Hello again everyone,
It's very strange to think that Shnat is about to enter its' final month. It feels like just yesterday that the Shnatties had just arrived in the country, eager and enthusiastic for all of the challenges and experiences that lay ahead.
In the week before Pesach, a large number of the shnatties took part in the national network of 'Pasechet' English speaking day camps around the country, through their messimot. These camps are an integral experience for them with their own chanichim in the different regions in which they do messima, and they help them to forge a stronger bond with israeli youth across the board. The day camps are all done in English, to strengthen the confidence of the chanichim in their messimot to use English, and the shnatties are a huge part of the planning process for the camps. The general structure of each camp was an overnight hike, which the shnatties were a part of, as well as between 2 and 3 days in the 'batim' (houses) of Hanoar Haoved where the camps take place.
Then the shnatties had their second chofesh period for the year, during the Pesach national break. It was a time well spent relaxing, catching up with family and friends, and reinvigorating for the last portion of Workshop. The UK chanichim also spent an inspiring few days at the annual Veida with the Bogrim of HDUK. It was an incredibly rewarding experience to hear firsthand the great work that is going on with Habonim Dror in the communities in the UK.
Just two days after their return from chofesh, Israel commemorated Yom Hashoah, the national day of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust. All of the shnatties travelled to Kibbutz Lochamei Hagetaot for the national closing ceremony of the day. The ceremony has a special connection and emphasis on the ghetto fighters of the Warsaw Ghetto (given that a large number of them came to Israel after the Shoah and formed the kibbutz), but also has a strong connection with the youth movements. Some of the speakers at the tekkes included Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Chavka Folman Raban - a member of Dror in the Warsaw Ghetto and fighter in the uprising, and Muki Tzur - famed writer and historian of the kibbutz movement. And while it was a bit difficult at times to follow due to the Hebrew, the shnatties were very quick to surround themselves with movement members who could translate the ceremony for them and give it meaning.
The following week was a big week in Israel - Yom Hazikaron (National Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers), followed by Yom Haatzmaut (Independence Day). The shnatties headed to their local Yad Lebanim (The memorial for fallen soldiers in every city in Israel) to participate in the tekkes for the beginning of Yom Hazikaron. The following night, they enjoyed the plethora of free entertainment on stages all around the country with some of Israel's biggest singers and musicians for Yom Haatzmaut. Most of the shnatties trekked to Tel-Aviv, one of the hot spots for entertainment on the night, and were not dissapointed! The following day the shnatties took to the parks, in true Israeli fashion, for one of the most traditional Israel yom haatzmaut expressions - the family barbeque.
The shnatties also had their first meeting with their 'Chava achot' (sister chava) from Hanoar Haoved on Thursday. The chavot is the workshop style program of Hanoar Haoved in Israel, where 18 year olds live together for a year and do messima before they start their army service. The shnat group in Karmiel is paired with the chava in Machanayim, which is a kibbutz just south of Kiryat Shemona. It was a wonderful experience, and they will be continuing the mifgashim (meetings) this week, by doing some joint peulot together.
This past weekend the shnatties took part in the May Day Seminar, with participants from all of the English speaking shnat countries. There was 135 chanichim altogether on the seminar, from North America, the UK, Holland, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. The seminar focused on the origins of May Day, but also the meaning of union and solidarity in society today, and why societal gaps are such a challenge to overcome in bringing together people in acts and stances of solidarity. We also examined the historical and contemporary role of Habonim within their own societies, and what role we should be playing in creating partnerships for the betterment of society.
Next week the shnatties will be partaking in the May Day march in Tel-Aviv, with all of the Habonim Dror shnat participants, as well as all of the Israeli socialist zionist youth movements. Beyond that, as sad as it seems, we will already be starting the sikkum (concluding) process for what has, up until this point, been an amazing year of growth and personal challenge for the group. They are a wonderful group of dedicated and passionate movement members, who will certainly be a major positive force of leadership within the movement and their communities on their return.
I would like to wish everyone a shavua tov, and a safe week.
Until next time,
Leon.
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
The Poland Journey - in Detail!
Hello again everyone,
Well all of the shnatties have had a few days to rest and get back into the swing of things, after what was a whirlwind trip of intensity, challenge, inspiration, and SNOW in Poland. Early last Sunday morning, both the workshop and European Shnat groups, as well as a massive tzevet of 14 people, headed off to Poland for a journey to examine Jewish life in the diaspora of that time, the tragedy of the holocaust, and the heroism that was exhibited throughout, and specifically by the youth movements during the Shoah.
After arriving in Poland, the shnatties settled in to the long ride from Warsaw to Krakow. On the way, the group saw Schindler's List, which was based in the Krakow Ghetto and the Plaszow Labour Camp in Krakow. When we finally made it to Krakow, the shnatties went on a tour of the old Jewish quarter of Kazimierz, where Jews had lived alongside Polish neighbours for close to 600 years before the Shoah.
