Shalom from beautiful kibbutz Ein Gev, on the shores of the Kinneret and at the foot of the Golan! Here in this beautiful location, Boneh has been moving along at a brisk pace. The Boneh-nikim have continued along in their Jewish history curriculum for the past three weeks – the last three topics were the origins of the Exile, Jews in the Muslim World and Jews in the Christian World.
During the week of Exile, we looked at how the Jewish people were divided during the late second temple period and how that allowed the Romans to conquer them; with miniature bows and arrows and enacted and debated the Bar Kochba Rebellion; we watched the Rabbis transform Judaism in order to save it and questioned just how fine the points of Talmudic logic could get; and then wrapped it all up with Amos Oz’s understanding of Judaism as a civilization. On film night we watched Monty Python’s Life of Brian to get a feel for the period. That week we also traveled to ancient Tiberias, just across the Kinneret from Ein Gev, to explore an ancient synagogue and Beit Midrash (study house) where the Sanhedrin’s rabbis studied, wrote and completed the writing the Palestinian Talmud. From there, we went on to Jerusalem to meet Machon and many other Masa participants and to enjoy an amazing concert of the Idan Raichel Project!
Then we moved on to learn about Jews in the Muslim world, starting from a look at the Muslim conquest and the new perils and opportunities it brought to the majority of the world’s Jews at that time. We looked at a variety of responses Jews chose to this new situation, and particularly at the strong Rabbinic leadership that eventually reunited the people, including such important figures as Saadia Gaon, Ibn Ezra and particularly the great Moses Maimonides. We then looked at the Golden Age for Jews in Spain under Muslim rule, at the development and progress of Jewish thought at this time, and also at Yehuda Halevi’s poetry which in the face of this good situation still focused so strongly on yearning for Zion. The week was wrapped up by projects – this week it was creating game shows which could be used to teach about Jews in the Muslim World - we enjoyed such creative shows as Hollywood Squares, Taboo and Top Jewish Chef.
This week was interrupted briefly in the middle by Purim, which of course is an opportunity to celebrate! Many Shnatties traveled for the evening, mainly to Holon to celebrate together with the British shnatties, but came back Tuesday afternoon in time to participate in running a Purim carnival for the kibbutz children. The little kids had a great time and the Shnatties had a great chance to meet kibbutzniks and experience the holiday Israel-style. They also prepared a special dance for the kibbutz grownups’ Purim Play which they performed on the Friday night.
Last week we learnt about Jews in the Christian World, focusing on both the Spanish Inquisition and the rise of Polish Jewry. Questions they asked included: “How did the Jewish community look under conditions of freedom and tolerance?” “How did the Golden Age end? What were the reasons the Inquisition happened? What were the external factors going on at the time?” “How did the Jews respond to persecution?” The Boneh-nikim also had a siyur (excursion) to the Diaspora Musuem in Tel Aviv, also known as the Museum of the Jewish People. The museum conveys the story of the Jewish people from the time of their expulsion after the 2nd temple destruction, to the present day and relates to the unique story of the continuity of the Jewish people.
The above questions continue in this weeks’ seminar which looks at both “Shtetl” life and the Emancipation period.
Other highlights of the Boneh tochnit (program) include Hadracha and Israel Update. Hadracha is the leadership course that all Habonim Dror shnatties participate in. Through this course we combine both practical and theory leadership aspects and all that is connected to being a responsible madrich (leader) upon return to Australia or New Zealand. So far this Boneh, we have looked at the concept of groups as opposed to teams, and “reading” a group such that you can appropriately respond and deal with its needs; working as a tzevet (team) which is a crucial aspect of hadracha, basic youth psychology and development, counseling and duty of care; all of which are topics imperative to being in charge for children and young adults. Hadracha classes take place every week, with an additional specialization afternoon to take place in May.
Israel Update also takes place every week, and allows the Boneh-nikim to spend some more time getting to know in depth what is going on in Israeli society today. As you can probably imagine, the focus is mainly on the ever changing political situation given the aftermath of the February elections.
That’s all for now – some pictures to follow soon!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Machon Update - March
This is an update we received yesterday from the director of the Machon
Dear Parents, Shalom,
Well, it is now just five weeks into the program and, as the Director of English Speaking Machon, I just wanted to write to let you know how things are going from our perspective and to share with you a few of the highlights from this opening period, though hopefully your children also have been keeping you up to date with what is happening on the program from their point of view.
