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Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Goodbye Workshop 60...
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Workshop 60 is on the way home...
Dear Families,
I have just received word that Workshop 60 has made it through security and is now waiting for their flight home from Israel. The group flight is currently listed as 'on time' and still scheduled for arrival at JFK airport at 5:40am.
Tomorrow, we will be meeting them at the airport and helping those who have a second segment to make their connections. I will send out another message when the group flight has landed at JFK.
If there are any questions about tomorrow, the best way to reach me will be using the HDNA cell- 9178222330.
B'shalom
Ari
I have just received word that Workshop 60 has made it through security and is now waiting for their flight home from Israel. The group flight is currently listed as 'on time' and still scheduled for arrival at JFK airport at 5:40am.
Tomorrow, we will be meeting them at the airport and helping those who have a second segment to make their connections. I will send out another message when the group flight has landed at JFK.
If there are any questions about tomorrow, the best way to reach me will be using the HDNA cell- 9178222330.
B'shalom
Ari
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Workshop 60 - The end is nigh!
Hi again all of you workshop fans!
I know it has been a long time since the last post, but that's because it's been hard to get a breath in during the past few months of workshop! The past two months has seen inter-movement seminars, english speaking camps with Israeli chanichim across the country, national and religious holidays, and many more...
The weekend of April 1 & 2 saw the coming together of all Habonim English speaking shnat programs for our annual May Day Seminar. The seminar examined the historical roots and origins of May Day, as well as worker exploitation and oppression in the workforce today. The workshoppers also got to read one of the hidden gem stories from "Builders & Dreamers" - a story about the work that Habonim Dror did in the 1970s with the gravediggers' Union in New York - a trigger to examine how solidarity is created amongst different peoples and groups. And of course - the workshoppers mastered the words to the "Internationale" - the international workers' anthem.
The following week the workshoppers took to the youth clubs around the country for the annual 'Pasechet' camp. The camp is an activity that workshoppers do every year through their messimot, where the successfully plan and run a week-long english speaking day camp for Israeli kids of many different ages and backgrounds. The group put their hadracha skills to the test, dreaming up big methods and activities to teach young kids english - and also had the opportunity for an overnight tiyul with their chanichim in the camp. Needless to say - it was a busy and tiring week for all!
The workshoppers then had a week break for pesach chofesh. Having time to travel, see family, hike, or just plain lounge and catch up on sleep was a nice way to kick back and relax for them after a few strenuous weeks. Straight after the break they were back in Tel-Aviv for the annual May Day march and festival. The workshoppers joined with over 2,500 members of Israeli youth movements to march the streets of tel-aviv, with the message of strengthening workers' rights and ending exploitation wherever it exists. They were also responsible for a stall at the festival, which took place at the end of the march in the Histadrut (Workers' Union) main building. There they encouraged their Israeli counterparts to be creative with a range of art chuggim, as well as explaining who they were and the role of Habonim Dror in their own communities. It was indeed a very meaningful experience and interaction for the workshoppers.
A few days' later the workshoppers attended the national Yom Hashoah (Holocaust memorial day) tekkes at kibbutz Lochamei Hagetaot. There they saw how the shoah is commemorated within Israel today, and even had the privilige of hearing from one of the Dror members of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - Chavka Folman-Raban. Chavka is a member of the kibbutz, and is still seen today as a hugely inspirational figure for young movement members today in Israel. A big thanks also needs to go out to the troop of madrichim and helpers who translated the entire tekkes for the workshoppers - Kol Hakavod!
The weekend after - May 5-7 - the workshoppers headed down south for their final tiyul (hike) of the year - the Judean Desert tiyul. They spent the night before in Arad, one of the unique cities in Israel, before heading out early friday morning to start the hike. The hike explored the beautiful surrounds of the Ein Bokek and Masada area of the Judean desert, with even a few drops of rain to shake up the experience! That night, the group camped at the Rachaf camping ground - and were treated to a feast of a meal! The meal was also rounded out with a big campfire and marshmallows and hot chocolate. After a soothing nights' sleep on earth's mattress, the group arose early to hike the second day. They continued their trail straight from the campsite, and hiked right around Masada! After a couple of days of fun in the sun, the tired and weary trekkers headed back to Karmiel for a well-earned rest.
That week saw the workshoppers involved in ceremonies around Karmiel for Yom Hazikaron (National remembrance day), and also celebrations for Yom Ha'atzmaut (National independence day). The workshoppers made the most of the free day, and celebrated in the relaxed outdoor atmosphere that only yom ha'atzmaut can bring!
This week has been spent saying goodbye to their messimot and israeli chanichim in their schools and clubs, as well as the big clean-up of their house in Karmiel. Tomorrow will see the workshoppers leave karmiel once and for all, and head down to the hotel at kibbutz Ma'ale Hahamisha for the final few days of sikkum seminar, before boarding the plane in the wee hours of Monday morning.
Either myself or Ari will post a short note to let everyone know that the flights got away on time, and once the group arrives in New York Ari will take care of their continued travel paths.
As Workshop 61 comes to an end, i would just like to say that this is a wonderful, creative, enthusiastic and inspirational group of young leaders of the movement. It has been an absolute pleasure to be involved with them through the year, and i have no doubt that they will be an asset to their machanot, communities, and movement on their return to North America.
Until next time,
Leon.
Adina & Louis cook up a storm during the Pasechet camps!
A game of the old favourite - Gungershlaff! In Arad
Red for all at the May Day Rally!
The Karmiel house has never looked this good!
