The Goals

The central goals of Habo U are for the participants to:

• Actively participate in a co-operative community and develop a collective framework

• Integrate into and experience Israeli college life and society

• Develop personal relationships with, as well as learning experiences with our sister movement HaNoar HaOved V’Lomed

• Directly participate in the growth of social activism in Israel.

• Physically explore the history, geography and intricate society of Israel

The Tochnit

The Habo U Program is a combination of personal education, communal education and working for social change in Israel in an urban collective. The program is divided between academic class work, volunteer placements, group seminars and Tiyulim (trips). Participants will do their academic work through the University of Haifa International School. Group seminars, tiyulim, and volunteer placements organized by the Habo U staff will supplement the academic work. Participants are welcome to attend for either a year or a semester.

University of Haifa- Academic Portion

The International School at the University of Haifa offers a variety of courses taught in English, as well as Hebrew and Arabic language courses. Students will have the option of taking courses in the areas of Middle Eastern Studies, religion, psychology, sociology, literature, and communications. In addition, any student who is proficient in Hebrew is welcome to enroll in the courses taught in the other University departments. The professors and lecturers teaching in the International School are members of the university faculty who have distinguished careers in their respective fields. They bring to this program a high quality of academic and teaching experience. The University of Haifa is recognized internationally and credits are transferable back to most foreign universities. In addition, it may be possible to transfer financial aid from your home university to the University of Haifa. Please check out the website at www.uhaifa.org for more detailed information about academics, student life, tuition, and other important details.

Ivrit – Hebrew

Hebrew study is an important element of the Habo U experience. All students will be required to take an ulpan (intensive Hebrew study) class. Classes are offered at a variety of levels, from beginners with no prior knowledge of the language to more advanced classes. Ulpan will give the Habo U participants an opportunity to more fully integrate with Israelis they will be interacting with on a daily basis.

Volunteer Placement

Habonim Dror works for the upbuilding of the State of Israel as a progressive, egalitarian, cooperative society, at peace with its neighbors. With this aim in mind the volunteer portion of the program is meant as an opportunity for participants to become contributing members for social change in Israeli society. Volunteer placements will be organized with participant’s interests in mind.

Group Seminars and Tiyulim (trips)

Informal education has always been an integral part of Habonim programming; this portion of the program will give an enhanced added educational component. There will be a peula (educational seminar) for the bayit (communal house) one evening every week and at least three Habo U tiyulim in addition to the University of Haifa’s tiyulim for overseas students. The seminars will be on a variety of topics including, but not limited to; communal living, contemporary Israeli society and politics, issues in modern Zionism, and others.

Hanoar Haoved V’Halomed

Hanoar Haoved V’Halomed is our sister movement in Israel. Literally translated to the working and learning youth, they are similar to Habonim Dror in much of their ideology and practices. The Habo U bayit will be located in close proximity to several Hanoar Haoved houses where members of their movement live and work. As these Israeli movement members are close in age to Habo U participants, much of the programming will be done together and a mutually beneficial relationship of working together and learning from one another will be established.

The Bayit (Communal Living)

The Habo U participants will live in an apartment(s) located in the heart of the city of Haifa. This bayit will consist of different participants from a variety of backgrounds within a particular spectrum. Together, the participants will live and learn from one another communally. As living communally can oftentimes be a challenging experience, the Habo U staff will be available to facilitate, educate, and help the bayit in their balancing the ideas of the group versus the individual. As part of the communal living experience, the participants will create their own kupa (communal fund) which will be used for a range of things such as groceries, house events, and other such living expenses. One night each week will be designated “Erev Bayit,” wherein the participants will all get together to learn together, learn from one another, or simply be with one another.