It seems to us that the Machon is in general going very well so far, the atmosphere among the Machon community seems really good and most of them seem to be enjoying the program. In the very first week, straight after getting them settled into to their new home at Kiryat Moriah, there was already a major and important event for Machonikim to get to grips with, the Israeli elections. We spent the morning helping them understand what was going on and how the political situation in Israel works with them running their own mock elections and then in the afternoon they went out around different neighbourhoods in Jerusalem to see the election atmosphere on the streets and to interview people there. Despite a fairly heavy downpour it was a really interesting day and in the evening most people gathered around the television to hear the initial exit poll results and to debate what we thought would happen. As you probably know, we will hopefully know the real result of that in terms of what the next Israeli government will look like in the coming weeks.
The day after the election we took the whole group of 52 on a 2 day tiyul (trip/hike) down to the Massada and Dead Sea area of Israel. The main aim, apart from seeing that area, was a group bonding one where people could start to get to know and make friends with people from the other youth movements with their very different ideologies (we have 5 movements on Machon; Habonim Dror, Hashomer Hatzair, Netzer, Betar and Hineni), as well as those from other cities countries (we have both Australians and South Africans on this Machon). This tiyul really achieved that well and was overall pretty relaxed in style. Highlights were the climb up Massada, a lovely desert hike and a night sleep-out.
The week after they came back from the tiyul we started to move into the various lessons in earnest. There are 5 basic areas of learning on Machon – Judaism, Israel/Zionism, hadracha (youth leadership), Hebrew and the Story of the Jewish People, that is an overview of Jewish History. In each area the Machonikim have various choices of courses, some based on different content and some based on the style of learning that they most wanted. Some classes are more lecture-based while others use more interactive programmes. As well as the classes in these main areas there are a couple of other slots in the week when they can choose from a range of sessions covering a whole variety of different topics. To give you some idea, some of the more popular options included such courses as the philosophy of Yeshayahu Leibowitz, Israel Advocacy and Israeli society through film.
After they gave all their choices the team worked out who could do what and in almost all cases most people got either their first or second choices. Within the first week or so of lessons anyone who really thought they were in the wrong place could ask to swap classes and we tried to allow that whenever possible. Things have now pretty much settled down and we as a staff are pretty pleased with the level of participation and learning going on.
Twice a week we take them out for educational experiences in places other than Kiryat Moriah. Once a week we have half day trip to important sites around and near Jerusalem. So far these trips have included a visit to the Herzl & Begin museums in Jerusalem, a trip to Tel Aviv to see the Palmach museum about the history of the early pre-state army and a trip to the Vertigo dance company where they experienced a really interesting workshop.
On Wednesday afternoons everyone is involved in some form of practical community involvement project involving some volunteering or hadracha experience that gives them a sense of involvement in and commitment to different aspects of Israeli society. In this time slot many of them are helping teach English to disadvantaged Israelis, some are involved in practical work including going out picking fruit and vegetables for an organisation called 'Table to Table' which provides food to families living below the poverty line and working on the creation of a community garden in a deprived neighbourhood, some are working with disabled adults at an organisation called 'galagalim', some do Jerusalem Journeys where they visit less well known neighbourhoods in Jerusalem and also learn some basic guiding skills while others are involved in a social justice project where they must research an area of social need and then plan and run a small scale project that can help with their issue. For many of them there is of course a great sense of satisfaction in these activities and a feeling that they are not just taking and learning but also giving something back as well.
On Sunday evenings we have an exciting new slot called 'Sunday Selections' which is optional but where we bring in to Machon, among other things, some exciting guests including contemporary Israeli artists. The first week we had a band called Coolalush which was a real highlight for those that came and then last week we had an Israeli Film Director talk about the role of Israeli film. Next week we will have an Israeli theatre company running an interactive workshop and discussing their work.
