Poland Journey 2012

Hi everyone! We have all returned safe and sound from the 2012 Poland Journey! The Journey took us across Poland for seven days, visiting concentration and death camps, Jewish synagogues and cemeteries, and the sites of former youth movement centers. In each place we learned about history and also asked questions about human morality and Jewish identity that are still important today. Overall it was a very special, meaningful and unique journey. The first day we started in a small city called Bedzin, learning about the history of the place and the uprising that took place in August 1943, and the youth movement's role in that. This was our first look at the role of Zionist youth movements in the armed resistance, a theme we would return to in both Krakow and Warsaw. We then spent some time walking around the old Jewish quarter of Krakow- Kazimierz - exploring the synagogues and Jewish culture that existed for hundreds of years. We learned about the development of Jewish life in Poland, and the changing role that religious life played in the community over time. The second day we traveled to Auschwitz and Birkenau, which was a long and intense day. We learnt about the Nazi extermination machine and also about the life of a concentration camp inmate, which was shaped by the codes of violence and force that the Nazis imposed. At the close of the day, the first tekes (ceremony) of many that were planned by some of the shnatties was held. It included many personal testimonies and was a very inspiring and fitting way to end the day. The third day was spent mainly in Krakow, in the former Jewish ghetto area, learning about the conditions there and also the madrichim of the Akiva youth movement who lived in a movement commune there. We then visited the location of the Tsiganeria Cafe, where in 1942 the Akiva members attacked and killed a number of Nazi soldiers in one of the largest underground operations until that point in WWII Europe. After that the group had a bit of free time in the beautiful old Sukiennice Market of Krakow, and then we set off for Lublin. The fourth day began at the Yehsiva Chachmei Lublin (Wise Men of Lublin Yeshiva) where we talked about Hassidut and the rich history of the Yeshiva. We then walked around what used to be Nazi headquarters in Lublin, and focused on some of the different groups involved in the Nazi party and Hitler’s regime. In the afternoon we visited the concentration and death camp, Majdanek, situated only a few kilometers from downtown Lublin. We read testimonies of survivors who had spent time there, and saw different exhibitions of confiscated prisoners' possessions and other materials remaining in the camp. The fifth day was spent in Warsaw, walking around the sites of the former ghetto, the largest across Poland. We learned about different aspects of community life and leadership that took place while the Jewish community was trapped inside. After lunch we visited the Krashinsky Gardens, which stood just outside the ghetto walls during the war and where Polish ferris-wheel riders could see their former Jewish neighbors directly below, and talked about what it means to be a bystander. We then travelled to a monument for the Polish Warsaw Uprising, and spent some time in the Old City of Warsaw. Last stop for the day was "Dzielna" the former location of the Dror movement commune, which both before and during the ghetto was the site of peulot and movement life. We heard the stories of the movement's madrichim and chanichim and how they reacted to the conditions in the ghetto by increasing the activity of their youth movement. The sixth day we visited what once was the shtetl of Tykochin, where Jews had lived peacefully for many hundreds of years. A beautifully restored synagogue is still standing in the tow. We then travelled the short distance to Lopochowa forest, the site of the community's eventual demise. That afternoon we were in another death camp, Treblinka. The last day in we started at the site of the 'Chavat Hachshara' (training farm) just outside the city in Grochow, where young people not so different from our Shnatties lived together communally and practiced working hard to prepare themselves for life in the land of Israel. We then visited the Warsaw Jewish cemetery, where the incredible diversity of languages and ideologies that were present in Warsaw Jewry are on clear display. We spoke about different Jewish responses to modern life and about the role of Hebrew, Yiddish and Polish in this Diaspora community. Then after lunch, we began the traditional 'Path of Heroism' which runs from the Umschlagplatz (Deportation Square) to Mila 18 and the Rapaport Monument, where we heard the dramatic story of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and the key role madrichim from Dror and the Zionist youth movement played. We finished at Rapaport Monument with a very inspiring tekes. From there, we headed back to the hotel for a light-hearted 'Polish Folklore' dinner, and then headed for the airport. Landing back in Israel was a great feeling!