The Judean Desert is all smiles during this tiyul
I know it has been a long time since the last post, but that's because it's been hard to get a breath in during the past few months of workshop! The past two months has seen inter-movement seminars, english speaking camps with Israeli chanichim across the country, national and religious holidays, and many more...
The weekend of April 1 & 2 saw the coming together of all Habonim English speaking shnat programs for our annual May Day Seminar. The seminar examined the historical roots and origins of May Day, as well as worker exploitation and oppression in the workforce today. The workshoppers also got to read one of the hidden gem stories from "Builders & Dreamers" - a story about the work that Habonim Dror did in the 1970s with the gravediggers' Union in New York - a trigger to examine how solidarity is created amongst different peoples and groups. And of course - the workshoppers mastered the words to the "Internationale" - the international workers' anthem.
The following week the workshoppers took to the youth clubs around the country for the annual 'Pasechet' camp. The camp is an activity that workshoppers do every year through their messimot, where the successfully plan and run a week-long english speaking day camp for Israeli kids of many different ages and backgrounds. The group put their hadracha skills to the test, dreaming up big methods and activities to teach young kids english - and also had the opportunity for an overnight tiyul with their chanichim in the camp. Needless to say - it was a busy and tiring week for all!
The workshoppers then had a week break for pesach chofesh. Having time to travel, see family, hike, or just plain lounge and catch up on sleep was a nice way to kick back and relax for them after a few strenuous weeks. Straight after the break they were back in Tel-Aviv for the annual May Day march and festival. The workshoppers joined with over 2,500 members of Israeli youth movements to march the streets of tel-aviv, with the message of strengthening workers' rights and ending exploitation wherever it exists. They were also responsible for a stall at the festival, which took place at the end of the march in the Histadrut (Workers' Union) main building. There they encouraged their Israeli counterparts to be creative with a range of art chuggim, as well as explaining who they were and the role of Habonim Dror in their own communities. It was indeed a very meaningful experience and interaction for the workshoppers.
A few days' later the workshoppers attended the national Yom Hashoah (Holocaust memorial day) tekkes at kibbutz Lochamei Hagetaot. There they saw how the shoah is commemorated within Israel today, and even had the privilige of hearing from one of the Dror members of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - Chavka Folman-Raban. Chavka is a member of the kibbutz, and is still seen today as a hugely inspirational figure for young movement members today in Israel. A big thanks also needs to go out to the troop of madrichim and helpers who translated the entire tekkes for the workshoppers - Kol Hakavod!
The weekend after - May 5-7 - the workshoppers headed down south for their final tiyul (hike) of the year - the Judean Desert tiyul. They spent the night before in Arad, one of the unique cities in Israel, before heading out early friday morning to start the hike. The hike explored the beautiful surrounds of the Ein Bokek and Masada area of the Judean desert, with even a few drops of rain to shake up the experience! That night, the group camped at the Rachaf camping ground - and were treated to a feast of a meal! The meal was also rounded out with a big campfire and marshmallows and hot chocolate. After a soothing nights' sleep on earth's mattress, the group arose early to hike the second day. They continued their trail straight from the campsite, and hiked right around Masada! After a couple of days of fun in the sun, the tired and weary trekkers headed back to Karmiel for a well-earned rest.
That week saw the workshoppers involved in ceremonies around Karmiel for Yom Hazikaron (National remembrance day), and also celebrations for Yom Ha'atzmaut (National independence day). The workshoppers made the most of the free day, and celebrated in the relaxed outdoor atmosphere that only yom ha'atzmaut can bring!
This week has been spent saying goodbye to their messimot and israeli chanichim in their schools and clubs, as well as the big clean-up of their house in Karmiel. Tomorrow will see the workshoppers leave karmiel once and for all, and head down to the hotel at kibbutz Ma'ale Hahamisha for the final few days of sikkum seminar, before boarding the plane in the wee hours of Monday morning.
Either myself or Ari will post a short note to let everyone know that the flights got away on time, and once the group arrives in New York Ari will take care of their continued travel paths.
As Workshop 61 comes to an end, i would just like to say that this is a wonderful, creative, enthusiastic and inspirational group of young leaders of the movement. It has been an absolute pleasure to be involved with them through the year, and i have no doubt that they will be an asset to their machanot, communities, and movement on their return to North America.
Until next time,
Leon.
Adina & Louis cook up a storm during the Pasechet camps!
A game of the old favourite - Gungershlaff! In Arad
Red for all at the May Day Rally!
The Karmiel house has never looked this good!
The Judean Desert is all smiles during this tiyul
Monday, March 21, 2011
Back from Poland and still more to come!
Hello again all of you workshop fans,
So it's been a week since we returned, tired and weary after an intensive week, from the Poland Journey of Workshop 60. Having already gone through two separate preparation seminars, including 2 long days at the Ghetto Fighters' Holocaust Museum (the first ever Holocaust museum!), we set off at the early hour of 6am on Sunday March 6 for the big week ahead.
We touched down in Warsaw right on time, and after everyone had found their luggage (thankfully there was none lost in transit!), we headed for the long drive to Krakow. Once we arrived, we toured the old Jewish quarter of Krakow, named Kazimierz. The quarter was named after the 15th century king of Poland, who invited Jews to come and settle in the city. We toured a number of ancient synagogues, from the oldest and most traditional, to the newest synagogue known as "The Temple", and understood the essence of what Jewish life was through the centuries in poland. We examined the relationship that Jews had with the surrounding society, and we ended the day with a trip to the Galicia Museum, a museum which visually portrays the rich history of Jewish life in the area of Galicia, and the tragedy that the shoah created in destroying whole communities of Jews.
