So it has been an action-packed month of activities in November, and it's hard to know where to start. The shnattie have gotten back into more of a routine after all of the chaggim experiences in October, but the hectic pace of Shnat hasn't gotten any slower.
The first weekend in November was spent with Habonim Dror Shnat participants from all over the globe, at Rabin Seminar in Nes Harim. There were shnatties there from EVERYWHERE, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and the North Americans of course. The seminar had mixed groups, with each group consisting of shnatties from up to 7 countries! It examined the concept of incitement and violence in democratic society, both at the time of Rabin's assassination and today, and also looked at the threats to democracy in contemporary Israeli society. The seminar was capped off by attending the annual Rabin memorial rally in Rabin square in Tel-Aviv. The guest speakers of the rally included the Labor Party leader and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and the Kadima Party leader and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
After the hectic weekend it was 'back to school' for Shnat 08-09, and Boneh rolled around for another few weeks. The following week from the seminar looked at the beginning of Zionism and some of the great Zionist thinkers. The classes looked at some of the great modern Zionist thinkers, the concept of modern 'chalutziut' (pioneering), the beginnings of Labour Zionism, and the beginnings of the 'aliyot' (mass waves of immigration to Palestine).
The group spent a day on siyur (tour) to Jerusalem during the week, and went to Israel's national cemetary, Har Herzl, as well as one of the famous sites in Jerusalem, Ammunition Hill.
The week was rounded out with the shnatties doing an activity based on the things they had learnt during the week, where they put together children's picture books based on some of the personalities that they had learnt of during their classes.
The following week the shnatties looked at Modern Israel, and the week after they looked at the roots and history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. They went on siyurim (tours) to the Golan heights, and examined the current border status of Israel with Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. They also spent some time in the ancient port city of Caesarea, as well as a guided tour to the Atlit Illegal Immigration Camp from the pre-state British Mandate. The camp was a detention centre for Jews who were caught as illegal immigrants, and holds hundreds of amazing personal stories.
Currently, the shnatties are nearing the end of the renowned History of Habonim Hagshama (actualisation) seminar. The seminar has taken them to see some of the vatikim (veterans) of the movement, and has given them the chance to hear some of the inspiring personal stories from movement members who made aliya and built up the state of Israel. The workshoppers visited Kfar Blum, Kfar Hanasi, Ammiad and kibbutz Tuval, and will also get a chance to meet members of the newer urban communes in Israel. The seminar will give the shnatties a great opportunity to understand where the movement has come from, and to challenge the ways in which they want to shape it on their return to the UK.
So, come next week we will be in the last week and a half of the Boneh program, and already within three weeks the shnatties will be in their new home in the centre of the country. The chofesh period starts on December 23, and all shnatties need to be back to start on January 3.
Until next time,
Leon
A huge crowd showed up again for the annual Rabin Memorial Rally