On the second day, we headed to Birkenau, the largest of the 40 camps and subcamps of Auschwitz, and the biggest camp in all of Nazi-occupied Europe. In the afternoon we went to the main camp of Auschwitz, the original camp of the network of Auschwitz camps. The shnatties examined issues of the human construct and values that were expressed in the atrocities and terror of the camps, in order to understand the Nazi codes that they implemented.
On the third day of the trip, we started the morning in the former site of the Plaszow Labour camp, famously portrayed in Schindler's List. From there, we travelled to some of the sites of the old Krakow Ghetto, including the Famous Krakow Ghetto Pharmacy, the commune of the youth movement Akiva on Jozefinska Street, and the deportation square of the old ghetto, which is now marked with a monument of chairs around a central brick area. From there we moved to the site outside of the Ghetto where the Sigoneria cafe once stood, a cafe which prominent Nazi officials visited during the War and which was bombed with grenades and molotov cocktails by the members of the fighting underground in the Krakow Ghetto.
After the packed morning, the shnatties had some free time in the Sukiniece Market in Krakow, a wonderful old market full of cheap and good food, as well as great souvenirs. From there we got back on the bus, and headed off to Lublin.
On Day 4, we did a walking tour of Lublin, which became a very 'Nazified' city during the years of Nazi occupation. We visited the old Gestapo headquarters, as well as buildings and homes of high-ranking Nazi officials. The shnatties examined what 'everyday' Nazi life was like, outside of the death and concentration camps, and we tried to understand how Nazi social life was structured.
In the afternoon we visisted the Majdanek concentration and death camp, situated right on the outskirts of Lublin. The camp is an eerie reminder of the costs of the Nazi society that was being established, and the death and despair that it created. Having a camp right on the outskirts of the city was also a painful reminder to the residents of Lublin what could happen, if they stepped out of line.
We headed from Lublin to Warsaw for the last leg of the trip, and we started day 5 touring the old Ghetto in Warsaw, the largest of all of the Nazi-established Ghettos. The shnatties discussed the leadership structures within the ghetto - the rabbinate, the Judenrat (Jewish council), the Jewish police, and the youth movement members. The group also visited the old Jewish cemetary in Warsaw, home to, among others, the Head of the Judenrat in the Warsaw Ghetto Adam Czerniakow, as well as Ludwik Zamenhof, the creator of the Esperanto language. The group also visited the Polish Uprising memorial and spoke of the Polish Uprising of 1944 against the Nazis, as well as the Jewish institute, an archival museum about the Warsaw Ghetto and the Jewish community of Warsaw.
On Day 6, We started off in the morning with a drive to the old shtetl of Tykocin. The sad story of the 2500 Jews of Tykocin, who lived side by side with Polish neighbours for close to 400 years and ended within two days of Nazi occupation, was a sobering reminder of the impact of the Shoah on small communities. It also raised up some big questions about what it means to be a Jew in the diaspora, and to live as a minority within a society.
From Tykocin we headed to the site of the Death camp of Treblinka, which is now a big monument dedicated to all of the communities of Jews who were destroyed there. The workshoppers examined the 'machine of death' that was created by the Nazi regime, and the brutal efficiency that was such a fundamental basis for Nazi ideology and rule.
On the final day of the trip, the shnatties examined the roots of the youth movements in Warsaw, and specifically the Dror movement. We started the day in Grochow, a neighbourhood of Warsaw where the first chavot hachshara of Dror (agricultural training farms) were purchased and established. From there we moved to Dzielna St. number 34, where the Dror commune was within the ghetto walls. And we finished the day, and the journey, with a 3 hour walk along the 'Path of Heroism' a path with markers along the way that symbolises the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. The journey was finalised with a Tekkes (ceremony) at the Rappaport Monument, dedicated to the Ghetto Fighters of 1943.
After a long week - most people were exhausted, both physically and mentally, and rest was well met by everyone! Myself included. A big thanks to the day guide Zohar who was awesome throughout the trip. Below are some pictures for your viewing pleasure.
I wish you all a shabbat shalom and a safe and peaceful weekend.
Until next time,
Leon.
Well all of the shnatties have had a few days to rest and get back into the swing of things, after what was a whirlwind trip of intensity, challenge, inspiration, and SNOW in Poland. Early last Sunday morning, both the workshop and European Shnat groups, as well as a massive tzevet of 14 people, headed off to Poland for a journey to examine Jewish life in the diaspora of that time, the tragedy of the holocaust, and the heroism that was exhibited throughout, and specifically by the youth movements during the Shoah.