After arriving at our hotel for the night, the workshoppers had a peula based on the work of Julian Tuwim, a famous Polish and Jewish poet. It raised difficult questions of the dilemma of Jewish and national identity and how to reconcile those tensions.
The second day was a long day for the workshoppers. We spent the day at the infamous concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. The morning was spent in Birkenau, which is largely untouched and preserved as it was during the Russian liberation. The afternoon was spent at the Auschwitz I camp, which is the site of the world-renowned museum. Through the day the workshop groups examined what camp life was like, and how these camps represented the reality according to the Nazi vision - one of hierarchy and inequality. The day ended with the first of the workshop/shnat run tekkesim (ceremonies), where the workshoppers were given responsibility to create a communal expression for the memory of the place.
In the evening, after returning back to the hotel, the workshoppers had a peula and discussion on the essence of humanity. Looking at texts and poems from Hannah Senesh and the Rambam, the workshoppers discussed what the essential elements are that make a person human. Given the difficult content of the day, the workshoppers had plenty to say!
On the third day, the group started at the notorious labour camp of Plaszow. Having watched Schindlers' List on the bus, it gave the group an important insight into the experience of Jews in Krakow and Plaszow during the Shoah. We headed from there to a tour of the Krakow Ghetto, which included parts of the ghetto wall still standing, as well as the famous pharmacy which kept spirits up during the Ghetto period. We also visited the old chava (communal living space) of the Akiva youth movement during the time of the Ghetto, and understood that their lives and experiences were based on very similar codes to the workshoppers' experience this year. We ended the morning by speaking about the Krakow uprising, when a Nazi-frequented cafe was bombed by the members of the youth movement. For lunch, the workshoppers got a first-hand feel of polish life, with 2 hours free time in the Sukiniece market square in Krakow. Here they were free to buy what they wanted for lunch, as well as idle through the market square and coffee shops.
We then headed out of Krakow, and took the long journey to Lublin, where we arrived late and subsequently did not have a peula that evening.
The following day we started with a visit to the recently renovated Chochamei Lublin Yeshiva. The Yeshiva was a centre of Chassidic thought and study before the Shoah, and was only recently returned ownership to the Jewish community of Poland. We then toured the city of Lublin, visiting buildings that were used as centres of policy during the Nazi regime. When the Nazis occupied Poland during World War II, Lublin became a regional centre, and many high-ranking SS and Gestapo offices were living in the city. We visited the old Gestapo headquarters, as well as the old Nazi party headquarters. We discussed the Nazi lifestyle, and how it infiltrated into all elements of life - culture, study, home life, even socializing.
In the afternoon we visited the Mjadanek concentration and death camp. With big parts still standing, it was an eerie experience for the workshoppers. We walked through the gas chambers and crematorium, as well as through the old bunkers of the inmates. We also arrived to the large monument at the end of the camp, which holds 7 tonnes of ashes, a testament to those who were murdered at the site. The day ended with another tekkes to commemorate that place, before we left Lublin and headed back to Warsaw.
That evening, the workshoppers had a peula based around the famous letter from Albert Camus - the 4th letter to a German friend. It brought up questions surrounding the content of the days' places, and looked at the ways of dealing with despair and finding hope in humanity and human interaction.
Our first full day in Warsaw started with a tour of the old and largest of the ghettos in Poland during the Shoah - the Warsaw ghetto. At its' biggest, the ghetto held up to 450,000 Jews, and took up almost a quarter of the city in its' size. We toured sections of the old wall that are still standing, as well as some of the old buildings that still stand from the ghetto period. We spoke about leadership dilemmas in the ghetto - ranging from the spiritual and youth leaders, to rabbis, to the Judenrat - what their approaches to leadership during the time were based on, and how they dealt with responsibility over their communities.
Then we headed to the Jewish cemetary of Warsaw. The cemetary is huge and we only got to see a small part of it, but we did manage to see some of the more distinctive graves and people buried there. Among them we spoke about Adam Czerniakow, the first head of the Judenrat of the Warsaw Ghetto during the shoah period, as well as Ludovic Zamenhof, creater of the Esperanto language, who are both buried there.
In the afternoon we visitied the national monument for the Polish Uprising of 1944, and spoke about the tragedy of the uprising act, in which massive numbers of Poles were killed. We also gained more insight into the modern day Polish culture, with a visit to the old city square of Warsaw. Originally destroyed during the War, it was rebuilt to resemble the exact old square of the city, complete with a statue of a mermaid in the middle - the symbol of the city.
After returning to our hotel, the workshoppers started the first part of a two-part peula. The peula revolved around readings from the book "During the days of destruction and revolt" By Tsivya Lubetkin. Tsivya Lubetkin was a member of the Dror movement and one of the leaders of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. The readings examined what the movement was doing during the days both just before the war, and during the war, and the discussions went into depth about how it related to Habonim Dror today, and what we see as our role in society.
The penultimate day started with a drive out to the old Jewish shtetl of Tykocin. Originally in the area annexed to the USSR at the beginning of the war, the Jewish community of the shtetl was virtually destroyed in two days after the Nazi conquest of 1941. We started our visit at the famous old synagogue, which still stands nearly 400 years after it was established. We also visited the old market square where, on a fateful day in the spring of 1941, the 2,500 Jews of Tykocin were taken and driven to the nearby forest of Lopochowa, where they were shot and buried in mass graves. We drove the short journey to the forest and visited the 3 grave sites of the atrocity, where we ended with another meaningful tekkes, created by the workshoppers and shnatties together.
