OUR PUBLICATIONS

In the archives of the movement one can find copies of Der Yunger 'Yiddisher Kernfer, the first printed publication of our movement, from 1915. The publication was issued by the Youth Committee of the Poale Zion Central Committee and appeared entirely in Yiddish until February, 1918, when, as a result of a referendum conducted within the Junior Poale Zion, an English section was instituted. Der Yunger Yiddisher Kernfer, appeared every two weeks and sold for two cents. In 1919, Der Yunger Yiddisher Kernfer became a monthly magazine. Its format was changed, its size was increased; and it sold for five cents an issue. This magazine suspended publication in 1921, and for two years the movement had no printed publication.

In 1923, Yugnt, a monthly magazine, made its first appearance. Yugnt contained a Yiddish section and an English section and continued to appear in that format until 1931. In November of that year, Yugnt appeared as an all-English magazine, with one number during the year appearing entirely in Yiddish. This development indicates the basic change which had taken place in the membership composition of the Young Poale Zion Alliance. Yugnt continued to appear until the end of 1932.

During 1933, an attempt was made to publish an English magazine in a new form. Financial conditions as well as editorial differences made it impossible to issue more than five numbers of the YPZA Vanguard, Each issue was distributed in about twenty-five hundred copies. During the same year, six numbers of the Yiddish magazine for "Buds," entitled Yung un Frei, appeared. During 1934-35, several additional numbers of the YPZA Vanguard appeared, but with the appearance of the Jewish Frontier many chaverim suggested that it was not necessary to have a special Young Poale Zion printed publication. It was also particularly difficult to find the necessary funds at that time to continue to issue a regular printed publication.

After the convention held in Buffalo in 1935, the national executive decided again to undertake the publication of a printed magazine. Four issues of the Jewish Pioneer appeared; but, at the conclusion of the organizational year 1935-36, it was decided to discontinue the publication.

At the same time, after the Buffalo convention, News and Views began to appear as an internal mimeographed publication. It was devoted primarily to internal organizational problems and ideological clarification. The membership reacted very favorably to News and Views. From the beginning of the year 1936-37 until the end of 1939, News and Views appeared regularly every two weeks in a very attractive form. It gave considerable space to the political, organizational, and educational activities of Young Poale Zion Alliance-Habonim, as well as to an analysis and review of the news. During the 1938-40 period, a number of important organizational issues were debated in the pages of News and Views) and a very lively exchange of opinion found its expression in the publication. Among the discussions were those on the YPZA's "Memorandum on Avukah," on socialism, on Kibbutz Aliya, on "galut chalutziut," on the war and the international situation, and on the educational content of Camp Kvutza. Some of the basic works of Shalom Wurm, at that time shaliach to Hechalutz and Habonim, were first printed in the News and Views of that period.

For a period of two years, beginning in the fall of 1940, News and Views appeared as a printed publication, in response "to repeated demands . . . coming from the ranks of our membership itself." The trend toward a more formal vehicle of expression for the movement culminated in the appearance of the first issue of furrows) in November, 1942.

furrows is now in its eighteenth year. During the years of its existence it has faithfully lived up to the editorial statement which appeared in its first number:

There is a heavy responsibility in undertaking a new Zionist publication in days such as these.

These critical times call for unity of action in our ranks, not competition; for economy of expression, not duplication.

Habonim is aware of its responsibility. It is the purpose of furrows neither to compete nor to duplicate. The aim of furrows is more modest: to bring directly to the members of Habonim and other young American Jews the activities, problems, and developments of the Zionist world in terms of the creative, positive Zionism which has become their creed and which they can find in no other Zionist youth publication.

To achieve this, Furrows will publish original articles, and will reprint and translate suitable material from other sources, not readily available to the young Zionist in America.

Furrows will bring to its readers some of the literary products of Palestine and will acquaint them with the cultural developments of Jewish life.

Furrows will serve as the forum for our readers, in which they will be able to give expression to their viewpoints and creative talents.

Furrows will attempt to answer the need, deeply felt by our own members, for a publication that will teach them and guide them toward the fulfillment of their Zionist ideals.

Furrows believes that there are many young Jews, not officially Zionists, who will find in it answers to questions on the Jewish position, for which they have been groping.