After arriving in Poland, the shnatties settled in to the long ride from Warsaw to Krakow. On the way, the group saw Schindler's List, which was based in the Krakow Ghetto and the Plaszow Labour Camp in Krakow. When we finally made it to Krakow, the shnatties went on a tour of the old Jewish quarter of Kazimierz, where Jews had lived alongside Polish neighbours for close to 600 years before the Shoah.
On the second day, we headed to Birkenau, the largest of the 40 camps and subcamps of Auschwitz, and the biggest camp in all of Nazi-occupied Europe. In the afternoon we went to the main camp of Auschwitz, the original camp of the network of Auschwitz camps. The shnatties examined issues of the human construct and values that were expressed in the atrocities and terror of the camps, in order to understand the Nazi codes that they implemented.
On the third day of the trip, we started the morning in the former site of the Plaszow Labour camp, famously portrayed in Schindler's List. From there, we travelled to some of the sites of the old Krakow Ghetto, including the Famous Krakow Ghetto Pharmacy, the commune of the youth movement Akiva on Jozefinska Street, and the deportation square of the old ghetto, which is now marked with a monument of chairs around a central brick area. From there we moved to the site outside of the Ghetto where the Sigoneria cafe once stood, a cafe which prominent Nazi officials visited during the War and which was bombed with grenades and molotov cocktails by the members of the fighting underground in the Krakow Ghetto.
After the packed morning, the shnatties had some free time in the Sukiniece Market in Krakow, a wonderful old market full of cheap and good food, as well as great souvenirs. From there we got back on the bus, and headed off to Lublin.
On Day 4, we did a walking tour of Lublin, which became a very 'Nazified' city during the years of Nazi occupation. We visited the old Gestapo headquarters, as well as buildings and homes of high-ranking Nazi officials. The shnatties examined what 'everyday' Nazi life was like, outside of the death and concentration camps, and we tried to understand how Nazi social life was structured.
In the afternoon we visisted the Majdanek concentration and death camp, situated right on the outskirts of Lublin. The camp is an eerie reminder of the costs of the Nazi society that was being established, and the death and despair that it created. Having a camp right on the outskirts of the city was also a painful reminder to the residents of Lublin what could happen, if they stepped out of line.
We headed from Lublin to Warsaw for the last leg of the trip, and we started day 5 touring the old Ghetto in Warsaw, the largest of all of the Nazi-established Ghettos. The shnatties discussed the leadership structures within the ghetto - the rabbinate, the Judenrat (Jewish council), the Jewish police, and the youth movement members. The group also visited the old Jewish cemetary in Warsaw, home to, among others, the Head of the Judenrat in the Warsaw Ghetto Adam Czerniakow, as well as Ludwik Zamenhof, the creator of the Esperanto language. The group also visited the Polish Uprising memorial and spoke of the Polish Uprising of 1944 against the Nazis, as well as the Jewish institute, an archival museum about the Warsaw Ghetto and the Jewish community of Warsaw.
On Day 6, We started off in the morning with a drive to the old shtetl of Tykocin. The sad story of the 2500 Jews of Tykocin, who lived side by side with Polish neighbours for close to 400 years and ended within two days of Nazi occupation, was a sobering reminder of the impact of the Shoah on small communities. It also raised up some big questions about what it means to be a Jew in the diaspora, and to live as a minority within a society.
From Tykocin we headed to the site of the Death camp of Treblinka, which is now a big monument dedicated to all of the communities of Jews who were destroyed there. The workshoppers examined the 'machine of death' that was created by the Nazi regime, and the brutal efficiency that was such a fundamental basis for Nazi ideology and rule.
On the final day of the trip, the shnatties examined the roots of the youth movements in Warsaw, and specifically the Dror movement. We started the day in Grochow, a neighbourhood of Warsaw where the first chavot hachshara of Dror (agricultural training farms) were purchased and established. From there we moved to Dzielna St. number 34, where the Dror commune was within the ghetto walls. And we finished the day, and the journey, with a 3 hour walk along the 'Path of Heroism' a path with markers along the way that symbolises the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. The journey was finalised with a Tekkes (ceremony) at the Rappaport Monument, dedicated to the Ghetto Fighters of 1943.
After a long week - most people were exhausted, both physically and mentally, and rest was well met by everyone! Myself included. A big thanks to the day guide Zohar who was awesome throughout the trip. Below are some pictures for your viewing pleasure.
I wish you all a shabbat shalom and a safe and peaceful weekend.
Until next time,
Leon.
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Return From Poland
Hello again to everyone,
This is just a short entry to let everyone know that the shnatties arrived home in the wee hours of this morning from their journey to Poland. Then week was intense and very meaningful for the kvutsa, and they are now on their way back to their house in Karmiel, for some well earned rest and relaxation.
I will post a blog in the next few days with some photos and videos from the journey.
Shavua tov to all of you!
Leon.
