Poland

Over the last month, we have been preparing for our upcoming journey to Poland. The Workshoppers will be  spending seven days in Poland, travelling in Krakow, Lublin and Warsaw as part of a historical and philosophical exploration of the Holocaust. We began two weeks ago with a day and a half seminar, run by the workshop madrichim, introducing some of the themes of the Holocaust. This past Wednesday to Friday, Workshoppers went through their second preparation, including two days in the Museum at Kibbutz Lochmei Hagitaot (the Ghetto Fighters' Kibbutz). Each kvutza met the madrich masa (journey guide) that will be leading them through their Poland journey. The preparations are a key part of the Habonim Dror Poland journey, setting shared expectations of what the journey will look like and introducing some of the content of Poland. Like many trips to Poland, we explore the historical progression of the Holocaust, visit various concentration camps and memorial sites, and learn about the Jewish experience during the Holocaust. A unique aspect of our trip, however, is the focus on youth and rebellion during the Holocaust. We connect our own youth movement experiences to those of the leaders of some of the major ghetto rebellions during the Holocaust, including the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and the Krakow Ghetto. Although emotionally challenging, the journey to Poland has begun very successfully. We will be in Poland from February 10th-17th. Before we leave, each kvutza will have one more day of preparation with their madrich masa.

Ofir, the Rishon kvutza's madrich masa, in the Museum at Kibbutz Lochmei Hagitaot. 

Stretching before a long day in the Museum.

 Hanging out in a new chultza!

The Karmiel kvutza, all sporting new chultzot.

Rishon Messimot

Continuing on from our last post, here are a description of the messimot in Rishon Letzion.


Kiryat Ganim:
Lior A-K, Aaron ,Jorden, Sarah, Dan

Kiryat Ganim is a ken of Hanoar Haoved, our sister movement in Israel, and the workshoppers will be running afternoon "chuggim" (interest groups), and opening a "moadon" (club) for eighth graders. In the mornings, they will be tutoring in English at a high school.

Dror Ramla:
Ethan, Leeza, Rachel Y, Joel, Zack

Dror Ramla is an Arab boys' school from 9th to 12th grade. The workshoppers will be doing small group tutoring in English, and different projects and special activities in the afternoon.

Bama Holon:
Micah, Leah, Nick, Lior B., Sammy, Deborah

The "Bama" (an acronym for Houses of Science and Stance) works with kids from 4th to 6th grade, drawing from two schools in the neighborhood. At 4:00pm, school-aged children come for activities. There are interest groups, a homework center, and activities by kvutza. During the day, the workshoppers will help with English tutoring at the elementary schools, and in the afternoons they will help run interests groups and activities by kvutza.

Ken Rishon Mizrach:
Sam, Naomi, Cooper

During the day, the workshoppers will be in a local high school, assisting with English teaching. In the afternoon, the students are divided into groups and attend a learning center for 8th graders. The workshoppers will be running activities for the groups at the learning center.

Snif Ramat Eliahu:
Doron, Yael, Ilan

The workshoppers at the "Snif" (branch) have the opportunity to work in a unique project within Hanoar Haoved aiming to reach out to working youth. The workshoppers will be running activities at the Snif, attended by high school aged students in the afternoons.

Karmiel Messimot

Messimot are the volunteer projects the workshoppers participate in during Kaveret. Messima means "mission" in Hebrew, and represents Habonim Dror's mission to create a more equal, just, and peaceful Israeli society. Listed below are the messimot groups for the Karmiel Kvutza.

Akko - Carmel Yoni David
The Carmiel tzevet in Akko will be working in schools and the Bama with elementary and middle school students in Akko. They will be running English lessons and programs, as well as spending one-on-one time with chanichim, helping them with work and being positive role-models.

Dshanim - Ari and Danny B
The Dshanim tzevet will be working the Dshanim vocational school in Haifa. They will be running English lessons and program for the high school students, and spending one-on-one time with students, getting to know them and helping them with their homework, especially with the 12th graders, who they will be pairing with to help them study to pass their bagrut.

Kiyum Meshutaf - Danny S, Anya, Sydney - Frank Jeremy Maya Nicole
The Kiyum Meshutaf (Shared Existence) tzevet will be working in schools and community centers in different Arab villages in the western Galilee. They will be running English lessons and programs on equality, identity, and tolerance, while learning about Arab culture.

Tveria - Rachel Max and Julia
The Tveria tzevet will be working in elementary and middle schools during the mornings, and will work in the Bama with middle school and high school students in the afternoons. They will run English lessons and programs at school, while they run an English club at the Bama.

Kiryat Chaim - Abigail Jonah Shachar
The Kiryat Chaim tzevet will be working in middle schools and the ken in Kiryat Chaim. They will be running English lessons in the mornings, and recruiting a kvutza of 8th graders to run leadership programs for in the afternoons.

Eshbal - Gilly Maia and Omri
The Eshbal tzevet will be working at the Carmiel Bama high school during the day, and at the Eshbal boarding school in the afternoon. They will be running English lessons and programs during the day, as well as helping their students with homework, and helping them study to pass their exams. They will be working specifically with the 9th and 10th graders.