A few pictures from the Poland Journey

Our tzevet has passed a few pictures along from the group's travels in Poland:

Entering the Kazimierz old Jewish district in Krakow (under the watchful eye of our security guard)

Examing some antique Judaica inside one of the old synagogues

Preparing to enter Auschwitz I

Visiting the "Canada" area of Auschwitz

Mia from Shnat reading testimony from her grandmother, an Auschwitz survivor

A night peula at the hotel

In Krakow

At the Josefinska Street commune of the Akiba Youth Movement, former Krakow Ghetto

Shnat madrichim tekes at the Csiganeria Cafe in Krakow, site of the first act of Jewish armed action against Nazis during the war

More pictures and details coming when the group returns.

Summer Kaveret is hot!

The last four weeks have been a real whirlwind on Shnat!  From getting to know Carmiel, Akko and Rishon, to working hard on mesima, to getting prepared for the Poland Journey, the summer has been busy, busy, busy.  Now that the Shnatties are in Poland I have some time to update you on the last month and their Kaveret Kayitz, and of course once they return we'll have an in-depth update of the Journey there.

Kaveret started with a four-day preparation seminar, including two days of orientation in the cities the groups live in and getting to know their Kaveret rakazim (coordinators) who are responsible for the housing, budgeting, transportation and mesima arrangements over Kaveret, and two days of group time exploring how they want to shape their shared space, how to connect between their mesima experience and their home life, and more.  The groups were very excited to finally get to see their house for the next five months and had lovely first meals cooked by their tzevet; here you can see the excitement in Rishon eating the first meal and seeing their house for the very first evening:

From July 1st, it was off and running!  The Shnatties jumped into their mesimot all across Israel.  The placements included working in day camps in Rishon Letzion, Holon, Misgav, Akko, and Tamra (an Israeli Arab community), in youth centers in Haifa, Carmiel and Tiberias, and in night activities for youth in Bat Yam, Tel Aviv, and Haifa's Krayot suburbs.  Many of the Shnatties had extremely demanding schedules; they proved themselves very capable and fun madrichim and rose to the challenge of engaging kids even when they had little common language.  Here you can see the Shnatties in Tiberias leading a cooking workshop:

And here they are teaching a dance at the summer camp in Misgav:



After three weeks of intensive mesima, combined with several kvutza discussions and peulot during the afternoons and an initial Poland Preparation Seminar on the weekend, the third week offered a change of pace.  On Sunday the kids enjoyed a great day on the beach for Yom Habonim Dror, an annual event which brings together the hundreds of Habonim Dror participants on programs from all over the world for a day of hanging out and relaxing at Kibbutz Sdot Yam.  They swapped Habo gimmicks with South Americans, Europeans and more; enjoyed the jellyfish-free water and bounced on a giant water trampoline.
The next three days were the second and final Poland Preparation Seminar, based at Kibbutz Lochmei Hagetaot - the Ghetto Fighters' Kibbutz and Museum.  The groups were led by their Poland day guides and spent the three days extensively exploring such issues as:

• The Nazi rise to power and conquest of Europe
• The social process of forming a ghetto
• The Righteous Among the Nations
• Different forms of resistance
• The world of Nazi camps
• The role of the youth movements in the Warsaw Ghetto

They also went through an in-depth explanation of the logistics of the Poland journey, the itinerary, and packing lists.  The seminar was a challenging one which brought up really meaningful discussions about humanity, Jewish identity, and more, and I believe the Shnatties came out of it very much ready for their journey.
On Weds afternoon, after the seminar was finished, the group met up with HDOZ Shaliach Eran Berkowitz and future shlicha Netta Even Tzur for an update on Habo Australia and time to chat and catch up.

After all of that, Thursday was an extremely well-deserved day off.  Friday and Saturday were a closed weekend dedicated to resting well in preparation for the Poland Journey, and the kvutzot voluntarily organized peer-led programming for themselves in all three cities.  Sunday was spent with their Kaveret rakazim summing up the summer experience, and Monday they packed and made their way to the airport!

As we have reported already, the group has safely landed in Poland and we'll be updating here with lots of photos and details when they return.

