CHAVURAT ALIYA

Habonim's framework for aliya is Chavurat Aliya, designed for that group of chaverim, eighteen and over, who are planning to settle in Israel in the near future. Its organizational setup is such that it can fit the needs of any chaver, be his interest the kibbuttz, the moshav, or the city. Thus it truly fits the principal aims of Habonim in encouraging all types of aliya. With its program, publications, and institutions, Chavurat Aliya gathers together all those chaverim who commit themselves to aliya and tries to aid them in reaching their goal. For those chaverim in the movement who do not fully understand its makeup, we would like to explain the history and framework of Chavurat Aliya.

Our movement has always maintained that it is a general movement; and as Labor Zionists, our chief and highest aim is aliya. In the past, we found that the only aliya structure we had was garinim to kibbutzim. When Workshoppers did not join a garin immediately upon their return from Israel, it was obvious that a larger and varied aliya framework was needed, for most Workshoppers were intent on completing their college education. Chaverim were reluctant to commit themselves to a garin framework which had a specific timetable, knowing that it would take them a minimum of four years to achieve their educational plans. Therefore the movement felt that it needed a general, organized aliya framework for those chaverim who intended to study, but still desired to commit themselves to aliya.

In 1955, the Philadelphia convention instructed the merkaz to increase the scope of Habonim's aliya program by providing a properly organized and functioning Chavurat Aliya, to include all the older chaverim of Habonim and members of kindred movements preparing for aliya. From this we can see that all members of Chavurat Aliya must be members of the Zionist movement, actively working in educating new chaverim to the ideals of Habonim and Zionism. It is important to remember that Chavurat Aliya did not do away with the garin framework within Habonim, but rather incorporated it as one of its parts. This can be seen from Article XII of the Habonim constitution; 

A. Chavurat Aliya, as the organizational form for chalutzim of Habonim, shall initiate and coordinate organized groups for aliya. The basis of these groups shall be the desire for joint endeavor in Israel, and technical, financial, and cultural preparation for it here. Formal decision regarding affiliation with a form of settlement shall be made after arrival in Israel.
B. Chavurat Aliya shall service and give guidance to members of Habonim who are preparing themselves for aliya to Israel as individuals unaffiliated with any organized group.

Part A deals with the garin framework. Part B deals with the larger part of the membership, that is, the professional. Because of the Workshop and the Machon, most of the chaverim have already visited Israel; and so they are able to decide beforehand just what type of settlement they prefer.

Instead of enumerating the many changes which have taken place within Chavurat Aliya, we will describe the composition of the organization today and what services it performs for its chaverim. Through this, we hope to show how it aids a chaver both technically and educationally.

The vaad (executive committee) and the merakez (coordinator) bear the responsibility for organizing the many functions of the Chavura. It is their job to gather pertinent information which may prove beneficial and helpful to the members. They must also work with the central shaliach of Habonim in facilitating the technical aspects of a chaver's aliya, such as boat reservations, or finding a suitable ulpan (Hebrew language seminar) in Israel, or securing a job for him through the Jewish Agency.

It is understood that any person who joins Chavurat Aliya commits himself to aliya. In order to put this basic principle into practice, the saving of money for aliya is an integral part of the organization. There is a treasurer, who is in charge of the financial aspects of Chavurat Aliya. The financial institution is a fund, the keren aliya, through which each chaver saves money expressly for his intended aliya. This is one of the most positive aspects of Chavurat Aliya. Upon aliya, all the money saved by a chaver is given back to him. Should the chaver leave the Chavura, all the money that he has saved will be returned.

One of the main services of Chavurat Aliya is its publication, Bashaar, which acts as a tie between the members and gives practical guidance toward aliya. It is a means of expression for all of its chaverim and can serve as the foundation for building a strong group. In the past two years, there has been very little self-expression from the chaverim. Should this interest be rekindled, it would certainly prove to be a definite stimulus to our aliya program.

Bashaar also tries to bring a feeling of life in Israel to its readers through letters and articles written by our chaverim who are already in Israel or reprinted from such sources as the Urim Newsletter. Those chaverim who are already in Israel give much needed advice concerning schooling and practical aliya. There is also a main feature, in each issue of Bashaar, which deals with an aspect of life in Israel, or a profession, and breaks it down into its smallest details. Should any chaver request specific information, a copy of that material is usually printed into Bashaar for the benefit of all the other chaverim. As you can see, Bashaar has a big role to play in the Chavurat Aliya.

In cities where the membership is high, it is possible to schedule meetings, such as in New York, where the membership is roughly twenty chaverim. Individuals from Israel can offer firsthand information to Chavurat Aliya members, which cannot always be found in articles and booklets. These informal meetings also help to build these aliya-minded chaverim into a strong group, the type that will enable us to reach our goals easily.

In the last analysis, we can only conclude' that if the members of Chavurat Aliya take a more active interest in this all-important aliya organ of the movement, its future will be a bright one. Its services will become both more beneficial and numerous, and the spirit which will grow within a chaver from belonging to this framework will raise our aliya to new heights.

ALLEN WEINER, New York, 1959