From there we headed to the memorial site of the death camp Treblinka. The infamous camp managed to murder almost 900,000 people over its' 12 months of operation, with the overwhelming majority of them Jews. Now a monument stands where the camp once stood, where the chanichim learnt about how the camp worked, as well as about the famous rebellion of the workers of the camp, who succeeded in escaping and alerting the world to the atrocities taking place there. The visit there, too, ended with a tekkes created by the hands of the chanichim.
We headed back to the hotel for our final night in Poland, and continued the discussions from the previous night, relating to the things we had seen through the day and the exciting itinerary coming up for the final day.
The last day of the journey was all about our movements' history both before, and during, the Shoah. We started the day visiting Grochov, which was the old Hachshara farm before, and even during, the war. Here, young 17-19 year old members of the Dror movement would come to learn farming and living communally, as well as learning and examining their future plans as a kvutza and their connection to aliya. We then headed to 34 Dzielna street, which is the site where the 'Bayit' (communal home) of Dror was during the Ghetto period. It was here that seminars were run, the movement leadership lived together, and the movement spirit was in action!
The afternoon all revolved around the heroic story of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. Starting from the memorial at the Umschlagplatz (deportation square) of the Warsaw Ghetto, the workshoppers spent the next two and a half hours walking the path of the main battles and stories of the ghetto uprising of April 1943 - a heroic act guided by the youth movements from all streams. The discussions finished at the memorial at Mila 18 - the bunker where a large number of the ghetto and youth movement leadership were gassed and killed at the hands of the Nazis, including the Warsaw Rebellion leader - Mordechai Anilewicz.
We then headed to the Rappaport Memorial - a national monument in commemoration of the Warsaw Ghetto fighters, for our final and closing tekkes. Filled with emotion and personal sentiment, it was a befitting end to a week full of intense discussion and understanding, strong support, and large and varied content.
Before heading to the airport we did stop for dinner and were treated to a night of Polish folk dancing and music. As is tradition - the workshoppers were also able to join in! Needless to say, it was a nice release after such a long week.
Within minutes of boarding the plane everyone was fast alseep, and upon arrival to Israel, they workshoppers were whisked back to Karmiel for a few days of rest and relaxation.
The workshoppers are back into the swing of things on kaveret now, and have started preparations for the annual "Pasechet" English-speaking camps which will take place in their locations for messima (volunteering projects)in the week before Pesach chofesh. Next weekend will be our annual May-Day seminar, which will be the first chance for the workshoppers to meet and get to know the new Australian, New Zealand, and South African Shnat groups. We will be examing labour and exploitation in the world today, and the role of Habonim in our communities in creating solidarity and standing up against oppression, exploitation, and enslavement in all its' forms.
Woah - i need to take a breath! It has been a busy few weeks, but the ride still has a large section to go! I wish you all a shavua tov, and hope that you had a chag sameach for purim yesterday!
Until next time,
Leon.
Workshoppers explore the rich history of the old Kazimierz Jewish quarter in Krakow
Workshoppers at the famous site of the notorious forced Labour Camp - Plaszow
Workshoppers pose outside the old communal apartment of the Akiva movement in the Krakow Ghetto!
Tekkes group gets ready at the Majdanek camp
Workshoppers at the Polish Uprising Memorial
The tekkes group in the Lopochowa forest - commemorating the Jewish community of Tykocin
The tekkes at the memorial to the murdered in Treblinka
The whole group of Workshop and Shnat come together in front of one of the sites of our collective roots - The Hachshara farm at Grochov
The 2 workshop groups start the Path of Heroism of the Ghetto Uprising - in the memorial of the deportation square of the Warsaw Ghetto
Workshoppers atop the monument of the bunker at Mila 18
Singing "Mi Ha'ish" at the ancient synagogue of Tykocin
Dancing during our Polish music experience!
So it's been a week since we returned, tired and weary after an intensive week, from the Poland Journey of Workshop 60. Having already gone through two separate preparation seminars, including 2 long days at the Ghetto Fighters' Holocaust Museum (the first ever Holocaust museum!), we set off at the early hour of 6am on Sunday March 6 for the big week ahead.
We touched down in Warsaw right on time, and after everyone had found their luggage (thankfully there was none lost in transit!), we headed for the long drive to Krakow. Once we arrived, we toured the old Jewish quarter of Krakow, named Kazimierz. The quarter was named after the 15th century king of Poland, who invited Jews to come and settle in the city. We toured a number of ancient synagogues, from the oldest and most traditional, to the newest synagogue known as "The Temple", and understood the essence of what Jewish life was through the centuries in poland. We examined the relationship that Jews had with the surrounding society, and we ended the day with a trip to the Galicia Museum, a museum which visually portrays the rich history of Jewish life in the area of Galicia, and the tragedy that the shoah created in destroying whole communities of Jews.
After arriving at our hotel for the night, the workshoppers had a peula based on the work of Julian Tuwim, a famous Polish and Jewish poet. It raised difficult questions of the dilemma of Jewish and national identity and how to reconcile those tensions.
The second day was a long day for the workshoppers. We spent the day at the infamous concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. The morning was spent in Birkenau, which is largely untouched and preserved as it was during the Russian liberation. The afternoon was spent at the Auschwitz I camp, which is the site of the world-renowned museum. Through the day the workshop groups examined what camp life was like, and how these camps represented the reality according to the Nazi vision - one of hierarchy and inequality. The day ended with the first of the workshop/shnat run tekkesim (ceremonies), where the workshoppers were given responsibility to create a communal expression for the memory of the place.