Most weekends they are free from Thursday evenings until we start classes again on the Sunday morning but last weekend everyone stayed for a special Machon Shabbat. The idea was to share Shabbat together as a group and also to explore how different people and different movements celebrate and deal with Shabbat. On the Friday evening all the Machonikim were invited in small groups to the homes of different Machon teachers for a Friday night meal, including joining the teachers for synagogue beforehand for those that wanted. The feedback was great and it seems that Machonikim really appreciated the opportunity for a home cooked meal and to better get to know their teachers in an out-of-class atmosphere. On Saturday afternoon there was a programme exploring the advantages and difficulties of celebrating Shabbat together when people have such different ideas and beliefs about how this should be done and then after Shabbat had gone out we took the whole group bowling. It was a lovely Shabbat and we will have one more of these later on in the programme, while they are away again on tiyul.
Finally, during this week it was of course Purim. Being in Israel during the chagim is one of the great experiences of Shnat. On Monday evening when it is Purim in most parts of the country but not in Jerusalem, most of them went over in the evening to experience the Tel Aviv street party and clubbing scene that goes on during Purim. Then on Tuesday we ran some activities to help them get into the Jerusalem Purim spirit. We the Machon ran a programme where they learned about Purim from a variety of more unusual perspectives and then in the afternoon everyone dressed up and we ran a Purim carnival for them. The moetza (the committee that is made up of representatives of the different movements) finished things off by running a fantastic and creative' Persia's Top Model' Fashion show with everyone showing off their fancy dress on the catwalk. Purim itself from the Tuesday evening to Wednesday was free for them to experience Purim in Jerusalem as they wished. In the evening many went to hear the megilla being read in one of the neighbourhood synagogues and then on the Wednesday most went off to different parts of town to see how Purim is celebrated by different Jerusalemites.
I think that is all for now and I hope that I have been able to give you a small flavour of the programme thus far and what has been happening. We the staff are very much enjoying working with the Machonikim, both individually and as a group. I hope to write again in a month or so, just near to the Pesach break, to give you another Machon update.
Until then, best wishes to you all,
Iris Gazit and the Machon staff team
Dear Parents, Shalom,
Well, it is now just five weeks into the program and, as the Director of English Speaking Machon, I just wanted to write to let you know how things are going from our perspective and to share with you a few of the highlights from this opening period, though hopefully your children also have been keeping you up to date with what is happening on the program from their point of view.
It seems to us that the Machon is in general going very well so far, the atmosphere among the Machon community seems really good and most of them seem to be enjoying the program. In the very first week, straight after getting them settled into to their new home at Kiryat Moriah, there was already a major and important event for Machonikim to get to grips with, the Israeli elections. We spent the morning helping them understand what was going on and how the political situation in Israel works with them running their own mock elections and then in the afternoon they went out around different neighbourhoods in Jerusalem to see the election atmosphere on the streets and to interview people there. Despite a fairly heavy downpour it was a really interesting day and in the evening most people gathered around the television to hear the initial exit poll results and to debate what we thought would happen. As you probably know, we will hopefully know the real result of that in terms of what the next Israeli government will look like in the coming weeks.
The day after the election we took the whole group of 52 on a 2 day tiyul (trip/hike) down to the Massada and Dead Sea area of Israel. The main aim, apart from seeing that area, was a group bonding one where people could start to get to know and make friends with people from the other youth movements with their very different ideologies (we have 5 movements on Machon; Habonim Dror, Hashomer Hatzair, Netzer, Betar and Hineni), as well as those from other cities countries (we have both Australians and South Africans on this Machon). This tiyul really achieved that well and was overall pretty relaxed in style. Highlights were the climb up Massada, a lovely desert hike and a night sleep-out.
The week after they came back from the tiyul we started to move into the various lessons in earnest. There are 5 basic areas of learning on Machon – Judaism, Israel/Zionism, hadracha (youth leadership), Hebrew and the Story of the Jewish People, that is an overview of Jewish History. In each area the Machonikim have various choices of courses, some based on different content and some based on the style of learning that they most wanted. Some classes are more lecture-based while others use more interactive programmes. As well as the classes in these main areas there are a couple of other slots in the week when they can choose from a range of sessions covering a whole variety of different topics. To give you some idea, some of the more popular options included such courses as the philosophy of Yeshayahu Leibowitz, Israel Advocacy and Israeli society through film.
After they gave all their choices the team worked out who could do what and in almost all cases most people got either their first or second choices. Within the first week or so of lessons anyone who really thought they were in the wrong place could ask to swap classes and we tried to allow that whenever possible. Things have now pretty much settled down and we as a staff are pretty pleased with the level of participation and learning going on.
