Tnuat Achot
Over the course of the weekend, MBI spend time learning, having fun and enjoying the company of youth their age from Hanoar Haoved on Kibbutz Ravid (a kibbutz that Habonim Dror was part of creating in the 80's). Our chanichim shared what it is like to be Jewish in North America, where being Jewish is personal commitment. And the Israeli chanichim shared their experience in Israel, where Jewishness surrounds them. This experience was equally meaningful for both groups, as they grapple with the many different Jewish experiences that exist in our world.
The group also had dialogue, facilitated by madrichim (counselors) on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both sets of chanichim had the chance to hear from the other side about how they relate and make sense of it all. They also had time to simply have fun together, and were able to share aspects of both cultures in Habonim Dror and HaNoar HaOved va’haLomed like music, games and Shabbat traditions.
Saturday evening, MBI concluded their visit with their new Israeli partners with a tekes (a ceremony) to mark their new found bonds. In HaNoar HaOved va’haLomed, a tekes is taken very seriously. This particular tekes on Shabbat featured musical performances and speeches given by both Israeli chanichim (participants) and North American. After the mifgash (meeting), our chanichim stayed one more night on Kibbutz Ravid while the Israeli chanichim headed home.
Sunday (day 14)
Sunday, in the morning, MBI was right back at it. They went on the Majressa water hike, in stream near the sea of Galilee. The stream is located on a natural reserve and runs off into the Sea of Galilee. Afterwards they visited the city of Tzvat on the Kinneret where they spent time learning about the city's history as well as its connection to Judaism.
Monday (day 15)
This morning MBI had the chance to visit Rosh Pina, a Moshava (a settlement established by the first Aliyah) established in 1882. At the time of the first Aliya, the wealthy and famous Rothschild family purchased this land among many other plots in Palestine to serve as a place for Jews to settle and to become agriculturally sustainable. The group visited the earliest portion of the establishment of Rosh Pina where they learned in the museum about the early life there and the hardships of those in the first wave of Aliyah.
After lunch in Rosh Pina they traveled to Tel Chai to learn with their Madrichim Masa (tour guides) about the early settlement and kvutza (socialist group living together in pre-State of Israel) there. On the land today is a very informative museum built to look as the settlement did before it was destroyed in the Battle of Tel Chai. They learned about the battle and the legend and hero of Joseph Trumpeldor as well as the eventual destruction of the settlement. While the settlement was destroyed, Tel Chai to this day is a symbol for the ability of Jews to defend themselves.
Then they made their way over the Kfar Giladi, another early settlement strategically placed in the north. This is the sight where Trumpeldor eventually died after he was carried from Tel Chai. Here there is a wonderful look out point next to a cemetery and a monument for the eight people who lost their lives in the battle of Tel Chai. MBI had a tekes (ceremony) to honor them.
In the evening they headed for the kinneret and the city on the water there Tiberias. Tonight they had the opportunity to dance on a disco boat, for some reason the kids are surprisingly excited about this. Personally I too was really excited about the disco boat when I attended MBI in 2007, however when I think about it today I cant help but chuckle about it. Obviously they had a ton of fun!
Thank you everyone who gave me mid program feedback! I really appreciate hearing what you all had to say. Feel free to email or call me if you have any thoughts!
thanks,
Noah
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