In the evening, after returning back to the hotel, the workshoppers had a peula and discussion on the essence of humanity. Looking at texts and poems from Hannah Senesh and the Rambam, the workshoppers discussed what the essential elements are that make a person human. Given the difficult content of the day, the workshoppers had plenty to say!
On the third day, the group started at the notorious labour camp of Plaszow. Having watched Schindlers' List on the bus, it gave the group an important insight into the experience of Jews in Krakow and Plaszow during the Shoah. We headed from there to a tour of the Krakow Ghetto, which included parts of the ghetto wall still standing, as well as the famous pharmacy which kept spirits up during the Ghetto period. We also visited the old chava (communal living space) of the Akiva youth movement during the time of the Ghetto, and understood that their lives and experiences were based on very similar codes to the workshoppers' experience this year. We ended the morning by speaking about the Krakow uprising, when a Nazi-frequented cafe was bombed by the members of the youth movement. For lunch, the workshoppers got a first-hand feel of polish life, with 2 hours free time in the Sukiniece market square in Krakow. Here they were free to buy what they wanted for lunch, as well as idle through the market square and coffee shops.
We then headed out of Krakow, and took the long journey to Lublin, where we arrived late and subsequently did not have a peula that evening.
The following day we started with a visit to the recently renovated Chochamei Lublin Yeshiva. The Yeshiva was a centre of Chassidic thought and study before the Shoah, and was only recently returned ownership to the Jewish community of Poland. We then toured the city of Lublin, visiting buildings that were used as centres of policy during the Nazi regime. When the Nazis occupied Poland during World War II, Lublin became a regional centre, and many high-ranking SS and Gestapo offices were living in the city. We visited the old Gestapo headquarters, as well as the old Nazi party headquarters. We discussed the Nazi lifestyle, and how it infiltrated into all elements of life - culture, study, home life, even socializing.
In the afternoon we visited the Mjadanek concentration and death camp. With big parts still standing, it was an eerie experience for the workshoppers. We walked through the gas chambers and crematorium, as well as through the old bunkers of the inmates. We also arrived to the large monument at the end of the camp, which holds 7 tonnes of ashes, a testament to those who were murdered at the site. The day ended with another tekkes to commemorate that place, before we left Lublin and headed back to Warsaw.
That evening, the workshoppers had a peula based around the famous letter from Albert Camus - the 4th letter to a German friend. It brought up questions surrounding the content of the days' places, and looked at the ways of dealing with despair and finding hope in humanity and human interaction.
Our first full day in Warsaw started with a tour of the old and largest of the ghettos in Poland during the Shoah - the Warsaw ghetto. At its' biggest, the ghetto held up to 450,000 Jews, and took up almost a quarter of the city in its' size. We toured sections of the old wall that are still standing, as well as some of the old buildings that still stand from the ghetto period. We spoke about leadership dilemmas in the ghetto - ranging from the spiritual and youth leaders, to rabbis, to the Judenrat - what their approaches to leadership during the time were based on, and how they dealt with responsibility over their communities.
Then we headed to the Jewish cemetary of Warsaw. The cemetary is huge and we only got to see a small part of it, but we did manage to see some of the more distinctive graves and people buried there. Among them we spoke about Adam Czerniakow, the first head of the Judenrat of the Warsaw Ghetto during the shoah period, as well as Ludovic Zamenhof, creater of the Esperanto language, who are both buried there.
In the afternoon we visitied the national monument for the Polish Uprising of 1944, and spoke about the tragedy of the uprising act, in which massive numbers of Poles were killed. We also gained more insight into the modern day Polish culture, with a visit to the old city square of Warsaw. Originally destroyed during the War, it was rebuilt to resemble the exact old square of the city, complete with a statue of a mermaid in the middle - the symbol of the city.
After returning to our hotel, the workshoppers started the first part of a two-part peula. The peula revolved around readings from the book "During the days of destruction and revolt" By Tsivya Lubetkin. Tsivya Lubetkin was a member of the Dror movement and one of the leaders of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. The readings examined what the movement was doing during the days both just before the war, and during the war, and the discussions went into depth about how it related to Habonim Dror today, and what we see as our role in society.
The penultimate day started with a drive out to the old Jewish shtetl of Tykocin. Originally in the area annexed to the USSR at the beginning of the war, the Jewish community of the shtetl was virtually destroyed in two days after the Nazi conquest of 1941. We started our visit at the famous old synagogue, which still stands nearly 400 years after it was established. We also visited the old market square where, on a fateful day in the spring of 1941, the 2,500 Jews of Tykocin were taken and driven to the nearby forest of Lopochowa, where they were shot and buried in mass graves. We drove the short journey to the forest and visited the 3 grave sites of the atrocity, where we ended with another meaningful tekkes, created by the workshoppers and shnatties together.
From there we headed to the memorial site of the death camp Treblinka. The infamous camp managed to murder almost 900,000 people over its' 12 months of operation, with the overwhelming majority of them Jews. Now a monument stands where the camp once stood, where the chanichim learnt about how the camp worked, as well as about the famous rebellion of the workers of the camp, who succeeded in escaping and alerting the world to the atrocities taking place there. The visit there, too, ended with a tekkes created by the hands of the chanichim.
We headed back to the hotel for our final night in Poland, and continued the discussions from the previous night, relating to the things we had seen through the day and the exciting itinerary coming up for the final day.