Sailing the Kinneret and beginning Kaveret

This past week has been extremely exciting here on Shnat! The Shnatties reunited after their nine-day chofesh period, which was spent by some travelling, by some with family or friends, and by some hanging out in the Kaveret houses and even doing a little volunteer work with local youth. Sunday morning they all met up together at Hukok Beach on the shores of the Kinneret, and greeted each other with excitement, hugs, and storytelling. After lunch it was time to get to work on Rafsodia - a unique Israeli youth movement activity in which a group builds a raft together out of poles and barrels, and sails on this raft across Lake Kinneret. The building work involves lots of measurement, coordination and hard-work, and the Machon and Boneh groups did a beautiful and speedy job of building their rafts, painting the sail, raising the mast and ensuring their vessels were sea-worthy:

Check out the Machon group carrying their partially-built raft down to the shore:

   

 The next day after making sure all the knots were tight, having final safety briefings and getting the ok from the water engineer, the groups set sail! There were fantastic winds and they made extremely good time across the Kinneret, both groups clocking in at under an hour and forty minutes. On the sail they feasted on watermelon, sang songs and enjoyed the breeze and the scenery:

After landing they took apart their rafts and still had time for a swim; then it was dinner and camping out on the beach. The next day before heading over to Kaveret there was a bit more fun and bonding to be had on the water; this time it was swimming, kayaking, paddle-boating and banana-boating at the Golan Beach. It was great seeing the Shnatties use these water activities as a way to spend time with their group members; they took the floating water mattresses and had small discussion about different issues going on with their group, as well as just spending time together and splashing around for the pure joy of it.

After lunch that day the group packed up and set off for their Kaveret houses; many Shnatties had not yet seen their homes for the next five months and were seen bursting with excitement and dancing around their new living rooms. They spent the rest of the day unpacking and enjoying a healthy meal cooked for them by their Shnat madrichim and Kaveret rakazim. The next four days were spent on the Kaveret Prep Seminar, including group discussions about dealing with shared questions like shopping, cooking, cleaning and cultural activities; general orientation to the cities they are living in; and preparations for the mesimot (volunteer projects) they are starting this Sunday morning. On a final note, last night Israel's social protest movement held a rally in Tel Aviv and the Shnatties were offered the option of attending. Some two-thirds of the group chose to take part and marched to the central rally, which made a peaceful call for social justice and was attended by many Israeli youth movement members.

June began with a Teva-Matzpen shichva weekend together on Ein Dor.  Since both the Boneh and Machon groups had been through a busy couple of weeks, the Shnat madrichim planned a pretty relaxed weekend with a focus on art and creativity, including a zany Kabalat Shabbat play linking together the music of the Village People and the parashat hashavua (weekly Torah portion), workshops in dance, visual arts and slam poetry, peer-led intellectual programs and plenty of time for friends to relax and catch up with friends from the other program:

Friends from OZ and NZ hanging out

Check out some of the Shnat madrichim rehearsing a musical number for their play:

The next week on Boneh dealt with youth movements, as mentioned in the previous post, and culminated in a visit to the Palmach Museum in Tel Aviv, a state-of-the-art museum which tells the fascinating story of the military force which grew out of the Zionist youth movements and helped lead Israel to its independence.  That day some chanichim also visited the mesimot they will be taking on once Kaveret begins in Rishon Letzion and Holon, while others explored the hip south Tel Aviv neighborhood of Florentin, taking in the copious graffiti/street art of the neighborhood and then enjoying some free time there.


The last week of Boneh was full of reflection and evaluation. Over the course of Boneh, the chanichim have learned about Jewish history from ancient Judea, through the spread of Christianity and Islam, through the advent of the Enlightenment and modernity, and finally to modern Zionism and contemporary communities and issues. They have been exposed a diverse Israeli population: Ashkenazim, Mizrahim (Jews from Islamic countries), Russians, non-Jewish Arabs, settler and ultra-orthodox and secular and soldier; each with a history and a narrative. They have discussed many facets of education and leadership, not just as theory, but in their own lives in the movement, at school, and with their friends and family. Part of the goal of “Sikkum Week” was to rehash these many components of Boneh and tie them all together.

The first evening featured a performance by the chanichim in Power Course on Drama; everyone gathered together to see their play about capitalism. It would not have been complete, however, without a delectable dessert – vegan masala brownies and caramel corn – provided by none other than the Power Course on Cooking.

