Final Boneh Tekkes

The Shnatties have now left Ein Dor to begin Ofek, and are currently split between Rishon Letzion and Kibbutz Ravid. Before they left Ein Dor, they celebrated the completion of Boneh with a Sikkum Tekkes (Final Ceremony). The tekkes was a chance for them to say goodbye to their educators, and to celebrate with songs and speeches what they had learned. Lucy and Ido (their madrichim) shared a poem, and the Shnatties wrote a song.

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!