End of Shnat UK and North America
 

In the week of Passover both Habonim Dror UK (HDUK) and Habonim Dror North America (HDNA) are finishing their Shnat-programs. And what a rollercoaster year it has been!

From an intensive & fun preparation in Shorashim learning all that one can about Socialist-Zionism, to a surreal period in Jerusalem living learning all about what makes this city so beautiful to all religions & so contentious in the conflict in the Middle-East. The groups did educational volunteer work in Haifa, Migdal HaEmek, Yokneam, Carmiel, and Kiryat Atta, getting to know and care for Israeli youth from all sectors and walks of life.
 
It has been 7 months of rollercoasters full of group processes, personal development and amazingly inspiring hadracha-sessions where we saw each participant grow in front of our eyes. We could not be prouder of the amazing work they have done and growth they have shown as individuals and as a group, and we know that their home movements could not be more excited for their leadership when they return. Wishing them all the best upon returning to their homelands and finding their ways of giving their Shnat-experiences a place in their lives. Alu Ve’Hagshimu!
 

My Shnat Experience
 

Three more weeks and shnat is over. I can still remember like yesterday when we arrived at Ben Gurion and were brought to our quarantine apartment. We were welcomed with a kitchen tray full of food to sustain the seven days of quarantine. It has now been 7 months and I am now on the kibbutz working towards the end of my shnat year.
 
The moment I felt shnat was really beginning was when we were picked up on a bus in Bat Yam. We went by bus to Kiryat Moriah in Jerusalem where our program was really going to begin. The program started with Machon Le'Madrichim. There I learned an incredible amount about the Zionist and Jewish pillars of our youth movement. I also learned a lot about how to be a good madrich. It was very special how you can be on a campus with so many people who share the same love for Habonim Dror as I do.
 
After Machon Le'Madrichiem, we continued on to Tel Aviv to begin our Komuna portion of the program. There I, not just learned to live together, but I learned to live together in a socialist environment. We shared everything because that was the only way to get through Tel Aviv financially. After all, it's not very easy to live in the most expensive city in the world at 25 shekels a day. But we survived and we had the most fun time.

In Tel Aviv, we volunteered at a surf school and in a school where we taught English to children. We also got ulpan and a course on innovation.
 
Now I am in the kibbutz, the third and last part of shnat. Here we do volunteer work on the kibbutz and in Beer Sheva. In Beer Sheva, we help out at an after-school program for autistic children.

The kibbutz is a nice place to unwind and realize for me all that I have done this year and to sikkum my shnat.
 
After a year full of new friends, experiences and knowledge, it is time to admit that shnat is coming to an end. Although an end is never fun, especially in the case of shnat, I am looking forward to returning to the Netherlands to do my bit to keep our youth movement moving towards a bright future.

Following two years of online seminars, the Chazon Amlat Seminar was held in Argentina in person.

The hanagot of Mexico, Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina met in Buenos Aires, with the objective of training the new hanagot and provide them with tools to strengthen the planning of the beginning year.

During the Seminar we enjoyed the presence of the continent’s Shlichim and of Made Walter, the director of the Latin America department of Habonim Dror Olami.
One of the highlights of the seminar was the Kabalat Shabbat, which was attended by all the seminar’s participants as well as guests from the tnua in Argentina. We had the presence, among others, of Gaby Glazman, the representative of the Jewish Agency and the World Zionist Movement for the Southern Cone, Shlichim of other tnuot and the Kvutza Shnat 2023 of Buenos Aires.

The Chazon Amlat was a total success and gave us the energy to start this year in all enthusiasm!!!
 
Argentina
The peulot began in the Kenim of the Tnua in Argentina. The new Hanaga - composed by Juli, Martin, Zoe, Sabri and Martin - is already working in order for the new sheliach, Agustin, to have an unforgettable and meaningful year.
 
Brazil
The 9 kenim of the tnua in Brazil started their peulot, with this year’s main objective of personally reconnect a tnua that extends thousands of kilometers in one of the largest countries in the world. The opportunity to meet again face to face allows us to reach communities in which the contact with "other snifim" is essential. The Hanaga is composed by Gregorio, Amir, Ana, David, Yoni and Gregorio, along with the Shlicha Mica.
 
Uruguay
Returning to face to face structure, a new and exciting year begins at Habonim Dror Uruguay. Julian, Meital, Felipe and Tami, together with Jessi, the shlicha, lead the entire bagrut through a path of innovation and creativity necessary to start a new year differently.
 
Mexico
The second semester of the year began with a refresh in the Hanaga, where the madrichim elected Yael, David, Dan and Batia. For this semester we expect many Saturdays and peulot, innovation and a lot of educational content.
 

Written by: Melvyn Rach - Habonim Dror Olami
 

When one thinks of Habo-heroes, those who truly shaped the movement in their countries, one must think of Arnie Friedman. Born in 1934 in Johannesburg, he joined the movement at age 11 and he actually never left. During their Shnat program in 1956 he met his beloved wife Peggy and in 1958 they moved to Israel to join forces with then-frailing Kibbutz Yizreel.

In 1962 the family (including a young son Doron) moved for two years to South Africa, where Arnie served as the shaliach of the movement. During this time many legendary achievements were attributed to him, amongst others being one of those who established the great machanee site of HDSA in Onrus.

After returning from Shlichut Arnie and Peggy continued being involved in shaping the Kibbutz and being part of the Habonim-Dror family. Besides their own children, countless of Shnatties and volunteers will call them also their own parents. Their home was open to anyone and their generous love and care was felt by all.

We sadly part with one of the symbols of hagshama of Habonim Dror, but are also thankful for the role he played in our movement and the love he instilled in us for the values of the movement.
 
Yehi Zichro Baruch - may he be of blessed memory!
 
 ARNIE FRIEDMAN - In Memoriam
 
Not often does one meet a person as passionate as Arnie - in the three years that I had the privilege of being the Rakaz of the Habonim Dror South Africa Shnat program (2011-2013), I vividly felt the love and commitment that Arnie had for the “Channies”. He was always prepared to go to incredible lengths to make sure that their time in kibbutz Yizre’el would be educationally meaningful and unforgettable.
Arnie undoubtedly belonged to the movement’s “Dor HaNefilim”, the great people that are an inspiration and who touched the lives of numerous people around him.
 
May his memory be blessed!

Arnie is 2nd on the left                                      Arnie is standing 3rd on the left