Garin in the U.K.

We are three bogrim of Habonim-Dror UK who have come to Israel to build a new socialist community. We are 23/4 years old and have all been full-time movement workers for Habonim-Dror in the UK.

As far as we know, we are the first garin from the movement to come to Israel to build a new community for over 15 years, and therefore, for maybe the first time, our ideological direction is not based soley on the kibbutz method.

We have attained political and practical support from World Habonim-Dror, Hanoar Ha'Oved Ve'Lomed and the World Labour Zionist Organisation and are now in a position to aid potential groups from around the world. We have already had contact with Garin 2000 from North America, interest from Australians and contact with various bogrim of Habonim-Dror UK.

As for our own development, we are currently studying Ivrit in Jerusalem and are discussing our future geographical location and possibilities for expansion.

We are requesting that you distribute this letter to your chaverim so that they can contact us from whatever stage they are at. Please feel free to contact us and if you make it to Israel for any length of time, please come and see us.

Chazak Ve'Amatz,
Anton Marks, Emma Grant,
James Rosenhead
irbutz@bigfoot.com 02 678 4102
35/12 Yehoshua Bin Nun
Jerusalem, Israel, 93187

Garin Alpayim Goes to Washington
by
Lisa Caldes, Vancouver

So, Garin 2000 had a little while to go home and reflect on the decision that they had made and hear the reaction of their friends and family, and then we all met up in Washington DC along side the Habo/LZA conference for March 5 and 6. We even acquired a new member -Abe Chiswick is the latest to
join our happy family.  Jared, Dan, Abe and I (Lisa) drove down from New York, Shira, Moz and Robin drove from Oberlin, Western and McGill, and Shani and Ezra flew in from Miami and Hampshire. By Friday night after much confusion and excitement, the entire Garin had arrived to take over Maya Natan's house. Our first night entailed a Shabbat dinner at the lovely DC Bayit and a late night of discussion during which everyone managed to stay awake...  The next morning the sun rose on Garin members sprawled throughout Maya's house and those reluctant to get up (mostly me). Our day involved asephot and a most informative visit from Aliyah Shlicha Judy Widesky. Another highlight was deciding important tafkidim. Shani Friedman was elected Garin Mazkir.
On Saturday afternoon, members started leaving to get back to their busy lives. Those of us who remained had an exciting dinner with local DC Habos at Burrito Brothers and subsequently found it difficult to sit through the opening of the LZA conference (okay, mostly me). By Sunday, most of the Garin was gone and the LZA action was well under way.   I can safely tell you that Garin 2000 is doing very well and is gearing up for another Kinus, May 14th-16th at Oberlin, Ohio. We will continue to plan... the rest of our lives together, and we invite anyone who is interested to join us!

For more information about Garin Alpayim, contact Garin Mazkir Shani Friedman at shani00@ibm.net or Jared in the Habonim office: mazkir@habonimdror.org