MORE ON THE ‘SHOP

by Ellen ‘I like to pretend I’m on Workshop’ Friedrichs

It’s amazing! Workshop 48 is already in the third major stage of their exciting and new tochnit. After becoming fluent in Hebrew during Ulpan and getting superhero sized muscles from workin’ the land on kibbutz, they are now living the socialist dream and doing the Chavot Hachshara period of the program.

For two months the Workshoppers have the unique opportunity to live communally with their Israeli counterparts from the Israeli youth movement HaNoar HaOved v’Lomed. These Israelis are participating in a ‘service year’ to their country before the army. During this year they actualize their leadership skills and communal living ideology gained from years in their youth movements. Chavot can take the form of anything from a group of apartments in a city, to a number of caravans in an absorption center, to a villa in the country or on a kibbutz. The group has to decide how to support all of its members including those who are working as volunteer madrichim. While in the chavot the Workshoppers either work in the local ken or in the wider community. The Chava provides a truly cooperative and communal experience in modern Israel.

Currently living in the Haifa chava are Rachel J, Rachel A, Tami, Jenni and Noah. Here they are teaching English to Arab children. I tried to talk to them about the fun of communal living, of making Israeli friends and of contributing something positive to their new community. Unfortunately they were too stuffed to talk after one of their nightly barbecues. They did manage to mumble the Ha Noar cry “Autonomy, Hachshara and Involvement” and mentioned that they had never felt more fulfilled and that chavot had changed their lives.

Tel Aviv Chava Member Emily Klem had some more reflections and so may we present, unedited and uncensored…

From the Desk of Workshop 48:

by: Emily Klem

The past month has been very interesting for us here in Israel. We have now split up into smaller groups and been sporadically dispersed throughout the country, where we live together with HaNoar HaOved v’HaLomed (our sister movement in Israel) in their chavot. For many of us it’s been a first living so close together with other Israelis our age who are not in the army. Helping them and participating in their ‘Workshop-like’ group has been one learning experience after another.

Not only are we seeing a different way of how a youth movement exists and operates (with all year round activities), but we are now exchanging ideas, from games to educational peulot. In the evening, when the other members have come home and dinner has been had together, we can often be found discussing ideological differences and similarities with our new friends late into the night.

In addition to all of the internal activities between our two movements, our volunteer work has been an incredible experience. We get to see, and help, a side of Israel that is not often acknowledged, working in jobs that range from community work by teaching English to disadvantaged Israelis (Arab and Jewish), being madrichim for youth, working with environmental protection agencies, fighting for Palestinian rights or working with physically and mentally challenged children.

All in all, the Workshop experience just does not end. Next up is a trip to Bat Yam in Tel Aviv just to hang out and chill on the beach outside of that Chava’s house. A rather nice view I might add (lucky for Jesse and Keith who are living there).