The last day of the journey was all about our movements' history both before, and during, the Shoah. We started the day visiting Grochov, which was the old Hachshara farm before, and even during, the war. Here, young 17-19 year old members of the Dror movement would come to learn farming and living communally, as well as learning and examining their future plans as a kvutza and their connection to aliya. We then headed to 34 Dzielna street, which is the site where the 'Bayit' (communal home) of Dror was during the Ghetto period. It was here that seminars were run, the movement leadership lived together, and the movement spirit was in action!
The afternoon all revolved around the heroic story of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. Starting from the memorial at the Umschlagplatz (deportation square) of the Warsaw Ghetto, the workshoppers spent the next two and a half hours walking the path of the main battles and stories of the ghetto uprising of April 1943 - a heroic act guided by the youth movements from all streams. The discussions finished at the memorial at Mila 18 - the bunker where a large number of the ghetto and youth movement leadership were gassed and killed at the hands of the Nazis, including the Warsaw Rebellion leader - Mordechai Anilewicz.
We then headed to the Rappaport Memorial - a national monument in commemoration of the Warsaw Ghetto fighters, for our final and closing tekkes. Filled with emotion and personal sentiment, it was a befitting end to a week full of intense discussion and understanding, strong support, and large and varied content.
Before heading to the airport we did stop for dinner and were treated to a night of Polish folk dancing and music. As is tradition - the workshoppers were also able to join in! Needless to say, it was a nice release after such a long week.
Within minutes of boarding the plane everyone was fast alseep, and upon arrival to Israel, they workshoppers were whisked back to Karmiel for a few days of rest and relaxation.
The workshoppers are back into the swing of things on kaveret now, and have started preparations for the annual "Pasechet" English-speaking camps which will take place in their locations for messima (volunteering projects)in the week before Pesach chofesh. Next weekend will be our annual May-Day seminar, which will be the first chance for the workshoppers to meet and get to know the new Australian, New Zealand, and South African Shnat groups. We will be examing labour and exploitation in the world today, and the role of Habonim in our communities in creating solidarity and standing up against oppression, exploitation, and enslavement in all its' forms.
Woah - i need to take a breath! It has been a busy few weeks, but the ride still has a large section to go! I wish you all a shavua tov, and hope that you had a chag sameach for purim yesterday!
Until next time,
Leon.
Workshoppers explore the rich history of the old Kazimierz Jewish quarter in Krakow
Workshoppers at the famous site of the notorious forced Labour Camp - Plaszow
Workshoppers pose outside the old communal apartment of the Akiva movement in the Krakow Ghetto!
Tekkes group gets ready at the Majdanek camp
Workshoppers at the Polish Uprising Memorial
The tekkes group in the Lopochowa forest - commemorating the Jewish community of Tykocin
The tekkes at the memorial to the murdered in Treblinka
The whole group of Workshop and Shnat come together in front of one of the sites of our collective roots - The Hachshara farm at Grochov
The 2 workshop groups start the Path of Heroism of the Ghetto Uprising - in the memorial of the deportation square of the Warsaw Ghetto
Workshoppers atop the monument of the bunker at Mila 18
Singing "Mi Ha'ish" at the ancient synagogue of Tykocin
Dancing during our Polish music experience!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The latest installation of Workshop news!
Hello Workshop followers!
The last month of Workshop has been very exciting. The last weekend of January, we had our first Poland preparation seminar. During the seminar, we talked about different ways in which the Holocaust is often mystified, collective memory, and the difference between going on a trip and on a journey. Also, each person shared what their expectations for the Poland journey are and what roles they want to take on during this kvutzah process. I think it was a very meaningful starting point for embarking on the important, but challenging Poland process.
Also, now that the Workshoppers are a month and a half into Kaveret, many aspects of their daily lives are more settled. Everyone is doing Messima (educational work) 3 times a week and having weekly Yomei Tzevet (meetings together with their Messima coordinators) once a week. The Workshoppers are starting to build relationships with the chanichim (kids) they are working with in their schools and kenim and although at times they have difficult days, I think they feel the importance of the work they are doing. We have continued having Yom kvutzah every Monday. Some of the topics we have talked about this month are: the importance of each individual in the group and the space created for each person, art and love in our society, the Labor party and the Israeli left today, and the meaning of names as a means to thinking about a kvutzah name. Every Thursday the Workshoppers have had programming run by the Kaveret rekazim (organizers and educators). On these days they have learned a lot about Karmiel and the issues affecting it. These include the Russian Aliyah in the 1990s and Arab-Jewish relations in the area. They have also talked about Tu’bshvat and last week they visited a beautiful synagogue in Israel and talked about Jewish identity.
The Workshoppers have also been implementing structures and planning things for themselves. Each week they run an asepha (meeting) for themselves where they talk about any issues they are having and find collective ways to deal with them. They also had a party to watch the Superbowl. They cooked an enormous amount of food, set up the projector, invited the British kvutzah over, dressed in the colors of the team they were rooting for and watched the big game. They also spend a lot of time cooking and I am not sure where they learned how to cook so well, but they always make delicious meals!
Most recently (this past Sunday and Monday), we had Chava Achot seminar (the seminar with their sister Chava from Hanoar Haoved). For this seminar they were mixed with Israelis their own age from Hanoar Haoved (Habonim Dror’s sister movement) who live together as 28 people in Haifa, and do the same educational work as the Workshoppers. The seminar dealt with different questions around Judiasm, Zionism, the relationship between Israel and the Diaspora, and the relationship between our 2 movements. They also had a musical (hosted by Ezra and Adina) which was a space for the Workshoppers to share a part of HDNA culture. There were many talented acts performed by all including a great rendition of “Home” by the Workshoppers. Then they did Rikud where each kvutzah taught the other new dances. I think it was a really meaningful experience for both groups and some even said “this is the best seminar we have ever had.”
