October 9, 2023

Dear Tnua, 

Aleh v’Hagshem, 
Mazkirut Artzit 5784

October 8, 2023

This evening, we received tragic news of the disappearance of Vivian Silver, who was taken hostage into Gaza. Vivian is an HDNA magshima and Alum, a member of Kibbutz Beer’i, and a founding member of Kibbutz Gezer. 

Vivian is an incredibly powerful woman and lifelong activist in many arenas, including as a founding member of Women Wage Peace, and Najeec Nisped (a Bedouin women’s org). She has connections with many Gazans and initiated and manages many co-existence projects with residents of the West Bank and Gaza. She works tirelessly towards peace and justice. 

Last year’s mazkirut artzit were lucky enough to meet with her on seminar yeud and hear a few of her incredible stories. Our hearts are heavy as we watch this violence unfold during this year’s seminar yeud. 

All peoples are blessed to have a partner like Vivian, and we pray for her speedy and safe return, and the return of all those brutally taken hostage.

October 7, 2023

Dear Tnua,

This morning we woke up to the sound of sirens. From the stairwell of Garin Tzur’s apartment complex, we followed the news as the unanticipated attack that we are currently witnessing began to unfold on this traditionally joyous holiday. We watched with shock and heavy hearts as Hamas opened an attack on Israel on the scale of some of the largest conflicts in Israel’s history. Rockets continue to hit Israel, air attacks continue to hit Gaza, and ground fighting continues in Israeli towns near the Gazan border. We as a Mazkirut Artzit are safe, and the Workshoppers are safe. We have many partners in Israel, and we encourage the ma’apilimot and nachshonimot to reach out to their madrichimot and friends in Israel who are affected by this violence. Your messages and care matter to them. We also recognize that this violence impacts anyone who is invested in the region and in the Jewish people, and we encourage all chanichimot of the movement to reach out to friends, partners and madrichimot in these difficult times.

On a personal note for Habonim Dror, Ofir Libstein, the chair of the board of directors of Habonim Dror Olami, was killed in a gunfight defending his Kibbutz near Gaza. Ofir was a lifelong Kibbutz member who served as the chair of Habonim Dror for many years. He was the mayor of the Sha’ar HaNegev regional council, working diligently to take responsibility for the towns in the region including improving relations with Gazan neighbors and promoting cooperative efforts. His death is a shock and a tragedy for many in the Habonim Family and for all of the people of Israel. Our condolences go out to his family and the entire world Habonim Dror team. Zichrono Livracha. May his memory be for a blessing.

We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of life and the violence that this conflict has caused. We as a movement stand in solidarity with all peoples in Israel and Gaza, and we call for peace. In these disturbing times, we struggle, as always, for shared liberation.

Aleh v’Hagshem, 
Mazkirut Artzit 5784

April 18, 2023

On Yom Hashoah, we remember our forebears of from Dror who resisted against the Jewish genocide in Europe.

Chavka Raban Folman : 1924-2014. Pictured here studying at the underground school run by the Dror Movement in the Warsaw Ghetto, Chavka was a chanicha of the movement and active as a courier. She illegally travelled between ghettos, moving documents, weapons, and people. She was caught during one of these missions to the Krakow Ghetto and sent to Auschwitz. She survived, emigrated to Israel and lectured and educated about her time in the movement and the underground until her death.

Yitzhak Zuckerman: 1915-1981. Known by his underground name, Antek, he was one of the leaders of the Dror movement before the start of WWII and one of the key figures in the Jewish Fighting Organization that led the uprising. Guided by the values of the movement he loved and led, he was second in command during the uprising, active in organizing the survivors in post-war Europe and founding the Ghetto Fighter’s Kibbutz and Museum.

Tzivia Lubetkin: 1914-1978. A madricha of the Dror movement and highest ranking woman in the Jewish Fighting Organization during the uprising, Tzivia led her chanichimot through the most challenging of situations as the Nazis laid siege to the ghetto. She survived, fought in the Polish Uprising of 1944, and travelled to Eretz Yisrael, where she gave testimony at Kibbutz Yagur.
“What gave us this moral strength? We were able to endure the life in the ghetto because we knew that we were a collective, a movement. Each of us knew that he wasn’t alone. Every other Jew faced his fate alone, one man before the overpowering, invincible enemy. From the very first moment until the bitter end, we stood together, as a collective, as a movement. The feeling that there was a movement, a community of people who cared about each other, who shared ideas and values in common, made it possible for each of us to do what we did.”

The last photo is of our Workshoppers on their recent trip to Poland. They are seen standing around a monument to the sewer grate, decorated with the Hebrew letter “‫ב‬”, where Tzivia helped dozens of Jews escape from the Warsaw Ghetto.