Twice a week we take them out for educational experiences in places other than Kiryat Moriah. Once a week we have half day trip to important sites around and near Jerusalem. So far these trips have included a visit to the Herzl & Begin museums in Jerusalem, a trip to Tel Aviv to see the Palmach museum about the history of the early pre-state army and a trip to the Vertigo dance company where they experienced a really interesting workshop.
On Wednesday afternoons everyone is involved in some form of practical community involvement project involving some volunteering or hadracha experience that gives them a sense of involvement in and commitment to different aspects of Israeli society. In this time slot many of them are helping teach English to disadvantaged Israelis, some are involved in practical work including going out picking fruit and vegetables for an organisation called 'Table to Table' which provides food to families living below the poverty line and working on the creation of a community garden in a deprived neighbourhood, some are working with disabled adults at an organisation called 'galagalim', some do Jerusalem Journeys where they visit less well known neighbourhoods in Jerusalem and also learn some basic guiding skills while others are involved in a social justice project where they must research an area of social need and then plan and run a small scale project that can help with their issue. For many of them there is of course a great sense of satisfaction in these activities and a feeling that they are not just taking and learning but also giving something back as well.
On Sunday evenings we have an exciting new slot called 'Sunday Selections' which is optional but where we bring in to Machon, among other things, some exciting guests including contemporary Israeli artists. The first week we had a band called Coolalush which was a real highlight for those that came and then last week we had an Israeli Film Director talk about the role of Israeli film. Next week we will have an Israeli theatre company running an interactive workshop and discussing their work.
Most weekends they are free from Thursday evenings until we start classes again on the Sunday morning but last weekend everyone stayed for a special Machon Shabbat. The idea was to share Shabbat together as a group and also to explore how different people and different movements celebrate and deal with Shabbat. On the Friday evening all the Machonikim were invited in small groups to the homes of different Machon teachers for a Friday night meal, including joining the teachers for synagogue beforehand for those that wanted. The feedback was great and it seems that Machonikim really appreciated the opportunity for a home cooked meal and to better get to know their teachers in an out-of-class atmosphere. On Saturday afternoon there was a programme exploring the advantages and difficulties of celebrating Shabbat together when people have such different ideas and beliefs about how this should be done and then after Shabbat had gone out we took the whole group bowling. It was a lovely Shabbat and we will have one more of these later on in the programme, while they are away again on tiyul.
Finally, during this week it was of course Purim. Being in Israel during the chagim is one of the great experiences of Shnat. On Monday evening when it is Purim in most parts of the country but not in Jerusalem, most of them went over in the evening to experience the Tel Aviv street party and clubbing scene that goes on during Purim. Then on Tuesday we ran some activities to help them get into the Jerusalem Purim spirit. We the Machon ran a programme where they learned about Purim from a variety of more unusual perspectives and then in the afternoon everyone dressed up and we ran a Purim carnival for them. The moetza (the committee that is made up of representatives of the different movements) finished things off by running a fantastic and creative' Persia's Top Model' Fashion show with everyone showing off their fancy dress on the catwalk. Purim itself from the Tuesday evening to Wednesday was free for them to experience Purim in Jerusalem as they wished. In the evening many went to hear the megilla being read in one of the neighbourhood synagogues and then on the Wednesday most went off to different parts of town to see how Purim is celebrated by different Jerusalemites.
I think that is all for now and I hope that I have been able to give you a small flavour of the programme thus far and what has been happening. We the staff are very much enjoying working with the Machonikim, both individually and as a group. I hope to write again in a month or so, just near to the Pesach break, to give you another Machon update.
Until then, best wishes to you all,
Iris Gazit and the Machon staff team
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Time has flown by with the shnatties in Israel for over a month already!
The shnatties have been settling into their routines and continually adjusting to being on Shnat and in Israel. Israel is still clinging to winter here, with the biggest storm in sometime hitting the country over this past weekend. As most of you probably know, there is a water shortage in Israel and hence the rain has been very warmly welcomed as a whole, but has caused a few sniffles and colds amongst the groups.
