HABONIM PROSPECTUS

THE PURPOSE OF HABONIM

Habonim is an educational organization for Jewish boys and girls between the ages of ten and eighteen. It aims to give the rising Jewish generation in America a background for the appreciation of the achievements of the chalutzim in Palestine and inculcate a desire to become responsible agents in the development of Jewish life.

Habonim holds up the accomplishments of the chalutzim as the highest in contemporary Jewish life, and the Histadrut, the General Federation of Jewish Labor in Palestine, as the cornerstone of Zionist achievement.

Habonim digs out the social values formulated during all ages and by all peoples and uses them to inspire habits of personal conduct as defined by the Laws of Habonim. The Laws are based on those qualities which constitute the ideal of chalutziut.

Habonim utilizes the live elements of our national culture, such as the Hebrew language, music, festivals, and folkways, to create an environment that is in harmony with the spirit of the national renaissance.

Habonim gives its members reason to be devoted to the idea of national rebirth, and in the process makes them more fit for their role in it.

Chalutzim are the vanguard of the Jewish people and, as such, are concerned with the development of its life in all countries. The creation of a conscious Jewish community in the Diaspora is a problem of grave dimensions that interests Palestinian Jewry. The tone of Jewish life in the Diaspora is influenced by modern Palestine.

The chalutzim spirit that motivates Habonim calls for an understanding of and participation in the affairs of world-wide Jewry. 

Chalutzim are workers and, as such, feel bonds of brotherhood with the working masses of the world. Chalutzim are pioneers in the field of social justice and are anxious that new social forms established on the basis of cooperation and free labor become universal. Habonim includes elements upon which a world-view can be constructed.

With chalutziut as the central point, and a regard for Jewish and general social conditions as vital portions of its program, Habonim presents to the American Jewish child an organization in which he can acquire a wide cultural background and an array of desirable personal habits and social attitudes.

Habonim aims to rear a well-equipped individual prepared for purposeful action in our dynamic world.
Tzofiut, or scouting, is the educational method of Habonim. Tzofiut is a game designed to call forth and strengthen the best of character traits and establish the knowledge and skill that contribute to the socialization and growth of the individual. By playing the game of scouting, it is possible to enter the realm of childhood and gradually introduce boys and girls to the more serious affairs of the grown-up world.

PLEDGE AND LAWS

The Pledge of Habonim summarizes the purpose of the movement and, together with the laws, serves as a constant point of reference for all the character-building and cultural activity of the groups.

The traits and attitudes embodied in the Laws of Habonim touch on the most fundamental elements composing the ideal chalutz and, as such, serve as guide-posts for the daily life of Habonim.

The Pledge and Laws must be memorized in their Hebrew text and the meaning of every word must be known by the solel or the tzofeh [younger members] before he can become a full-fledged member of Habonim. The cultural content of the first several sichot [discussions] consists of illustrating the various Laws by means of stories and legends that bring out the points in clear relief.

Learning the Laws means living according to them.

HEBREW

The place of Hebrew in the modern Jewish world is increasing in importance. The revival of Hebrew in Palestine has demonstrated the key position that the national tongue holds in our new life. A chalutz organization requires of its members the study and utilization of the language. Habonim emphasizes the importance of Hebrew. It has prepared its Pledge, Laws, and organizational terminology in Hebrew, and insists on its broadened use. Hebrew is a basic cultural element that is a distinguishing characteristic of Habonim.

ZIONISM

A study of Zionism in all its phases is to begin the first day a solel enters Habonim. A knowledge of Palestinian geography, economics, sociology, politics and history; Zionist philosophy, organization, and history; chalutz achievements and aspirations—these must become the cultural possession of every chaver.

JEWISH HISTORY

Throughout the program of Habonim there is always room for the study of Jewish history. Beginning with the romantic episodes of the Jewish past, illustrated frequently with stories of outstanding personalities, the program of Habonim will gradually lead to an interpretation and evaluation of historic phenomena. Solelim will enjoy tracing the march of the Jews through the ages, while bonim {older members} will begin to ponder their role in the next epoch of Jewish life.

CONTEMPORARY JEWISH LIFE

A study of Jewish life in the Diaspora is of prime importance for the understanding of the forces giving birth to Zionism. Solelim will collect pictures and clippings of Jewish concern; bonim will analyze the social, economic, and political life of contemporary Jewry.

SOCIAL ORIENTATION

The Jewish people is a part of the human race and, as such, is confronted with the same basic problems of existence facing all peoples.

The history of humanity has been one of a long struggle with the forces of nature for the material means of life and a constant process of readjustment to each technological advance. From primitive man, with his relatively simple needs and simple methods, to our modern complex civilization, the course of evolution has been full of confusing and aggravating problems. Today the outstanding question is that of liberty and security in an economy of abundance.

Chalutziut has risen from an understanding of the social-economic forces operating in life; it is founded on the proper evaluation of the place of labor in civilization; it is based on the belief that the noblest social arrangement is that in which cooperation and mutual aid are practiced by a cultured, classless society.
Habonim proposes to trace the footsteps of man from primeval ages to the present day. How man conquered nature, bit by bit, and at last has come to the state where his main concern is the control of his society constitutes a field of study which Habonim will explore thoroughly.

Habonim will visit factories and farms to get a picture of the way things are produced. They will see how complicated, specialized, and interdependent economic processes are. They will see for themselves the meaning of collective labor, and will question the methods used in distributing the products of collective toil.
Whereas in the scoutcraft portion of the program Habonim will have practical contact with the physical basis of life, the orientation series is intended to show the relationship of man to the world and of man to man.
The older groups of Habonim will study the social-economic arrangement for the production of wealth and happiness. They will learn the advantage of a cooperative economy over the dominant competitive one.

The Pledge and Laws of Habonim lead toward an appreciation of our larger social problems, and the organizational set-up of Habonim provides for actual group experiences that pave the way for more mature efforts in the same spirit.

Habonim will study the methods of social change, and will prepare to become active agents for the introduction of the cooperative social forms in Palestine and in all countries.

MUSIC

Habonim aids its members to make the best of their individual and group talents . Music, dancing, and dramatics are universal methods of self-expression and have cultural as well as social worth. The Palestinian and Yiddish folk songs and the labor melodies contribute much to the emotional life of the group and give spirit when things are dull or lagging.

The tempo of Habonim life is often in keeping with its singing.

SCOUTCRAFT

Whereas the portion of the Habonim program described until now has been mainly academic in nature, dealing primarily with matters pertaining to human society, the scoutcraft aspects of our work introduces tzofim to the physical and biological world around them.

Applied scoutcraft—including first aid, signaling, knot-tying, handicraft, hiking, and camping—takes first place in the activities of the groups. Every boneb must learn to swim. Nature study and hobbies of various sorts are encouraged.

Scouting will provide for the physical fitness and manual skill of Habonim, as well as develop interests in nature and the out-of-doors.

GREETING

The greeting of Habonim is "Alei"—ascend. Habonim will strive to lead our generation to rise to new heights, to play its role in the redemption of Palestine and in the creation of the cooperative commonwealth.

The response to the greeting is "Aleh U'vnei"—ascend and build. Habonim will teach its members to strive towards newer and higher levels in our social and national life, to add more brick and mortar to the construction of the future society.

MERKAZ HABONIM, 1935