This is just a short entry to let everyone know that the shnatties arrived home in the wee hours of this morning from their journey to Poland. Then week was intense and very meaningful for the kvutsa, and they are now on their way back to their house in Karmiel, for some well earned rest and relaxation.
I will post a blog in the next few days with some photos and videos from the journey.
Shavua tov to all of you!
Leon.
Saturday, 6 February 2010
First month of Kaveret
Hello again to everyone,
Well it has been a seriously busy first month of kaveret. The shnatties have been settling into their new residence in Karmiel very well over the past 4 weeks, and have fitted nicely into their messimot and volunteering projects.
The shnatties are split up into five different messimot (volunteering projects) that are done in their small tzevetim. One tzevet of chanichim is working in the co-existence tzevet, which works primarily with the Israeli Arabs of the Galil, in villages including Sha'ab, Bi'ne, and Sakhnin. The second tzevet is working in a school and an afternoon club in the ancient Jewish city of Tsfat. The third tzevet is working in the Emdah High school in Karmiel itself, and is also spending a day a week working in the boarding school of kibbutz Eshbal, which is a short drive away.The fourth tzevet is working in a school and afternoon club in Tiberias, and the final tzevet is working within Karmiel, in both a non-profit organisation which packs food and welfare cartons for needy families, as well as a disabled youth facility - working to better the lives of disabled children and their families. Every tzevet is well entrenched within their places of volunteering now, and each tzevet has a 'melaveh' (guide), who is also with them during their messima time. They also spend a half day having peulot as a tzevet, as well as dealing with any of their hardships and difficulties, both with their own chanichim in the different places, and within the tzevet dynamics. The group has also started it's group project together on Thursday afternoons, working together at a English speaking cafe, teaching english and engaging with the local community. The project was established with the aid of the council of Karmiel
The shnatties have also had two preparation seminar for Poland over the past 2 weekends, and all spent last weekend together at the Shlomi youth hostel in the north, travelling to and from the Ghetto Fighters' Museum at the Ghetto Fighters' Kibbutz. It was an intense few days, and there were many questions and dilemmas for the shnatties to carry with them during the Journey to Poland. There was also a big focus on the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - and also the connection with the roots of Habonim Dror in Eastern Europe - the Dror movement, its' activities, and its' leaders.
The whole group will be heading to Poland in the early hours of tomorrow morning, and will be there throughout the week. I'll report again when we get back, but i am certain that it is going to be a meaningful and growing experience for all of the shnatties. We will be returning on Sunday February 14, and i have no doubt that the first port of call will be a long rest!
I would like to wish everyone a shabbat shalom and a shavua tov.
Until next time,
Leon
Well it has been a seriously busy first month of kaveret. The shnatties have been settling into their new residence in Karmiel very well over the past 4 weeks, and have fitted nicely into their messimot and volunteering projects.
The shnatties are split up into five different messimot (volunteering projects) that are done in their small tzevetim. One tzevet of chanichim is working in the co-existence tzevet, which works primarily with the Israeli Arabs of the Galil, in villages including Sha'ab, Bi'ne, and Sakhnin. The second tzevet is working in a school and an afternoon club in the ancient Jewish city of Tsfat. The third tzevet is working in the Emdah High school in Karmiel itself, and is also spending a day a week working in the boarding school of kibbutz Eshbal, which is a short drive away.The fourth tzevet is working in a school and afternoon club in Tiberias, and the final tzevet is working within Karmiel, in both a non-profit organisation which packs food and welfare cartons for needy families, as well as a disabled youth facility - working to better the lives of disabled children and their families. Every tzevet is well entrenched within their places of volunteering now, and each tzevet has a 'melaveh' (guide), who is also with them during their messima time. They also spend a half day having peulot as a tzevet, as well as dealing with any of their hardships and difficulties, both with their own chanichim in the different places, and within the tzevet dynamics. The group has also started it's group project together on Thursday afternoons, working together at a English speaking cafe, teaching english and engaging with the local community. The project was established with the aid of the council of Karmiel
The shnatties have also had two preparation seminar for Poland over the past 2 weekends, and all spent last weekend together at the Shlomi youth hostel in the north, travelling to and from the Ghetto Fighters' Museum at the Ghetto Fighters' Kibbutz. It was an intense few days, and there were many questions and dilemmas for the shnatties to carry with them during the Journey to Poland. There was also a big focus on the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - and also the connection with the roots of Habonim Dror in Eastern Europe - the Dror movement, its' activities, and its' leaders.
The whole group will be heading to Poland in the early hours of tomorrow morning, and will be there throughout the week. I'll report again when we get back, but i am certain that it is going to be a meaningful and growing experience for all of the shnatties. We will be returning on Sunday February 14, and i have no doubt that the first port of call will be a long rest!
I would like to wish everyone a shabbat shalom and a shavua tov.
Until next time,
Leon
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