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!