The Boneh group has been looking at the concept of Peoplehood and the founding stories of the Jewish Nation. The topics included Abraham and the Covenant, The Exodus from Egypt and the Ten Commandments. Some of the themes included the morals of The Exodus and treating a stranger; national freedom; the Ten Commandments as a moral basis for the Jewish people to live by and the dilemmas involved in entering the Land of Israel and creating a new society there. During Project time, 5 different smaller groups wrote plays and then acted them out, of the story of Exodus but each from a different perspective. Each play was incredible, particularly the play looking at the story from the perspective of an Egyptian, which turned itself into a tragedy as opposed to the popular comedic choice. The Bonehniks also created their own Commandments for a moral society, complete on an authentic looking scroll (thanks to coffee grinds and matches!).
In this past week they looked at the Agricultural Society of the people of Israel. The themes included looking at whether the agricultural laws served to create a just and equal society; whether the "Shloshet Regalim" festivals helped to unify the nation, and the prophets and priests and the different kinds of societies they envisioned, and the leadership they displayed.
Aside from seminars, the Boneh group has started working on the kibbutz once a week. The different places of work include the garden, refet (cowshed), the restaurant, the school, chader ochel (dining room), kitchen and the fields. Due to the heavy rain, some of the work places have had some delays in starting, particularly the fields. On these days alternate arrangements have been made for those who were meant to work in those places.
Other highlights include Yom Kvutsa, Hitkansut, Hebrew, Israel Update and Hadracha. More on these subjects will follow in the next blog update.
The Boneh group also had a special MASA presentation where they each received a backpack filled with useful things to help them in Israel such as a map of different cities, a hebrew phrasebook and useful phone numbers.
The Machon is due to send an update to parents next week, and we will be sure to post it on the blog when it is sent.
Last Thursday all the shnatties participated in a special ceremony dedicating the World Zionist Youth Movement forest in Ruchama. It was a long day overall, but provided an opportunity for the Boneh and Machon groups to meet up, and also get to know the other Habonim Dror shnatties from the northern hemisphere. This week the shnatties will again meet at a special Idan Reichel concert in Jerusalem on Thursday evening.
The shnatties have been settling into their routines and continually adjusting to being on Shnat and in Israel. Israel is still clinging to winter here, with the biggest storm in sometime hitting the country over this past weekend. As most of you probably know, there is a water shortage in Israel and hence the rain has been very warmly welcomed as a whole, but has caused a few sniffles and colds amongst the groups.
The Boneh group has been looking at the concept of Peoplehood and the founding stories of the Jewish Nation. The topics included Abraham and the Covenant, The Exodus from Egypt and the Ten Commandments. Some of the themes included the morals of The Exodus and treating a stranger; national freedom; the Ten Commandments as a moral basis for the Jewish people to live by and the dilemmas involved in entering the Land of Israel and creating a new society there. During Project time, 5 different smaller groups wrote plays and then acted them out, of the story of Exodus but each from a different perspective. Each play was incredible, particularly the play looking at the story from the perspective of an Egyptian, which turned itself into a tragedy as opposed to the popular comedic choice. The Bonehniks also created their own Commandments for a moral society, complete on an authentic looking scroll (thanks to coffee grinds and matches!).
In this past week they looked at the Agricultural Society of the people of Israel. The themes included looking at whether the agricultural laws served to create a just and equal society; whether the "Shloshet Regalim" festivals helped to unify the nation, and the prophets and priests and the different kinds of societies they envisioned, and the leadership they displayed.
Aside from seminars, the Boneh group has started working on the kibbutz once a week. The different places of work include the garden, refet (cowshed), the restaurant, the school, chader ochel (dining room), kitchen and the fields. Due to the heavy rain, some of the work places have had some delays in starting, particularly the fields. On these days alternate arrangements have been made for those who were meant to work in those places.
Other highlights include Yom Kvutsa, Hitkansut, Hebrew, Israel Update and Hadracha. More on these subjects will follow in the next blog update.
The Boneh group also had a special MASA presentation where they each received a backpack filled with useful things to help them in Israel such as a map of different cities, a hebrew phrasebook and useful phone numbers.
The Machon is due to send an update to parents next week, and we will be sure to post it on the blog when it is sent.
Last Thursday all the shnatties participated in a special ceremony dedicating the World Zionist Youth Movement forest in Ruchama. It was a long day overall, but provided an opportunity for the Boneh and Machon groups to meet up, and also get to know the other Habonim Dror shnatties from the northern hemisphere. This week the shnatties will again meet at a special Idan Reichel concert in Jerusalem on Thursday evening.
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