This upcoming Monday and then Thursday- Saturday are more Poland Preparation peulot where the chanichim will meet their day madrichim for Poland and really jump start the content of the journey. Then there is only week left until we leave for Poland, which is crazy to believe! Ok that is all for now!
Yelena
The last month of Workshop has been very exciting. The last weekend of January, we had our first Poland preparation seminar. During the seminar, we talked about different ways in which the Holocaust is often mystified, collective memory, and the difference between going on a trip and on a journey. Also, each person shared what their expectations for the Poland journey are and what roles they want to take on during this kvutzah process. I think it was a very meaningful starting point for embarking on the important, but challenging Poland process.
Also, now that the Workshoppers are a month and a half into Kaveret, many aspects of their daily lives are more settled. Everyone is doing Messima (educational work) 3 times a week and having weekly Yomei Tzevet (meetings together with their Messima coordinators) once a week. The Workshoppers are starting to build relationships with the chanichim (kids) they are working with in their schools and kenim and although at times they have difficult days, I think they feel the importance of the work they are doing. We have continued having Yom kvutzah every Monday. Some of the topics we have talked about this month are: the importance of each individual in the group and the space created for each person, art and love in our society, the Labor party and the Israeli left today, and the meaning of names as a means to thinking about a kvutzah name. Every Thursday the Workshoppers have had programming run by the Kaveret rekazim (organizers and educators). On these days they have learned a lot about Karmiel and the issues affecting it. These include the Russian Aliyah in the 1990s and Arab-Jewish relations in the area. They have also talked about Tu’bshvat and last week they visited a beautiful synagogue in Israel and talked about Jewish identity.
The Workshoppers have also been implementing structures and planning things for themselves. Each week they run an asepha (meeting) for themselves where they talk about any issues they are having and find collective ways to deal with them. They also had a party to watch the Superbowl. They cooked an enormous amount of food, set up the projector, invited the British kvutzah over, dressed in the colors of the team they were rooting for and watched the big game. They also spend a lot of time cooking and I am not sure where they learned how to cook so well, but they always make delicious meals!
Most recently (this past Sunday and Monday), we had Chava Achot seminar (the seminar with their sister Chava from Hanoar Haoved). For this seminar they were mixed with Israelis their own age from Hanoar Haoved (Habonim Dror’s sister movement) who live together as 28 people in Haifa, and do the same educational work as the Workshoppers. The seminar dealt with different questions around Judiasm, Zionism, the relationship between Israel and the Diaspora, and the relationship between our 2 movements. They also had a musical (hosted by Ezra and Adina) which was a space for the Workshoppers to share a part of HDNA culture. There were many talented acts performed by all including a great rendition of “Home” by the Workshoppers. Then they did Rikud where each kvutzah taught the other new dances. I think it was a really meaningful experience for both groups and some even said “this is the best seminar we have ever had.”
This upcoming Monday and then Thursday- Saturday are more Poland Preparation peulot where the chanichim will meet their day madrichim for Poland and really jump start the content of the journey. Then there is only week left until we leave for Poland, which is crazy to believe! Ok that is all for now!
Yelena
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Kaveret kicks off in style!
Hello again all of you Workshop fans!
Well it indeed has been a very busy period of workshop during December & Jaunary. The workshoppers left kibbutz Ein Dor, after a final week of fun and sikkum (summary), which included a great hike up the greatest landmark in the area - Har Tavor! Obviously - it was an emotional experience for those who grew up at Tavor! And on December 19, they entered the next big phase of their workshop year - Kaveret. Arriving in karmiel full of excitement and enthusiasm, the workshoppers set about making their house a home, and adding their personal touch to create their surroundings just as thei envisioned.
Their first week in their kaveret house was a preparation seminar for their big journey to come. The week examined such issues as post-modernism today, and the challenges of ideology and educating values in a post modern world. The workshoppers watched fight club, and understood the real-life scenarios of loneliness and creating meaning in someone's life in society today. The chanichim examined tikkun olam, and the role of education in creating a world as we envision it, according to humanist values in the vision of the prophets. There workshoppers also spent plenty of time to discuss what it means to work as a 'tzevet' (team), and had a long and crucial asepha to work out which tzevetim they would be doing their 'messima' (means mission - refers to their educational roles in schools and clubs in the coming 5 months). And, they also spoke about safety and security, as well as getting to know about their city on a super siyur of the area! I don't know about you guys, but i'm out of breath just thinking about it!
The workshoppers are active members in five different areas of Israel - cities, age groups, socio-economic standings, and backgrounds. Their messimot deal with:
Tsfat - one tzevet of workshoppers works in a school in the mystical and ancient jewish city of tsfat, and in an afternoon club later in the day.
Tiberias - the second tzevet works within the school system in Tiberias - one of the poorer regions of Israel.
Karmiel - the third tzevet of workshoppers works within a school in karmiel with 11th and 12th graders from a boarding school in nearby kibbutz Eshbal, which is a kibbutz of graduates from our sister youth, Hanoar Haoved. They also do afternoon sessions within the boarding school in Eshbal, with the same students, who are defined as at-risk youth.
Bnei Hamoshavim - the fourth tzevet works with education of moshavim (small communal villages) youth, in their environment on the moshav itself.
Kiyum Meshutaf - the final tzevet works within the arab villages in the area of the galil - educating arabs in middle and high school in English, while being exposed to the rich and unique arab lifestyle within the village.
