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