A New Year — Shofar, So Good

by Zoey Green

The sounding of the shofar is a powerful symbol that has taken on new meanings each year I’ve heard it. When I was young, it was a challenge: when will your lungs grow strong enough to turn the nebulous gas you breathe into crisp, concentrated noise? When I was bat-mitzvah aged, it was a test: do you know the name and pattern of each blast and what each meant to the generations before you? Then somewhere along the way, I questioned tradition, wondering whether I liked my New Year to be celebrated with silence or with sound and why was everyone so willing to put their mouth on the same old ram’s horn anyway? As I surrounded myself with the quirky energy that emanates from a room full of Habos, I discovered meaning in Judaism through its continuous demand that I seek to change the world for the better. With that realization, the dynamic sounds of the shofar came to signify solidarity and the importance of the community standing with every individual who is defiant enough to embrace tradition and make it relevant again today.

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A Communal Confession

by Sara Zebovitz

One of the most repeated prayers in the Rosh haShana and Yom Kippur services – and the ten days in between – is one of repentance. It’s called the Ashamnu (literally, “we have been guilty”), the prayer of confession. It is written as an acrostic, a type of poem common in Jewish prayer. The Ashamnu is said silently during the Amidah prayer, and aloud afterwards. The unique thing about this prayer is that it is not a personal repentance; all of the words are in the first person, plural, and past tense. We say, “אשמנו, בגדנו, גזלנו…” – “we have incurred guilt, we have betrayed, we have stolen…” Why is this prayer recited in this tense, and why are we required to atone for things we have not done? We may have not stolen, lied, committed adultery, or acted violently, but there are others in our communities who have. By reciting this prayer of collective confession, we are taking responsibility over our wider community and taking it upon ourselves to repent for those who have not.

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Welcome Our New Shlichim!

Picture of Ido Rumianek

Ido, 34, comes to us from Pardes Hana. He is married to Nurit and father to Alma, a 1 year-old baby. He grew up in Kfar Kish (in the north of Israel), where he was a chanich and a madrich in the B'nei-haMoshavim youth movement (a division within our sister movement of haNoar haOved v'haLomed). He is a social worker with experience with youth at risk and adolescence groups in Israel.

 

Hila Huber, Camp Galil

Hila Huber, Camp Galil

Hila, 23, was raised in Gan Ner, near Mt. Gilboa. Hila was involved in the B'nei-haMoshavim youth movement since she was 10 years old. She was a chanicha and a madricha in the Gan Ner ken and continued on to a Shnat Sheirut, year of community service, organizing community events as a madricha. Hila is fluent not only in Hebrew and English, but also in Arabic and Portuguese.

Daniel_NadavNadav, 23, is from Jerusalem, where he was a chanich and madrich, for at-risk youth, in the Tzophim (Israeli Scouts). Prior to his military service, he volunteered for a year of service and learning in the ha'Emek, a pre-army academy. Nadav also attended the Ein Prat Academy for Leadership where he studied the bible, Talmud, and Western philosophy.  

Ameinu Urban Kibbutz Social Change

Ameinu, in cooperation with Dror Israel, the largest urban kibbutz movement in Israel, is launching a new Israel program called Urban Kibbutz Social Change. The first cohort of the five month program will begin in September, 2019 and is recognized by Masa Israel Journey. Participants will live communally in Haifa, volunteer in a range of social action settings alongside their Israeli counterparts, study Hebrew and tour around Israel.

Program and registration information available at: www.kibbutzprogramcenter.net

Or contact: Miki Golod, National Program Director at 212-366-1194 and mail@kibbutzprogramcenter.org

Tisha B’av 5774

Tisha B’av, תשעה באב, the summer holy day commemorating Destruction and Renewal, challenges us as educators, Jews, and human beings every year. We hope these resources can aid you in your personal and communal observance of this day. Especially this summer, reflecting on this chag and current events, we are faced with its relevance. Conflict and injustice surround us. We must continue to learn, hope, and find ways to join as a Jewish people and as humankind to combat these recurring tragedies in search for peace and equality. Click here for the Tisha B’av 5774 Resources.

We wanted to send this out as early as possible for the resources to be useful to you all, especially those of you at machanot. We intend to send out some supplemental materials in the next two weeks before the chag.
Alu v’hagshemu,
The Mazkirut Artzit

Six North American Summer Camps

Machanot Kayitz — מחנות קיץ

Habonim Dror machanot (summer camps) provide children ages 8-17 with a unique camping experience. Based on the model of a kibbutz, each machaneh (camp) creates a close-knit community based on Jewish ideals of collective responsibility, respect, equality, and friendship. A wealth of activities, programs, and scouting events are offered at each machaneh: from arts and crafts to Hebrew songs and rikkud (Israeli dancing); a full sports program to nature study. Chanichimot (campers) will grow physically, emotionally and intellectually in a creative, open, and caring environment. Habonim Dror has been providing a machaneh experience since 1932.

To find out more about the Habonim Dror Machanot (Summer Camps), follow the links below to their respective websites:

Machaneh Galil Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York
Machaneh Gesher Eastern Canada
Machaneh Gilboa Western United States
Machaneh Miriam Pacific Northwest (U.S. and Canada)
Machaneh Moshava Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia
Machaneh Tavor Mid-Western United States

 

Camp is Time Off for Technology

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KRISTEN MOTT CJN Staff Reporter
February 28, 2014 10:30 am

With cellphones, iPads and computers, children are constantly plugged in to technology. But when it comes time to attend an overnight summer camp, unplugging from technology is crucial.  “The whole idea is socialization and actually talking to people face-to-face and not texting or ignoring them, so we can build community,” said Shelley Goldwater, the executive director of Habonim Dror Camp Tavor, a Jewish overnight camp in southwest Michigan. “They’re so addicted to being on computers and such that they don’t even know what to do with themselves.”

Camp Tavor has always had a “no technology” policy in place for campers. Camp staff have access to computers to plan activities and are allowed to bring their personal cellphones to camp, but are not allowed to use their phones around the campers.  Read more ….

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