February 24, 2023

As we watch the news coming out of Israel regarding the proposed judicial reforms, we are horrified that democracy in Israel is under attack once more. For years, we have seen the occupation undermine Israel’s democratic character. These judicial reforms are the next steps in bringing down democracy and further entrenching the occupation. Not only that but these reforms will further silence Palestinians’ voices, along with other minority groups in Israel.

To take the power of the courts and give it to the ruling coalition is a classic indicator of budding fascism. This year, the 75th year of Israel’s existence, we should be reflecting on the deep and storied history of the Jewish state. Instead, we are faced with a democratic crisis that rapidly furthers fascist ideals.

As a Zionist youth movement, we have a unique role in the facilitation of democracy and building the society of tomorrow. We have a long history of holding the vision and the reality of Israel side by side. But the youth of today have not seen an Israel that gets better. We have only seen an Israel that becomes more right wing, more conservative, and further and further from the dream of a just and collaborative society. It is harder for the youth to believe that things will get better. The youth deserve leaders who will defend the future of the Jewish people in a way that allows for the liberation of Jews, Palestinians, and everyone who calls the land of Israel home.

We have seen the protestors on the streets of Israel for the last 8 weeks. In fact, we joined one of the first protests last month during a seminar in which we were envisioning our hopes and dreams for our movement. During the protest, we could feel the citizens of Israel’s hopes and dreams of a democratic, just, and Jewish state that they can be proud of. As the youth of Habonim Dror North America, we are in solidarity with the protesting citizens of the state of Israel. We demand for our shared vision of a just state to be made reality: for the judicial reforms to be revoked and for the government of Israel to create a society in which all its inhabitants are valued and represented.

June 24, 2022

Habonim Dror North America is deeply disturbed by the decision of the Supreme Court today to take away the constitutional right to an abortion. We urge everyone to do all they can to fight for the right to reproductive health for people everywhere by protesting, voting, and educating those around you to continue to build a world based on Shivyon Erech Ha’Adam.

HDNA stands with everyone seeking reproductive health rights during this time. We encourage you to look up protests and local activism in your area. Check out the link in our bio for more resources related to abortion justice.

May 15, 2022

HDNA is horrified by the racially motivated terror attack that happened yesterday at a supermarket in Buffalo. We mourn for the 10 lives taken out of sinat hinam – baseless hatred – and pray for the recovery of the 3 people injured. This was a targeted attack, with the shooter deliberately going to the zip code in Buffalo with the highest percentage of Black people. There can be no doubt that this was an act of white supremacy.

We yearn for the day that mass shootings will be a distant memory and ahavat hinam – baseless love – will be at the forefront of our lives. As the U.S primaries occur over the next several months, we urge you to use your voice and vote for those who work towards justice and peace.

April 1, 2022

It has been an undeniably painful and heart-wrenching week for anyone who dreams of peace and justice in Israel and Palestine. 11 lives lost in just 8 days. These were lives of Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druz, and Ukranians, all lost to the terror and hatred of violence. May their memories be a revolution.

We condemn this violence, and the violence that may ensue hereafter. We are sending deep love and healing to those who have been affected by these tragedies. Our thoughts are with everyone who lives in fear of the violence they may face on a daily basis just for existing in their religious or racial identity.

You are all in our minds as we move about our lives. You are all in our minds as we struggle to hold strong our dreams for the state of Israel.

Sending love and healing to all of those impacted by the recent acts of terror and lives lost in Israel. May their memories be a revolution.

– Mazkirut Artzit 5782 + Tzevet Higui

January 16, 2022

We are heartbroken by the events that took place yesterday at Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas. Shabbat is a time of renewal, of peace. No one should have to fear an attack during the holiest time of the week. We send prayers of resilience and strength to the community in Texas and think of generations of Jews who have risked their lives to be who they are. We are relieved and grateful that everyone was released unharmed and dream of a day when a synagogue is never in doubt as a place of safety.

We send our thoughts and prayers to Congregation Beth Israel and to the whole Jewish community. We stand in solidarity with you and will walk together to build a better future, free of persecution and fear.

November 5, 2021

On October 22, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz reclassified 6 Palestinians human rights organizations as terrorist organizations under Israeli law. This means that those who work for or are found to be supporting these organizations can face legal threats. This action, masquerading as a counterterrorism effort, is a transparent attack on the foundations of justice and self-determination that Jewish people everywhere hold dear.

As Habonim Dror North America, we see this decision as antithetical to a just and democratic Israel. We aim to work towards a vision of an Israeli society that deeply values shivyon erech ha’adom (the equality of human value), justice and liberation for both Israelis and Palestinians, and a way for all people to live in peace. We condemn this decision, and we call upon Minister Gantz and the whole of the 36th government to reverse this policy. Only through justice can we continue to work towards a brighter and better future for all the people who live in Israel and Palestine.

The fight for human rights in Israel and Palestine will always be a major part of HNDA’s mission, and in light of this recent news, it is no different. We encourage you to learn about the 6 Palestinians organizations now labeled “terrorist” as well as the entire situation at the link in our bio.