THE MACHON TODAY

To train, in Israel, students from all countries to become leaders in their respective youth movements or organizations is the major aim of the Machon l'madrichei Chutz l'Aretz or Institute for Youth Leaders from Abroad.

Representatives of college age from every Jewish youth movement and organization the world over participate in this course for one year. Thus, many shades of Jewish thought and opinion are represented by the participants, who are sent from such groups as Habonim, Student Zionist Organization, Hashomer Hatzair, Young Judea, B'nai Akiva, Dror, United Synagogue Youth, Betar, B'nai Zion, and many more.
They also come from just as many and diverse countries of the world, such as Canada, France, Holland, the United States, England, Belgium, Iraq, Argentina, South Africa, and so on. This variety of backgrounds and views is, in itself, good training to be a madrich, a leader, in a Jewish youth organization.

The Machon program has three divisions: study, life on an agricultural settlement, and a period of summation. For the first five months all the students, numbering about one hundred, study intensively together at the Machon in Jerusalem. Designed to provide a good background in Jewish studies, some of the subjects taught are: Bible, Jewish history, Zionism, economics of the Israel, Israel and the Middle East, geography of Israel, Hagana and the War of Independence, and education in Israel. Special emphasis is placed on the Hebrew language and its literature.

Special training courses are also given in leadership methods, both in theory and in practice. For example, psychology of adolescence and group dynamics are taught. Study circles in singing, dancing, arts and crafts, dramatics, chalil (recorder), drum, scouting, and advanced Jewish studies are offered, as well.

During this study period the students go on several organized tiyulim (trips) throughout Israel to become acquainted with and to get a better understanding of the country.

The organization that has sent a group of students to the Machon is responsible, together with the Jewish Agency, for the program that group is to follow for the second five months. Obviously, since there is a variety of sponsoring organizations, there is a variety of plans. This means the Machon group now has to be divided into smaller sub-groups.

Always, some, or even all, of these five months are spent on agricultural settlements, usually on kibbutzim. Here the Machon student attempts to integrate into the life of the kibbutz and tries to understand its way of life. He does this by living according to the schedule of a kibbutz member, which means acquiring the latter's habits in working, eating, sleeping, and socializing.

Often, during this second period, the movement sponsors a seminar. In this seminar the student learns about his own movements organization, ideology, and policies. 

The final month brings all the Machon students together again in Jerusalem for a summation of the year. At this time much of the program is devoted to planning definite activities for the movement back in his home country. 

The Jewish Agency's purpose in establishing the Machon was to provide Jewish youth movements all over the world with a source of specialized training for leadership. So, each Machon participant is expected to serve his own organization or movement for at least two years.

American Habonim annually sends about four of its members to receive leadership training on the Machon. Four Habonim members in August completed the year's study at the Machon and are now leaders in their cities. Presently, four other Habonim members are in Jerusalem studying at the Machon.

GILDA SIMON, Washington, 1959