Kaveret Messimot

What is messima? Messima means "mission" in Hebrew. In Habonim Dror, we view our volunteer projects as long term missions within Israeli society, working through education to create a just and equal Israeli society. Teaching English is the method we use to connect with Israeli youth and create a fun place for them to be, and to open a conversation about values, their life in Israel, and empowering them to shape Israeli society in the future. We work in partnerships with Hanoar Haoved v'Halomed, our sister movement in Israel, and with different municipalities. Today, we are active in Rehovot, Bat Yam, Yafo, Rishon Letzion, Acco, Haifa, Kfar Manda, Carmiel, Iblin, Deir Al Assad and Sachnin. Although there are some changes from year to year based on demographic changes within the messimot, our projects are ongoing, long-term relationships with the schools and organizations where we are active. The impact of the shnatties and other Habonim Dror chanichim that do messima in these places over the years is truly incredible, and today some of them rely on us to continue their activites. Each messima also has a melaveh (escort/guide) that runs weekly tzevet meetings where the shnatties can process their experience and sharpen their hadracha (leadership) skills. This is an important place for the shnatties to connect their experiences in Israel to their ideological questions, about Israel, being Jewish, and being a leader in Habonim Dror.

Tzevet Haifa 

The shnatties spend the morning and early afternoon at HaTichun HaChevrati (The Social High School), which is a democratic high school near Haifa for students who have had difficulty in other educational settings. They help the students with their English classes and homework as well as run optional programming during class breaks. They help the students with special weekly interest groups (acrobalance, music and art). During the afternoons, the shnatties work in an after-school center with children ages 9-13 where the children receive a healthy meal and participate in group and individual activities. The center is located in the Hadar neighbourhood in Haifa which is a mixed city of Arabs and Jews, giving them a unique opportunity to facilitate different activities for a range of children. 

Tzevet Kiyum Meshutaf “Shared Existence”

The “Shared Existence” messima is a long standing project between Habonim Dror and HaNoar HaOved VeLomed. By learning about each other’s cultures, the shnatties and the Arab youth with whom they meet, create common understandings and shared values. The relationships and understandings promote an idea of shared existence between Jews and Arabs.

The shnatties work three days a week in the morning in different schools in a few different Arab villages. During the day, they assist in public high schools. They run informal English programming during which they are able to explore ideas such as identity, community and leadership during English classes. In the afternoons, this tzevet facilitates group activities in different after-school centers for high school students.

Tzevet Acco 

The tzevet works in a public middle school in Akko during the mornings, working mainly with the Jewish population of Akko. They run informal English lessons and are starting to create a “Music Video” project in which each class will create a music video in English to be shown in an exciting screening event later in the year. In the afternoons, the tzevet works in the Moadon HaOgen, the “Anchor Youth Club” with youth from Grades 7 - 9. The Moadon is supported by the municipality of Acco, and provides a safe space for kids to congregate after school finishes. At the Moadon, the shnatties run different interest groups (sports, art, music) as well as group activities. A big emphasis is placed on the interpersonal relationships created between the madrich (the shnattie) and the chanich. A healthy meal and homework help is also provided. 

Reflections from Ofek

Some thoughts from Harry Brackup, after his experiences on Kibbutz Ravid during Ofek. 

What should habonim dror focus on?

The question that has arose for me since we have been here, and that is weather or not us as a movement we should return to our roots as a labour Zionist movement or carry on with our shift into Israeli society like we are doing. First of all it seems as though labour Zionism should have some sort of definition and that to me is the belief that we should come to Israel and work the land like our Zionist forefathers did before us. The dilemma that arises for me in this question is: what is more important? Labour Zionism possesses a massive importance to our movement as it was the start of our movement in Israel , creating kibbutzim like kfar Blum where it would be habonim drorniks working the land and being self sufficient off the land. This clearly worked at the time, shown by the massive kibbutz movement. Yet as times have gone on the aims and methods of our movement have shifted into modern day Israeli society into the irbutz community's and having an active role in shaping wider Israeli society. In my opinion I feel that returning to our roots possesses a big importance as it seems that all the education on the chalutzim is redundant without actualising on it. However I believe that there is no immediate need for us to act upon our labour Zionism but that there is a massive need for us to aim to shape Israeli society into a fairer more equal society. It seems as if we as a movement have moved into the direction of shaping the society we see has problems. And to me that is where we should stay and if anything have a greater focus on actively changing society in Israel.

Ofek: Tiyul Group

Our final group for Ofek, Noah, Max, Alex and Chantal spent five days hiking in the Negev. With the support of Ido, their 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 shnatties studying at Bina are Talia, Sophie and Amy, along with some American shnatties. 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.

The shnatties 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: Agriculture on Kibbutz Ravid

Ofek has begun and the shnatties are currently split up all over the country. Talia, Amy and Sophie are studying at Bina in Tel Aviv, Noah, Max, Alex and Chantal are beginning their five day backpacking trip, and Harry is on Kibbutz Ravid, working in the orchards there.

On Ravid, Harry and the American shnatties is with up and heading to the fields by 5:30, where they are currently working pruning fruit trees. They break at 11:30, and then have time for lunch and resting. In the afternoons, they have peulot (activities) run for them, either by their madrichim, by the people who run the orchards, or themselves. They eat breakfast in the fields every day, and cook their own meals back at the kibbutz. So far, it's been a great experience and a nice change of pace to be outside all day.

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!

WZO Event: Har Herzl

On Sunday, the shnatties 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. 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 shnatties 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.