COMPLETING A QUARTER CENTURY (1958-1960)

In January, 1958, a new and young group of leaders, drawn from the second "generation" of Workshop graduates, took over full responsibility for the movement. There were few shlichim from Israel to guide them, ever-expanding camps to care for, and a movement none too sure of itself to guide. No one was quite certain how to approach the problems that had developed in the preceding decade. There was even question as to the very ability of the movement to overcome the difficulties that faced it. Yet, two years later, at the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Convention in Washington, it was a movement, though still aware of the great problems facing it, that was confident of itself and its ability to continue and expand in the years to come.

The fact that the leadership was young, and the realization that no radical change in this situation could be foreseen in the immediate future, dominated most of the developments of this period. It explained
the great emphasis placed on leadership-training programs and institutions. The main conclusion drawn from the attempts at expansion throughout the period was that the key to the growth of the movement lay in the preparation of adequately trained leaders. The traditional leadership-training programs in the cities and the camps were continued and expanded, but a new concept, that of periodic regional seminars for leaders, was also introduced. Techniques of leadership as well as background material were provided. These seminars attracted as many as two hundred fifty participants.

This concern for adequate preparation of leaders also was reflected in the discussion held about the program of the Workshop. It had long since become obvious that the leadership of the movement would be drawn from the Workshop. It was therefore felt that steps must be taken to develop this aspect of the Workshop program further. But this was not the only change in the Workshop. The site was moved from Kfar Blum to Gesher Haziv, and so a new group of Habonim graduates became involved in and responsible for it. They experimented with new approaches and introduced a more varied program. Also, the number of Workshoppers increased. This growth reflected the expansion of the movement.

A great feeling of enthusiasm and confidence was generated by the fact that not only were groups in many different cities expanded, but additional cities were opened or revived. No more were discussions held about whether or not a place existed for Habonim on the American scene. It was now only a matter of how best to utilize the almost unlimited opportunities that existed. In short, this was a period of growth. In many instances, though, it was apparent that the available leaders and resources could not meet the demands which manifested themselves. Once more, then, we were faced with the question of leadership. But we had laid the guidelines for the solution of this problem.

This was a period when allocations to the Zionist youth movements were cut severely. We were faced with an expanding movement and expanding needs and ever-declining financial resources. New sources of support had to be found and economies had to be made, while our activities continued to develop. Our camps had to become financially self-sufficient; as there was no alternative, most of them did. Each city had to receive ever greater support from the local senior movement, and so most of them did.

In many cities, especially in the newer ones, members of the senior movement became closely involved in the work of Habonim. These "senior advisors" played vital roles in assuring technical and financial support for the movement and in strengthening the ties and understanding between Habonim and the Labor Zionist movement as a whole. In many cities special "Habonim Months" were declared, and many activities were sponsored both to give financial help and to further the understanding of what we were trying to do. This development was also reflected on the national level and even extended to our relationship with other institutions and organizations in the Zionist movement in general.

As the movement expanded in many cities, we made new contacts with synagogues and other centers and institutions. We discovered that we could and did influence others and that Habonim had a vital message to give to all such elements in the Jewish community. To better understand exactly what this message was, a series of seminars and educational conferences were held for the older members on the Jewish and the social aspects of our Labor Zionist ideology.

Increased emphasis was given to our role in public affairs, especially in the area of civil rights. In line with a desire to take an active part in this field, chaverim from many cities joined the two "Youth Marches for Integrated Schools" in Washington. Habonim was the only Jewish youth organization in the country that participated officially and actively in this significant demonstration of young people.

There was a deeper understanding of the need for guidance from Israel, a need which could not always be met. The Workshop was one important link we had with Israel; our graduates who settled there were another. The shlichim who came from Israel were still another great link. This period marked the introduction to our movement of a type of shaliach we had seen little of for many years. After a period in which we had almost no shlichim, several arrived who were young and very unfamiliar with America; we and they had to learn to work together for the further development of the movement.

Perhaps the greatest achievement in these years was in the area of Camp Kvutza. Our camps became financially more secure. Permanent adult management was extended to additional camps, and the physical development of the campsites continued on a vastly increased scale. We found that, because of the program we offered and the improved standards of our camps, they could compete with other camps of the Jewish community. Over one thousand chaverim now attended Camp Kvutza, a figure which was by no means insignificant. The Hebrew and scouting programs of the camps improved markedly, a reflection of the presence of the new shlichim. With the growth of the camps came a renewed stress on the age-level unit system.

Several steps designed to enhance our educational work in the city were also taken. Our publications were revamped; in some cases new formats were introduced, and the magazines were issued on a much more regular basis than in the preceding years. We tried to instill a feeling of unity in the older groups scattered throughout the country and to introduce new ideas in their program. The leadership and ideological seminars mentioned above were important parts of this process. In the summer of 1958, we held a three-week, work centered camp for the older groups; in the summer of 1959, this was replaced by an intensive educational seminar.

For our younger groups, as well, new ideas and programs were tried. By the end of the period, the idea of a uniform program, implemented through achievement goals (madregot), was accepted as the basis of education for these groups. This idea is now being developed further and may be a very important stride in coordinating and strengthening our educational work among younger chaverim.

Some seventy chaverim went on aliya during these years, more than in the preceding period. Many of these people went to Urim, a new gathering point in Israel for the American movement. Some success was had in inducing chaverim to complete their studies in Israel, though the results were of course only in limited numbers. Despite all of the above, however, the problems of adequate servicing of older chaverim, who provided the leadership and who by their personal example were expected to fulfill the ideals of the movement, remained with us.

The celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Habonim was inaugurated at the Washington convention at the end of 1959. It was indeed a time of great celebration, with almost five hundred chaverim of Habonim from many corners of the continent assembling for the occasion. Joining with us in this celebration were one hundred members of the senior Labor Zionist movement, not simply representing their respective branches, but enthusiastically participating in all that we were attempting to do at this gathering. Among the guest speakers were Avraham Harman, Ambassador of Israel to the United States; Senator Gale W. McGee of Wyoming; and Victor Reuther of the American labor movement.

As the movement entered the 1960's and its second quarter century of existence, there was a renewed feeling that, in spite of the obstacles, we could fulfill the difficult yet inspiring aims which we and our predecessors had set for Habonim: the education of a devoted group of chaverim to the fulfillment of the ideals of aliya. Labor Zionism, and service to the Jewish people.

ALLEN POLLACK, New York, 1961