August was an intense month here on Shnat. After returning from the meaningful,
confronting and inspiring Poland Journey, the Shnatties landed in Israel and
headed directly to Kibbutz Revivim in Israel's Negev Desert. The first day they got some much deserved
rest and were shown around; the next day they split up rooms and work
allocations. Some of the kibbutz jobs
included gardening, working with the children, the chadar ochel (kibbutz dining
room) and dishwashing, laundry and working with Goldie – a long-time Australian
oleh originally from Perth who manages the landscaping and maintains the ulpan
area.
The two-and-a-half-week kibbutz period went by very
quickly as the Shnatties were having so much fun. Between the physical labor, the gorgeous
swimming pool, the hot but dry desert climate and the bike paths running
throughout the kibbutz, Revivim offered a warm and relaxing environment for
shichva (year-level) bonding. Each of
the three kvutzot (groups which live on Kaveret together) had one day a week of
programming with their madrichim and the Shnatties were also very active in
leading peer-led programming for each other.
There was hardly a night when there wasn't something on.
On Saturday the 25th, they packed up and
bid farewell to Revivim and headed back their various Kaveret houses, and the
next morning they began famed History of Habo Hagshama Seminar. As any past Shnattie will enthusiastically
testify, this seminar is generally eye-opening, provocative and moving all at
once. The seminar looks back at the
story of Habo as a movement and the ideals it has tried to fulfill here in
Israel in a face to face way. The
Shnatties travel around the country looking at the beginning of the idea of
kibbutz, visiting kibbutzim founded by Habo such Kfar Hanasi, Yizre'el,
Kadarim, and Ravid, and meeting olim from Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere
from different generations, who chose to make aliya and commit themselves to
the communal idea. It also takes a
hard-eyed look at kibbutz reality today, examining the trend of privatization
which has spread to the vast majority of kibbutzim. The seminar's inspiring close involved
meeting with some of the most recent Habo olim, bogrim from their home
movements and elsewhere who have made aliya, visiting their urban communal
houses and discussing whether the ideal of hagshama [personal realization of
ideology] is relevant today.
After this jam-packed four-day seminar the Shnatties
had a day off in the Kaveret houses to rest and do some shopping. Then Friday and Saturday they spent the
weekend together in a series of peer-led programs which members of each kvutza
built and led for one another. Sunday
morning they headed off to chofesh and their invidual pursuits. Many Shnatties are spending time with family;
several are going on nature hikes and camping; a number are taking the chance
to hang out in Tel Aviv, and a few intrepid adventurers are even planning to cycle
around the Kinneret. We hope those of
you who are visiting are enjoying the time with your kids and we're excited for
the restart of Kaveret on Sunday morning!
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