The Justification of our undertaking will, in the last analysis, lie in the extent to which the viewpoint of furrows will spread among those young Jews outside the Zionist ranks.

furrows has appeared almost every month since its founding in 1942. For a period of one year it appeared as a newspaper; and, in the summer months, it has appeared as an internal publication designed primarily for the summer camps, furrows is a thirty-two-page, monthly magazine, designed to serve the needs of the older chaverim of Habonim and Jewish young adults in general. It was especially influential during the period of World War II; during the years of struggle for the establishment of the Jewish state; and during the period immediately after, when it was considered one of the outstanding Zionist periodicals in America. Over the years, furrows has presented articles by leading figures in the American Jewish community and by prominent Israel leaders, furrows has included translations from Hebrew and Yiddish and has thus made available to the English-speaking public important classical and current Jewish literature. But, above all, furrows has served as a medium of expression for Habonim. Members of Habonim have edited the magazine, have determined its editorial policies, have done the bulk of the writing, and have maintained the high standards associated with Furrows.

Haboneh, our graphic magazine for younger people, has appeared regularly, except for a period of one year, since April, 1935. It is widely distributed among Jewish educators and among many young people not in Habonim. Haboneh, even more than furrows, is written by young people, by the members of Habonim themselves. It contains articles, stories, games, puzzles, holiday matter, and an abundance of pictures and illustrations. It contains translations from Hebrew and Yiddish literature, in addition to its original material. Haboneh has been used extensively by madrichim and chaverim in the planning of their educational programs. Haboneh has been designed to serve as an auxiliary tool for the Habonim camps and for Jewish schools. Each issue of Haboneh has transmitted a great wealth of Jewish and Labor Zionist information. The first central theme of each issue is the Jewish holiday that falls during the month. The second theme has usually been an important historic event which took place during the month. Each issue continues to contain material on modern Israel, Jewish life in America, and the entire Jewish world. Another regular feature has been the biographical sketch of an important Jewish or labor leader. And the final regular feature has been the movement itself, expressed in news or through the adventures of "Boneh Katan" in the early days or the stories of "Osher Epstein" today.

(During the year 1945-46, Davar Latzofeh, a monthly newspaper, replaced Haboneh. It was also designed to meet the interests of the younger chaverim of Habonim. The following year, however, Haboneh was resumed.)

Alot appeared from December, 1939, until the end of 1950 as the internal publication of Chavurat Aliya, the organization of potential chalutzim in Habonim. Since that time Bashaar has appeared as the publication of various garinim (settlement .groups) or as the publication of Chavurat Aliya. These two publications have discussed specific Habonim chalutz problems and the adjustment of Americans to all forms of life in Israel and have presented authoritative news from Israel and its labor movement. All of this has helped guide the chaver in preparing for his life in Israel.

The Menahel, issued for Habonim leaders, first made its appearance in November, 1936. Since October, 1954, it has appeared as Hamadrich, in line with the change in Habonim's Hebrew terminology which took place at that time. Its primary aim has been to create a body of competent and informed group leaders in the movement. Through direct contact with the madrichim these :publications have made it possible to create a unified educational approach throughout the movement. The Menahel and Hamadrich have suggested programs and discussions and presented material on techmiques and outlines of educational projects. Madrichim continue to write in and discuss problems of concern to them and those they are educating. Many heated debates which have taken place in the movement have been reflected in the pages of these publications.

Throughout the years, the national office has maintained contacts with the chaverim by means of circular letters, minutes, and special bulletins. Hundreds of mimeographed bulletins and cultural programs have appeared. Basic curricula for younger groups, as well as the beginning of a curriculum for older groups;, have appeared. Elaborate study guides, basic material, and suggested projects have appeared each year for Camp Kvutza and for the work in the machanot, We will conclude this survey with a listing of the printed pamphlets and books issued over the years by the: Young Poale Zion Alliance and Habonim, prior to this volume:

The Histadrut; Selected Writings in Socialist-Zionism; Essays on Socialist Zionism, by Nachman Syrkin; Revolutionary Constructivism, by Berl Katznelson; Nationalism and the Class Struggle, by Ber Borochov; Jewish Youth faces the War, by An Lashner; The Kvutza, by Shalom Wurm; The ABC of Zionist Policy, by David Ben-Gurion; In the Wake of Ruin, by Ben Zion Dinaburg; The Jewish Communal Settlements in Palestine, by Anna Hartog; Americans in Galilee; Arise and Build; Miriam folk Biderman— In Memoriam; The Labor Zionist Handbook; The Menahel Anthology; Life in a Kibbutz, by Murray Weingarten, which was issued in conjunction with the Reconstructionist Press; and Adventure in Pioneering, which was edited by David Breslau and appeared to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of Habonim camping.

D.B., 1960