The next morning, the chanichim traveled to a Druze village on Mt. Carmel. After exploring the shuk and enjoying a very generous meal at a Druze restaurant, they heard a presentation by the proprietor about the Druze community and its relationship with the state. Traditionally, the Druze seek no state of their own, but are loyal to whoever rules the land; the very welcoming host gave the chanichim insight of how this plays out in Israel, neighboring Syria, and elsewhere, and then opened up the floor for a heated and interesting question period.

A few peulot and a barbeque later, the chanichim had some time to reflect on their experience on Boneh both as individuals and with their kvutzot, including collecting oral and written feedback to help us strengthen Boneh for future machzorim.

Finally, a number of parents and family members joined for the chanichim's tekes (ceremony) to celebrate and commemorate their time on Boneh. It was great for the tzevet and the kids to get to meet so many families and conclude on such a high note.  Several chanichim from each kvutzah spoke, and the Boneh Rakazim performed a song.  The Shnatties had also prepared an array of videos, skits, and songs which recounted their stories from Boneh in an artistic and very impressive manner.  Then there was a final lunch in the chadar ochel together with some of the families, Ein Dor's famous burger Thursday lunch, and then it was goodbyes all around and off to summer chofesh.

Boneh update: Jerusalem Seminar and more

Two weeks ago the chanichim spent most of the week in Jerusalem for the renowned Boneh Jerusalem Seminar, examining the different groups of people who live in close proximity in Jerusalem and the deep conflicts between them as a microcosm of the challenges and promises Israel as a whole faces. As always, it was an enlightening and exciting seminar. They began with a tour of the Old City of Jerusalem with HD Perth graduate Leon Schneider, followed by a visit to the Knesset (Israeli parliament) for a meeting with Member of Knesset Orit Zuaretz of the Kadima party, who talked among other things about her discomfort with Kadima's recent entry into Israel's governing coalition with the Likud Party. She's been in the news lately, so stay tuned. Then that first evening, historian and journalist Gershom Gorenberg came to speak with the chanichim about Israel, the conflict, the Knesset, Judaism, and even a bit about journalism.

The seminar continued with a tour of East Jerusalem with the organization Ir Amim (“City of Peoples”), on which their guide Ehud showed them the social and political complexities of life in Gilo, Shu'afat, Pisgat Ze'ev, Silwan, and other neighborhoods. The chanichim then visited the ultra-orthodox Geula neighborhood in central Jerusalem and learned about the haredi community from one of its members, Mr. Yehoshua Weinberger. The discussions with Yehoshua were heated and extremely eye-opening for the group and touched on army service, assimilation, birth rates for secular and religious communities and more. They finished out the day with an event run by MASA, the long-term Israel programs scholarship organization, where they were addressed by famed Soviet Jewish refusenik Natan Sharanksy (now head of the Jewish Agency) and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

The next morning, the chanichim visited the Davidson Center to learn about the archeology of the Temple Mount. Then, they visited the Israel Religious Action Center and heard from Woman of the Wall leader Anat Hoffman about struggles over Judaism played out on a municipal and national scale. Later that day, Hineni Program Director Ari Silbermann came to speak at the seminar about his relationship with Jerusalem as a city, his life as a resident of an Israeli settlement in the West Bank and how his upbringing as a Scopus boy from the Melbourne community led him to this path. That night, they also heard from the Parents' Circle, an organization for Palestinian and Israeli families of people who have died in the conflict.

The seminar closed out with a meeting with a Palestinian citizen of Israel who works at the Israeli Justice Ministry and had some insight into the relationship between the Jewish state and its non-Jewish citizens. Finally, the chanichim visited Har Herzl, the cemetery where Israel buries its fallen soldiers, venerated leaders, and national icons. All in all, the week was an intense but incredibly fruitful one for the Shnatties, who came back with a lot of new information and a plethora of further questions.

