Shiurim - A Chanich's Perspective and an Announcement

Our most recent shiyur (class) module was called Dilemmas of Nation Building. In it, we explored (as you might have guessed) different dilemmas that the chalutzim and other Zionist founders of Israel faced in the process of nation building; namely, the three main pre-state militias (the Hagana, Etzel/the Irgun, and Lechi), failed aliyot to Palestine (The Exodus, SS St. Louis) under the British Mandate (White Paper of 1939), Jewish Immigration 1948-1951 (the Law of Return, Operations Magic Carpet, Ezra, and Nechemia, and expulsion from Egypt), and many other interesting topics that I would highly recommend reading into. 

To go more into depth about just one of the things we talked about: we juxtaposed the ideas of two leading Zionist thinkers, Vladimir Jabotinsky (a Revisionist who founded Betar) and Martin Buber. While Jabotinsky believed that we should found a state in whatever way we can, and then deal with the social problems later, Buber believed that we first should make our society better, and then establish the Jewish state. In the end, we rushed a little - maybe as was necessary, because we had post-Holocaust world sympathy and nationalistic fervor from Diaspora Jewry - to create a state, as Jabotinsky said we should. This, of course, left us with many questions that we both discussed in the shiyur and walked away with: Is it better that we have our state with its problems, or should we have held off on the founding of Israel until we had a better foundation? Was that our only chance to establish the Jewish state, or could we have done better? With the way our world functions, is it possible to do better? And finally, now that we understand the foundations that Israel is built on, how can we work to make Israel a better place, a light unto the nations?

Lior Bar-El, Workshop 62, Gilboa

Below, pictures of chanichim gathering before a class starts. 

We are also happy to announce the location of the kaveret houses. Sarah and Yoav's chanichim will be located in Karmi'el, a town in the center of the Galilee. Carmi and Yael's chanichim will be located in Rishon Letzion, just south of Tel Aviv. 

Thanksgiving

Some pictures from Workshop 62's Thanksgiving dinner:

Avodah and Tzvatim

Avodah is an important opportunity for the Workshop participants to connect to kibbutznikim. The chanichim have been working in several places on kibbutz.

At the Gan Yeladim (Childrens' Houses).

At the cheesemaker's. 

Only occasionally are they late!

In the mitbach (kitchen).

In the mitbach. 

In addition to avodah, the chanichim use tzvatim (or committees) to help them take responsibility for things like cleaning and shopping.

Taking out the garbage, everyone's favourite task.

Shopping for 22 in the kolbo, the kibbutz mini-market. 

First and foremost, the participants of Workshop are all safe.  The attacks that started in Israel over the past few days have been difficult to read about for everyone and are especially stressful for families with children in Israel. Your children's safety is our constant priority. Upon intensification of military action in the south on Wednesday our staff was in communication with each participant. Our participants are currently on Kibbutz Ein Dor, outside of Afula, which is safe in the north. They know that they must all keep their cell phones on them at all times. The tzevet (staff) will be giving constant updates and regulations about where they should or can be.  We also have tzevet with them on kibbutz. This weekend is a free weekend; and many of the participants are staying on kibbutz. If chanichim are leaving they have to get clearance from our staff as to where they are going. We are not letting them go to the south of the country. As per our security regulations no chanchim are allowed within 40 km of the gaza border until further notice. The program is currently centered in the north of Israel for the next couple weeks, so we don't expect the ongoing conflict to effect the program too heavily. There is the possibility of going to Jerusalem in two weeks, but we need to see how things go and we will re-evaluate closer to that time. The Cheder Matzav (Situation Room) and Chavaya (Israel Experience) have been our security partners for many years and they have been  maintaining communication with us about the ongoing security issues. Myself and the Rakazim (Leon and Tamar) will be working with our security partners as we move forward with future decisions as to where the participants are allowed to be.

The Workshoppers are safe on Kibbutz Ein Dor. Minimal travel this weekend for participants, Parents an e-mail will be sent to you directly shortly. 

Hiking Har Tavor

Some pictures from the chanichim's recent hike of Har Tavor.

The view from the top:

When not hiking Har Tavor, the chanichim are hard at work in their garden.

Siyurim

Siyurim (tours) are an important aspect of Boneh. Most Thursdays, workshoppers leave Kibbutz Ein Dor to explore different areas of the country. Siyurim include walking tours of different cities, day hikes, museum visits, historical sites and Israeli cultural experiences. The content of the siyur is usually tied to the educational theme of the week. For example, during Early Zionist Thought, the chanichim visited the town of Zichron Ya'akov, a First Aliyah settlement, and the Pioneer Settlement Museum on Kibbutz Yifat. Siyurim are an important opportunity to experience Israel, and see in action some of the ideas or historical events they have been discussing. So far, the chanichim have visited the Diaspora Museum and Shuk Hacarmel (Carmel Market) in Tel Aviv, Atlit Detention Camp, Nazareth, Zichron Yakov, Kibbutz Yifat, and the beach at Hof Hacarmel in Haifa.Next Thursday, the chanichim will be climbing Har Tavor (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Tabor).

Atlit Detention Center.

Exploring a ship used by illegal immigrants during Aliyah Bet, Atlit.

Relaxing at Hof Hacarmel Beach, Haifa.

Hof Hacarmel Beach, Haifa.

Nazareth.

Pioneer Settlement Museum, Kibbutz Yifat.

Re-enacting lunchtime at a 3rd Aliyah era chader ochel, Pioneer Settlement Museum.

Enjoying the view, Kibbutz Yifat.

Exploring Zichron Ya'akov, a 1st Aliyah Settlement.