Before the High Holidays, schools around Israel remain closed for the summer, so we used these few weeks to enjoy even more time all together as a shichvah. We had three incredible seminars; History of Habonim Hagshama Seminar, Judaism Seminar and Relationships Seminar.
History of Habonim Hagshama Seminar
These four days were an amazing opportunity to meet with olim from Habonim Dror who have made Aliyah over the past 30 years. The seminar is built on a schedule that takes the shnatties to go and visit kibbutzim around Israel that Habonim Dror bogrim (graduates) went to build, or join. The kibbutz as a framework, a way of life, and a set of values was examined through the week. Visits included Hatzar Kinneret (the Kinneret Courtyard), which served as a training farm for early chalutzim, including those who went on to form the first Kibbutz - Deganya. We also visited Kibbutz Kaddarim, Kibbutz Mevo Chama, and Kibbutz Yizre'el. As well as Kibbutz Mishol, the largest Urban Kibbutz in Israel, and some of the kvutzot of olim who live in Haifa today. Acclaimed historian, Muki Tzur also came to speak to the group about the place of Kibbutzim in the establishment of the state of Israel, while we were based on Kibbutz Ravid for the duration of the seminar. After the week in Poland which focused on the history of the Dror movement in Europe, this seminar was also an opportunity to learn more about Habonim in Australia, North America and the United Kingdom.
Judaism Seminar
The three days prior to Rosh HaShannah, and the chofesh until Yom Kippur, were spent learning about these central holidays to Judaism. Settled back in their houses in Akko and Rishon, each of the kvutzot had this seminar to learn more about the centrality of these holidays and to have the time and space to be able to create their own way of celebrating the holidays. In the end, there were a number groups assigned to thinking about and creating new and meaningful ways of celebrating their Judaism together. The first created a day of learning for Yom Kippur and all of Eden was invited to the house in Rishon to spend this day together, learning. Another group prepared activities for Sukkot, and another looked at the Shabbat service that currently runs in Australia. This was an exceptionally meaningful seminar which encouraged the chanichim to embrace their Judaism and find meaning in creating something of their own to celebrate and observe these holidays which are so central to the Jewish People.
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| Some of the Akko kvutzah celebrating Rosh HaShannah |
Relationships Seminar
This seminar, placed between the end of chofesh and Yam l'Yam, was a seminar to re-focus on relationships within the kvutzot. After a number of weeks that were full of different seminars and routines, this seminar marked the re-starting of Kaveret, and allowed for a "fresh start". The seminar focused on communication, conflict resolution, and how to have deeper and more meaningful conversations with each other. It was an opportunity for everyone to reflect on the past few months, and share what they had gone through and what they wanted from the remainder of the year from the rest of their kvutzah. It was another very intense and meaningful experience.
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