After an action packed week - the workshoppers then headed off for a week and a half of well earned rest during chofesh. Although from what i understand, it seemed for some it was even more busy and tiring than workshop itself! Phew!
The workshoppers made their way back to karmiel on january 3, ready to start the next phase of their workshop year. And it started with a bang - the following day they headed down to kibbutz Gezer to take part in the 75th anniversary celebrations of the founding of Habonim Dror North America! It was a really inspirational evening, with around 400 people attending, and speeches from world mazkir Silvio Joskowitz, historian and movement guru Muki Tzur, as well as one of the previous HDNA mazkirim and haghshama hero Gil Browdy! There were members of HDNA from all of the workshops, and even one who attended the Habonim institute, which preceded the workshop program in the 1940s! And it gavce a lot of 'nachas' for all of the older members and olim from the movement to see the current workshoppers, full of vibrant enthusiasm and ideological fervor!
This week the workshoppers have been in full swing in messima, and have been settling into their surroundings in Karmiel very smoothly. There are many things still to come on the workshop calendar - this weekend is their first Poland prep seminar, with a second to come in February, and our journey to Poland taking place between march 6-13. We also have a seminar with our 'chava achot' (sister chavot - communes of hanoar haoved 18 year olds going through a similar year experience as the workshoppers) in February, and many many more things!
I'll leave you there for now. But i will give you a few photos to quench your visual thirst!
Until next time,
Leon.
The workshoppers new dwelling in karmiel's view - complete with makeshift clothes line!
Workshoppers get into the nighlife of Karmiel!
Workshoppers getting into the swing of things at the HDNA 75th celebrations!
Well it indeed has been a very busy period of workshop during December & Jaunary. The workshoppers left kibbutz Ein Dor, after a final week of fun and sikkum (summary), which included a great hike up the greatest landmark in the area - Har Tavor! Obviously - it was an emotional experience for those who grew up at Tavor! And on December 19, they entered the next big phase of their workshop year - Kaveret. Arriving in karmiel full of excitement and enthusiasm, the workshoppers set about making their house a home, and adding their personal touch to create their surroundings just as thei envisioned.
Their first week in their kaveret house was a preparation seminar for their big journey to come. The week examined such issues as post-modernism today, and the challenges of ideology and educating values in a post modern world. The workshoppers watched fight club, and understood the real-life scenarios of loneliness and creating meaning in someone's life in society today. The chanichim examined tikkun olam, and the role of education in creating a world as we envision it, according to humanist values in the vision of the prophets. There workshoppers also spent plenty of time to discuss what it means to work as a 'tzevet' (team), and had a long and crucial asepha to work out which tzevetim they would be doing their 'messima' (means mission - refers to their educational roles in schools and clubs in the coming 5 months). And, they also spoke about safety and security, as well as getting to know about their city on a super siyur of the area! I don't know about you guys, but i'm out of breath just thinking about it!
The workshoppers are active members in five different areas of Israel - cities, age groups, socio-economic standings, and backgrounds. Their messimot deal with:
Tsfat - one tzevet of workshoppers works in a school in the mystical and ancient jewish city of tsfat, and in an afternoon club later in the day.
Tiberias - the second tzevet works within the school system in Tiberias - one of the poorer regions of Israel.
Karmiel - the third tzevet of workshoppers works within a school in karmiel with 11th and 12th graders from a boarding school in nearby kibbutz Eshbal, which is a kibbutz of graduates from our sister youth, Hanoar Haoved. They also do afternoon sessions within the boarding school in Eshbal, with the same students, who are defined as at-risk youth.
Bnei Hamoshavim - the fourth tzevet works with education of moshavim (small communal villages) youth, in their environment on the moshav itself.
Kiyum Meshutaf - the final tzevet works within the arab villages in the area of the galil - educating arabs in middle and high school in English, while being exposed to the rich and unique arab lifestyle within the village.
After an action packed week - the workshoppers then headed off for a week and a half of well earned rest during chofesh. Although from what i understand, it seemed for some it was even more busy and tiring than workshop itself! Phew!
The workshoppers made their way back to karmiel on january 3, ready to start the next phase of their workshop year. And it started with a bang - the following day they headed down to kibbutz Gezer to take part in the 75th anniversary celebrations of the founding of Habonim Dror North America! It was a really inspirational evening, with around 400 people attending, and speeches from world mazkir Silvio Joskowitz, historian and movement guru Muki Tzur, as well as one of the previous HDNA mazkirim and haghshama hero Gil Browdy! There were members of HDNA from all of the workshops, and even one who attended the Habonim institute, which preceded the workshop program in the 1940s! And it gavce a lot of 'nachas' for all of the older members and olim from the movement to see the current workshoppers, full of vibrant enthusiasm and ideological fervor!
This week the workshoppers have been in full swing in messima, and have been settling into their surroundings in Karmiel very smoothly. There are many things still to come on the workshop calendar - this weekend is their first Poland prep seminar, with a second to come in February, and our journey to Poland taking place between march 6-13. We also have a seminar with our 'chava achot' (sister chavot - communes of hanoar haoved 18 year olds going through a similar year experience as the workshoppers) in February, and many many more things!
I'll leave you there for now. But i will give you a few photos to quench your visual thirst!
Until next time,
Leon.
The workshoppers new dwelling in karmiel's view - complete with makeshift clothes line!
Workshoppers get into the nighlife of Karmiel!
Workshoppers getting into the swing of things at the HDNA 75th celebrations!
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