of Boneh is to develop the theoretical frameworks and practical skills of the leadership of Habonim Dror, while beginning the immersion in and exploration of Israeli society. Orientation Seminar helps prepare the Workshoppers to approach the next three months from a place of responsibility towards the program and each other, as well as introducing them to the content of the next three months.

In addition to peulot, Tuesday was a siyur (day-trip) day. The chanichim got to know the area a little better with a visit to Mt. Precipice and Nazareth, and a trip to the beach in Haifa. The trip to Nazareth gave them a chance to learn more about the many different groups of people living in the Galilee, and to see the Church of the Annunciation.

At Mt. Precipice, meeting Christian tourists.

Mt. Precipice.

At the Beach in Haifa.

Taking advantage of the last few open days of the Ein Dor pool.

 This week was also the start of Sukkot. Building their own Sukkah was their first chance to choose how to celebrate Jewish holidays as a group, and it is actually warm enough here to sleep outside!

Building their own Sukkah.

Weaving the roof to make sure they can still see the stars.

Learning a little bit about Sukkot with their Boneh educators. 

Boneh Begins

On Sunday, Workshop 63 had the opportunity to explore Jerusalem with Julian Resnick, former HDNA Central Shaliach and new Mazkir of HD Olami (World Habonim Dror). Julian walked the workshoppers through the area of the President and Prime Minister's homes, pointing out interesting historical and cultural things and sharing his extensive knowledge of the city.

After the siyur, the chanchim drove to Kibbutz Ein Dor, where they will be until mid-December. They have spent the day and a half getting to know the Kibbutz, becoming familiar with the Boneh schedule and their new educators, and making decisions about their time on Kibbutz. This week, they will be choosing work places on Kibbutz, be sorted into relevant Hebrew classes, choose tzvatim (work groups) to take responsibility over various parts of their life on Kibbutz, and generally begin their process on Boneh. Many more updates to follow!

Nora and Ore's chanichim in front of their new house!

Medura (camp fire) on the first night.

 New roommates Bekah, Hannah F, and Toby.

Preparing for a presentation during a peula.

Presenting, in full costume.

Next week will be Yam L'Yam (Sea to Sea), a three day tiyul (hike) with all of English speaking Habonim. Workshoppers will be hiking with other gap-year participants from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. More details to follow.

Yom Kippur

This morning the Workshoppers left Kibbutz Ravid and headed for Jerusalem to prepare for Yom Kippur. When we arrived in the center of the city, we spent a short time discussing the idea of sin in preparation for tashlich. Here is an excerpt that we read:

The very essence of the expression "to pray" in Hebrew means to judge oneself. Especially during the solemn Days of Awe the Jew is expected to undergo a rigid self-examination. He should train himself to look inwardly, to ask himself basic questions: Where have I sinned? Have I lived selfishly during the past year? Have I shirked my moral responsibility to myself and my fellow man?"

                                    -from The Language of Judaism

There is a wonderful Hebrew-Yiddish phrase, heshbon ha-nefesh. The phrase connotes a taking stock of one's soul, an inner accounting, a sitting-in-judgment upon oneself. As we make our heshbon ha-nefesh we confess our failure to span the gap between conscience and conduct, between the standards we profess and the actions we perform. We remember what we should have done and did not do. This chasm between believing and living may or may not always be surmountable, but the refusal to try to span it is sin and the will to bridge it, at least to narrow it, is atonement and redemption. Sin is the gap between our promise and our conduct, between our standards and our actions.

                                   -Kvutzat Yovel

Tashlich.

After tashlich, the group had free time on Ben Yehuda street for lunch. Lots of falafel, shwarma, and of course, Milkies!

Tonight, the Workshoppers have the option of attending a synagogue for Kol Nidrei or participating in alternative services run by their madrichim (counselors). Tonight, they will be going on a late-night walk through the city to experience Jerusalem in its Yom Kippur quiet. Tomorrow, there again will be the option for services at a synagogue or with their madrichim, as well as some guided reflections, optional learning and a retelling of the Jonah story.

Additionally, here are some pictures from the end of the time at Ravid.

Some group bonding time!

A little kibbutz avodah.

Kvuzahot Split

The Workshoppers found out what their Kvuzah is going to be for the year.

The kvuzah with Madrichim  Nir and Maya

Jessica	Glassman
Naomi	Tamura
Hannah	Martens
Liat	Paradise
Rachel	Fishman
Sara	Sharpe
Sara	Banai
Lindsey	Taussig
Aliyah	Nissim
Ariel	Egar
Aaron	MacRitchie
Gabe	Paul
Matan	Reshef
Jacob	Faber
Samuel	Koppel
Asher	Zetler
Micah	Arnson-Serotta
Daniel	Shahar

The Kvutzah with madrichim Nora and Or 

Eva	Bernstein
Rebecca	Newman
Bekah	Diamond-Bier
Toby	King
Hannah	Faber
Sarah	Kravinsky
Celia	Robinovitch
Hannah	Weintraub
Zoe	Friedland
Zachary	Morris
Rafael	Friedman
Aaron	Lieberman
Jasper	ter Kuile
Robert	Berman
Jacob	Henderson
Eli	Kaplan
Michael	Eidelson
Eli (BigE)	Jensen
Toviah	Botwinik

Arrived In Israel, Already having fun!

The group arrived safely in Israel today. They drove to Kibbutz Ravid located in the Galilee, the group will be at Ravid until Friday morning.

The group had a fun tochnit erev (evening activity) getting to know one another a bit better. They ended the night with a Tekes (ceremony). They had reading from workshops throughout the years and sang Od Lo Gamarnu.

Workshop 63 on the bus to Ravid 

Sarah and and Celia getting to know each other 

Getting to know each other 

Workshop 63 Tekes(Welcome Ceremony) 

Tzevet(Staff) Workshop 63 

Or, Maya, Nora and Nir Tzevet Workshop 63 

Hannah Martins and Aaron excited to be in Israel 

Galil Boys Dan and Tovia! 

Zoe enjoying some Bomba, enjoying the Israeli snack! 

Day 1: Fly Day

Shalom Workshop families,

The Workshoppers have all arrived at JFK airport and gone through security. Their flight is expected to depart and land on time. They will be greeted by the staff after baggage claim in Tel Aviv.

They will be going to Kibbutz Ravid for their Orientation Seminar until Friday. Then they will be going to the Agron Hostel in Jerusalem for Yom Kippur. 

Stay tuned for more updates.