History of Habonim Hagshama Seminar

The past four days, the Workshoppers were travelling around the Galil, learning about the history of Habonim Dror in Israel. We started at Hatzer Kinneret, the first training farm of the 2nd Aliyah (1909-1914) for the chalutzim (pioneers), who later went on to establish the first Kibbutzim. After a visit to the Kinneret Cemetery, where important ideological thinkers and leaders, as well as kibbutz members, are buried. The Workshoppers had a chance to see the graves of Moshe Hess, Nachum Syrkin, Beryl Katzenelson and the poet Rachel. Afterwards, they visited Muki Tzur, a historian of the Second Aliyah and a former shaliach to Habonim North America. The Workshoppers continued the next day with visits to some of the earlier kibbutzim established by Habonim: Kibbutz Kfar Hanasi, Amiad and Yizrael. After learning about some of the processes of change that have occurred in the Kibbutz movement, the Workshoppers were left questioning what the role of Habonim is in pioneering Israel today. On Tuesday, they visited some bogrim (graduates) of Habonim who were part of Kibbutz Mishoal, the largest urban kibbutz in Israel. Finally, they finished the week of by meeting some of the newest graduates of Habonim to make aliyah and live in collective frameworks in Haifa. All in all, it was a challenging and inspiring week learning about, and questioning, the role of Habonim Dror in Israel.

Discussing the difficulties faced by the chaluztim at the grave of someone who committed suicide..

Totally fascinated by the life of Rachel, the poet of the Second Aliyah.

Meeting historian, former Mazkir of the Kibbutz Movement, and founder of Bina Muki Tzur.

Lighting candles with the families of Kibbutz Mishoal, the largest urban kibbutz in Israel.

Ofek: Tiyul in the Negev

Our final group for Ofek, Naomi, Shosh, Mia, Jack, Ilani and Eli spent five days hiking in the Negev. With the support of Ido, the British workshop madrich, they planned and ran the tiyul almost entirely on their own. During the preparation days, they learned how to navigate, including a practice navigation test throughout Rishon Letzion, planned their menu, planned fun activities, set goals for themselves and learned about safety on tiyulim. They also discussed their relationship to nature and watched the movie "Into the Wild." On Wednesday morning early, they headed down to begin hiking at Sde Boker. Over five days, they hiked over 60 kilometers through the desert. They overcame a lot of challenges, including a rainstorm in the middle of the night, with an amazingly positive attitude  and really enjoyed the time they spent together. The experience levels in the group varied significantly, but they met all of their challenges as a group and supported each other. It was an incredible experience, and for many of them the highlight of the year thus far.

Ofek: Bina Secular Yeshiva in Tel Aviv

The Workshoppers studying at Bina are Nora, Maya, Tali, Ari, Netanya, Shira, Cliel, Micaela, Erin and Rayna. Bina is a secular yeshiva, founded with the mission of connecting Israelis and Jews to Judaism in a non-religious environment. Using traditional methods of Jewish study, such as text analysis and chevruta (pair-based learning), Bina educators ask their students not only why Judaism is relevant to their lives, but also seeks to establish a basis of knowledge in Jewish texts and ritual.

Workshoppers are taking classes in Jewish philosophy, Talmud, Shabbat and Chaggim, Tanach and some special topic lectures. In between classes, their madrichim are also running activities, movie nights, and projects to connect their learning at Bina to their role as madrichim in the movement.

Some of their classes are siyurim of Tel Aviv, themed around different topics. On Sunday, their first day, they had a siyur of Rothschild Boulevard, about the founding of Tel Aviv.

Examining a model of the original settlement of Tel Aviv, in Migdal Shalom.

The mosaic of the founding of Tel Aviv, also in Migdal Shalom.

On Tuesday, they had a siyur of Yafo, about the Book of Jonah, as a complement to their Tanach studies. 

The whole Bina group with Elliot, their educator for the day.

Ofek: The Orchards at Kibbutz Ravid

Ofek has begun! The Workshoppers are currently split between Kibbutz Ravid in the North and their future kaveret house in Rishon Letzion.  

The chanichim on Ravid are Ariana, Elana, Emilia, Isaiah, Jake, Joanna, Kaela, Leah, Patty, Frenchie, Ronnie and Tom. They arrived last night to orient themselves on the Kibbutz, and meet with the people they will be working with over the next week and a half. Each day they are in the fields by 5:30, pruning the citrus trees. After a break for lunch and resting, they have peulot in the afternoon about agriculture, physical labour, and connection to the land of Israel, as well as more relaxed fun activities. 

Boneh Tekkes

On Thursday, Workshop 64 celebrated their completion of Boneh with a tekkes. Hosted by Ari, the tekkes included performances by the chanichim, and speeches by their madrichim. The tekkes was a chance for the Workshoppers to show what they were taking with them from Boneh, and for the people who had worked with them to say goodbye.

Rayna singing.

Frenchie reading a poem she wrote.

The Boneh educators speech: "Sometimes it may seem like struggle and uncertainty is holding you back. We know it is a tough spot to be in. But we have a quick little Jewish anecdote that touches on this issue: The name "Israel" is derived of the verb לִשְׂרות (lisrot, "wrestle"); the second half of the name is אֵל (El, "God"). "Israel" is the name given to Jacob after he wrestled with God's angel. The first Jew, then, became a Jew through the process of struggle. Cool right? One message we invite you to draw from this story is that perhaps the most essential Jewish act is the act of struggling. Questioning—if it is done deeply and with honesty and integrity—should not make you feel lame, second-class, or un-Jewish. By questioning in this way, as we’ve seen you do time and time again throughout Boneh, you are actively tying yourself to the history and legacy of the Jewish people. Defeat only comes when you stop wrestling. Only dead fish go with the flow."

 

Boneh Machzor Yud Chet!

Thanksgiving Weekend

The Workshoppers were also busy rehearsing for a new video, which they will be releasing later this week! We'll be sure to post it on the blog when it premiers.

WZO Event: Har Herzl

On Sunday, the Workshoppers went to Har Herzl* for a siyur with their Boneh educators and a text study session with the WZO (World Zionist Organization), in honour of the UN General Assembly vote in favour of the partition of Palestine into Israel and Palestine. Before that, they started with a delicious humus lunch to celebrate their upcoming completion of Boneh.

After lunch, the chanichim went to Har Herzl, one of the largest and most important cemeteries in Israel. Aside from Theodore Herzl, most of the former Prime Ministers of Israel and other major Zionist leaders, it is also a military cemetery. The chanichim visited the graves of Herzl, Hannah Senesh, Yitzkah Rabin and the Last of Kin Memorial (in honour of the Holocaust survivors who died in the War of Independence). After the tour, they went to the Herzl center for a session about Herzl and the UN Vote. Each chanich was presented with a booklet of material. 

Visiting Herzl's grave.

*Please note: the Workshoppers were accompanied by a guard, and were within a secure area the entire duration of their visit to Jerusalem. They did not visit anywhere in the city but Har Herzl, and arrived via private bus.