Boneh update #1

Boneh Yud Daled (the 14^th Boneh) is off to a great start! The chanichim arrived on Sunday, February 12^th and had an intensive week of getting oriented with the Boneh program and with Kibbutz Ein Dor, their new home for the next four months. During this first week, we ran peulot (educational programs) exploring such central issues of Boneh as their Jewish identity, the value of self-labour, the importance of actively shaping their own experience, informal education, the value of learning Hebrew and understanding why the basis of Boneh is studying Jewish history. We also had a unique block of educational nikayon, or cleaning time, during which we taught Shnatties how to properly clean their houses. So far they have been doing a great job with that! In addition, the Shnatties picked their avodot (work they will be doing on the kibbutz, such as laundry, kitchen, factory, landscaping, children's kindergarten and cheese-making) and tzvatim (teams which will be responsible for aspects of life on Boneh such as food shopping, evening cultural programs, and so on). They also had their first Hadracha (leadership) peulah (program) exploring what it means to be a madrich, and their first peulah about Israeli society dealing with the summer 2011 social protests. We also introduced them to power courses, elective courses on topics of potential interest to the Shnatties. This 'semester' the topics offered include discussing the politics of the Middle East, gender roles and relations, and ancient Jewish history through theater; they will study their selected topic once a week for the next 6 weeks. The week also included time to get to know the educators on Boneh, a bonfire with toasted marshmallows and singing and a peer-led fun evening activity. Over the weekend all the chanichim chose to leave the kibbutz and go see relatives or just spend the weekend in Tel Aviv.

The second week of Boneh continued on the great start. This week’s educational theme was the Australian Jewish community. We explored waves of Jewish immigration to Australia as a basis of understanding the Australian Jewish community today and asked questions of what forces are at the center now. The chanichim also began their Hebrew classes which they have 2 days a week for 3 hours each time. They are split into 3 levels and it seems that all 3 levels had very successful classes the first week! It is great to see what a high level of motivation this group has come with regarding learning Hebrew. The chanichim also cooked dinner for themselves for the first time, which they will be doing every Monday night throughout Boneh. They had their first guest speaker, Leon Schneider, a Habonim Dror Oleh from Perth, and went on their first siyur (day trip) to Tel Aviv. In Tel Aviv, we went to Beit Hatfutsot (The Diaspora Museum of the Jewish People) and explored how the Australian Jewish community is both similar and different to Jewish communities around the world. The chanichim had lunch in the Carmel Shuk (market) and then did a fun and educational scavenger hunt from the Shuk to Independence Hall. Overall, Boneh has had a wonderful first couple of weeks. The Shnatties are incredible. They are very engaged in discussions and excited about the variety of activities which are part of life on Boneh. It’s been nice to see them settling into their new environment and we are very excited to see them grow over the upcoming months of Boneh!

Yelena Adelman from Tzevet Boneh

Habo Orientation - Lots of fun, and new ideas

The week-long Habo Orientation seminar has wrapped up this morning, and the Shnatties are on their way to Boneh and Machon as I write this. It's been an incredible week! The group arrived on Kibbutz Ravid Sunday morning a bit tired from their big night out at the end of AZYC Sem, but the Habo madrichim awaiting them with big smiles and big plans for the seminar quickly energized the whole group. The first day began with the Shnatties meeting up with their six madrichim who will be leading Shnat this year - Nathan and Avi from Australia, Leah from Israel via Canada and Bar, Dean and Shelly from Israel, with a bunch of fun ice-breakers and getting-to-know-you games, and then the shichva (year-level) split up into the three kvutzot (groups) in which they will be spending the most time this year.

Pictured L to R: Caden, Leah, Dean, Nathan, Shelly, Avi, AZYC Chair Reuben, and Bar

One important element of the week were a number of serious peulot (programs) about ideas like equality, consumerism, freedom, relativism. The peulot consisted of methods, texts and discussion about understanding these concepts and applying them to real life. Many of the Shnatties I spoke with said that it was somewhat new to have such challenging peulot, but also really interesting and worthwhile, making them feel like Shnat has truly begun.

The week also included some unique Habo elements, like doing avoda (labor) together in the kibbutz (see below), and making the best of a few-hour power outage by reading short stories aloud and eating a lovely candle-lit dinner in the chadar ochel. The Shnatties responded to everything with enthusiasm and high spirits, so in the best tradition of the youth movement, a problem was turned into an an adventure!

Another big part of the week was group bonding activities. Both the kvutzot and the shichva as a whole had a ton of fun, including playing a new sport called Ultimate Throwing Challenge or UTC; doing some group-building ropes activities to practice kvutza coordination and communication; having a night of creativity and art including spray-paint stencils, dance, jewelry-making and more; and throwing an awesome party for the four Shnatties who had birthdays during the week:

On Friday we drove from Ravid to the Nes Harim JNF lodge, stopping first in the holy city of Tzfat for a short explanation of the city's history and some free time for lunch and shopping; upon arriving at Nes Harim, the Shnatties led chugim (interest groups) for each other and then Kabbalat Shabbat. Yesterday they spoke in their kvutzot about decisions regarding their time on Boneh and Machon, met with Habonim Dror world mazkir Silvio Joskowicz, enjoyed a peer-led Havdala to bid farewell to Shabbat and then met up with HD Shnatties and leadership from across the world for the celebratory opening dinner of the Kenes Mazkirim (Mazkirim Conference) which is happening this week. The celebrations included a barbecue, crepes, popcorn and a performance by the choir of our Israeli sister youth movement Hanoar Haoved Vehalomed; the Shnatties were also excited to meet their counterparts from all over the world, and our New Zealand Shnatties were especially thrilled to see their mazkirut - Laura, Jack, Jono, Mor and Osnat - for the first time since their arrival here.

That's all the news for now - stay tuned to this site for more updates as Shnat unfolds!

Kiwi's have arrived !!