Final Goodbyes

The Workshoppers have taken-off, and our year has officially come to end. We wish all the kids a happy homecoming and a wonderful summer at camp.

Some pictures from the final tekkes:

Danny B and Ilan, our MCs.

Yes Doron, it's really over.

Final Hatikvah and Od Lo Gamarnu.

Kvutza Rakefet says goodbye to Carmi and Yael.

Kvutza Tkuma saying goodbye to Bar and Sarah.

Finishing Up

During April, the Workshoppers had two meetings and a weekend seminar with a group of Israelis teenages spending the year in a similar manner as them. The "sister movement" weekend (Chava Achot) with Hanoar Haoved was an amazing opportunities for Workshoppers to discuss Jewish identity, Zionism, and growing up in a youth movement with Israelis. Tkuma (Karmiel) was paired with a group from Haifa, and Rakefet (Rishon) was paired with a group from Holon. Below, some pictures from the weekend in Karmiel.

Winding up at their messimot, and seeing the different ways their presence has impacted their chanichim has given the Workshoppers a moment to reflect on their experiences this year. Below, some pictures from activities in Holon (Kvutza Rakefet). 

Sikkum Seminar

Today, Kvutza Tkuma and Kvutza Rakefet left their respective houses. It was a bittersweet moment, as the Workshoppers prepare to leave Israel and get excited about their upcoming summers. The last two weeks have been spent finishing up their messimot, cleaning up their houses and saying good bye to Karmiel and Rishon Letzion.
Sikkum Seminar started with a fun "kayaking" adventure at Kibbutz Kfar Blum, kayaks in this care being inflatable rafts. The chanichim spent an hour paddling down the Jordan River.
After kayaking, the chanichim went to Kibbutz Ravid to being Sikkum Seminar. The Seminar will focus on sharing their conclusions from their year in Israel and in kvutza, and discussing their next steps, in the movement and in life.

May Day

On Wednesday, Workshoppers celebrated May Day with a large carnival, march, and concert in Tel Aviv. After the May Day Seminar two weeks ago, the march was a chance to celebrate solidarity and the struggle for workers' rights they had learned about, as well as a chance to meet up with their Australian, British, and South African counterparts again. The rally was attended by Habonim and Hanoar Haoved, our sister youth movement.

At the May Day Seminar, on Kibbutz Ravid.

At the seminar.

Playing games.

Getting into some songs in the chader ochel.

One of two guest speakers, Rabbi Jim, head of San Francisco Federation, spoke about the connection between Judaism and values of social justice.

At the May Day Rally.

Getting into some dancing.