Last week was dedicated to learning about the phenomenon of youth movements, from a few perspectives. First of all, the chanichim examined the sociological category of youth, and how it has emerged over time; they then explored the history of youth movements and related scouting organizations in Europe. They continued with the origins of the Zionist youth movements, and then finally about Habonim in particular. The chanichim also hosted guest speakers who are graduates and Israeli educators of two other youth movements: Daniel Roth and Karen Isaacs from Hashomer Hatzair; and Avy Lagziel from Bnei Akiva; these guests furthered helped the Shnatties understand the Zionist youth movements as a unique phenonemon in Jewish history rather than merely a children's club like any other, and also see some of the challenges faced by all such movements, particularly finding the balance of critical perspective on society and the need to take responsibility for it.

This week the Boneh groups are in peulot with their Kaveret tzevet, who are beginning to prepare them for their summer mesimot, and they will even be visiting some of their future mesima sites to meet potential chanichim and their future tzevet. More on that in the final Boneh update, which will be up in two weeks. Finally, we would like to invite any parents, relatives or friends who are in Israel to take part in the Boneh tekes siyum (closing ceremony) which will be held on Kibbutz Ein Dor at 11 am on Thursday, June 14th. Hope to see you there!

Boneh update: northern tiyul, modern Israel, sister chava seminar, and more

Hello from Ein Dor and happy Jerusalem Day!  The last couple weeks of classes here have been spent learning about the history of the modern state of Israel and the Arab- and Palestinian-Israeli conflicts. The chanichim began the module by learning about the United Nations Partition Plan, the establishment of the state in 1948, and the wars that surrounded those events. Then, they moved on to consider the massive demographic shifts that occurred in connection with those wars regarding Jewish and Palestinian refugees.

The module continued with the Six-Day War, particularly the terrifying march to war as well as examining its euphoric aftermath. The chanichim discussed how that war affected the way that Israelis and, indeed, world Jewry thought of themselves and of their state. They also considered the role of the developing Palestinian leadership in the 60s, 70s, and 80s.

The week rounded out with ruminations on the last several decades. The chanichim looked at the era of Yitzhak Rabin and the peace process, of Israel and Palestine on the edge of disentanglement and cooperation. Finally, they examined the last decade or so of seemingly directionless conflict, including the reactions of the Israeli and Palestinian public towards the violence and perceived stagnation.

In connection with the module, Neil Harris – HDUK boger, co-founder of Kibbutz Tuval, activist and educator – came to help us explore the relationship between the state and four different groups: Jewish citizens of Israel living within the Green Line, Arab citizens of Israel living within the Green Line, Jewish citizens of Israel living in the West Bank and Gaza territory, and Arabs living in the West Bank and Gaza.

The chanichim also watched a couple of movies to help expand on their discussions of the Arab- and Palestinian-Israeli conflicts. Waltz With Bashir (2009) was useful in trying to unravel the very complex histories and issues in Lebanon, and the documentary Promises (2001) gave them a look at Jerusalem youth and how they are affected by the twin prospects of violence and peace in their society.

 Meanwhile, a few weeks ago we took a break from the routine of classes and headed north into the Golan Heights for a four-day northern tiyul.  The group camped at Yehudiya National Park and explored the Golan's strategic and historic significance, as well as its stunning natural landscapes and plentiful water resources. As is the nature of tiyulim, they also bonded as a group and spent time relaxing together, both around beautiful natural waterfalls and back at the campsite.   A tzevet of chanichim who chose to be involved in the planning and implementation of the tiyul prepared food and activities as well as taking a leadership role in each day of hiking.  

Finally, this past weekend the group went through the Sister Chava Seminar - a meeting with a kvutza of Israelis their age who are on Shnat with our Israeli sister youth movement, Hanoar Haoved Vehalomed.  The seminar dealt with perspectives on Zionism and Jewish identity, looking at the similarities and different experiences of Jews in Israel and abroad, as well as the common vision the two movements share.  Beyond the ideology the groups also had time to hang out together and just talk, and a lot of connections were formed which we hope will continue.  

Tomorrow morning the group sets out bright and early for the four-day Jerusalem Seminar, exploring a panoply of issues in Israeli society for which Jerusalem is a microcosm.  They will be meeting speakers religious and secular, Jewish and Arab, leftist and West Bank settlement-dwelling.  It promises to be a seriously provocative experience; we'll tell you all about it in the next blog post here!