Hi again. As mentioned before, our annual Yam L'Yam (Sea to sea) hike starts tomorrow and I wanted to take this opportunity to give you some more information.

We set off early in the morning, and will meet all the other Habonim Dror long-term program participants at Achziv beach, which is just north of Nahariya, on the Meditteranean Coast. There are participants from all around the world - Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England, Brazil, Argetina and Uruguay - and this is the first formal opportunity the workshoppers have to meet everyone.

On Sunday the plan is to hike one of a few trails just near to Achziv - Betzet, Sheref or Cziv(which will only be confirmed in the morning, depending on the weather) and we will be sleeping in Goren Park, a JNF reserve just next to Kibbutz Goren. We sleep outside under the stars, although tents will be available for those who wish.

On Monday we will hike from the moshav of Elkosh, up along Mt Meron and around the summit. That night we will sleep in the Nachal Amud Camping Ground, which is located just near the Meron moshav.

On Tuesday we will hike the Upper Nachal Amud trail, and will return by bus to the same camping ground as the previous night.

On Wednesday we will hike either the Lower Amud trail, or a shorter hike through banana fields (again, depending on possible weather restrictions) and finish at Kibbutz Ginosar, which is located on the shores of the Kinneret lake.

I understand some of these places must sound pretty foreign, but feel free to take a look through any of the many mapping facilities available on the internet (eyeonisrael.com maps 2 and 3 cover all the area we are hiking).

Cell phone reception during parts of the hike are very limited, but should you have any urgent concerns, please contact Michael Kanter.

Wishing everyone a Shavua Tov!

Hi all

This past week was action packed on Boneh! This weeks theme looked at Judaism and the relationship between the monothiestic religions. A particular focus was on Jerusalem, given the importance of the city for all the religions - and specifically the workshoppers looked at the History of Jerusalem, the Book of Chronicles, the different conquests that took place over the city, David and Solomon and Solomon's building of the Temple, and Jesus' pilgrimage to Jerusalem. On Tuesday the workshoppers excursion was to the Old City of Jerusalem, with a tour of the Southern Excavations and the Davidson centre. The centre is part of the Jerusalem Archaelogical Park and offered the workshoppers an exhibition of archaeological objects, a real time virtual reality reconstruction of the Herodian Temple, and a hugh definition video of a Jewish pilgrimage to Second Temple period Jerusalem. There is archaeological digs continuing at the moment, but the exhibition allows you to see an example of a street in the 1st century, and ancient mikveh (ritual bath) and various other spots of interest which have been uncovered in the digs.

On Wednesday, the workshoppers celebrated Succot together with the UK participants with an enormous Succot extravaganza. The morning started with a lovely Succot performance, by some of the madrichim. Afterwards, everyone was divided into small groups and had various tasks to complete such as a answering a multiple choice quiz, a Succot-themed music quiz, and a Succah building competition. We finished off by learning some Succot songs.

Early on Sunday morning, we depart for the Yam l'Yam (Sea to sea) Hike. More details will be posted shortly.

Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom!

Boneh has resumed for a short week, due to the Succot chag starting on Wednesday afternoon. This week has a slightly different schedule, with Tuesday being a seminar day but entirely "in the field" on an excursion to the Old City of Jerusalem, which links to this weeks theme of Monothiestic Religions. Wednesday morning will be a combined Succot celebration with the Habonim Dror UK group, also on Boneh.
Last Wednesday, as part of the Table to Table project (www.tabletotable.org.il), the workshoppers picked an astounding 104 crates of tomatoes! A fun and productive morning was had by everyone. The workshoppers will participate in more Table To Table projects throughout Boneh.
On Thursday, during the visit to the Israel Musuem, the workshoppers watched a movie relating to the 2nd Temple period in Jerusalem, and also saw the Shrine of the Book, which is where the Dead Sea Scrolls are kept. There was also some time for free time in the museum, for workshoppers to visit exhibits which interested them. Afterwards, there was some more free time in the Malcha shopping mall, before returning to Kibbutz.

short update

Hi all, just filling you in with a short update.
Boneh is progressing well and the workshoppers are slowly settling into Netiv HaLamed Hey and the Boneh schedule. They have sorted out rooms and finally started unpacking the mass of luggage/stuff that they brought with them!
Sunday and Tuesday this week were both seminar days, and the workshoppers had a broad introduction to Judaism, that incorporated many interesting and new themes for all. They also started their hadracha classes which essentially focus on being a madrich and all aspects related to that (leadership skills, youth development/psychology, etc). Tomorrow, Wednesday, all the workshoppers will have their first 'avoda' rotation and both kvutsot will be fruit picking in the morning on Kvutsat Shiller, a kibbutz next to Rehovot. In the afternoon, they start their first hebrew class! On Thursday, the siyur (tour) is to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, which will hopefully link many of the seminar themes from the past week, together with the weeks ahead. This weekend, Yom Kippur, is a free weekend again, and most of the workshoppers have opted to stay on Netiv HaLamed Hey.
Gmar Hatima Tova,

Chag Sameach

Hi All
The orientation tiyul has now finished, and all workshoppers are either at their destinations for the chag, or on the way.
The tiyul by all accounts was a fantastic and fun experience where the workshoppers spent a lot of time together, and also with the Habonim Dror UK group. The hikes were challenging, but also rewarding in many senses.
On Monday, the group did the Ein Ovdat track, Tuesday the gorgeous Nachal Arugot (overlooking the Dead Sea) and then spent a few hours floating in the Dead Sea and stretching their muscles. This morning, they did a short hike of Nachal David (also overlooking the Dead Sea) before departing the area. [I will try to put up a few pics later in the day]
The chofesh period lasts until Sunday morning, upon where the workshoppers will have their Ivrit tests, to place them in different levels, and start their first Boneh seminar - Introduction to Judaism!
Wishing you and your families a Shana Tova,
Vered, Michael and the Workshop tzevet!

Boneh kicks off!

Hi all
After a very busy week, the workshoppers arrived on Kibbutz Netiv HaLamed Hey today, to start the Boneh portion of the year.
This past week saw the workshoppers on Kibbutz Hanaton hostel, which proved to be a beautiful scenic setting in which to discuss and further solidify many of their aims of the year ahead. Topics discussed included the definition of the word "Hachshara" (literally in Hebrew translates to "training" but has connotations of preparations for youth movement leadership), the equality of human value, wiping away prior stigmas and starting discussions on responsibility for the year ahead. During this time, after preparatory peulot, the 2 kvutsot were also split. The madrichim for the 2 kvutsot are Ruth & Amir, and Itamar & Lihi.
Friday and Saturday were a free weekend, with the majority of the workshoppers taking advantage of accomodation provided by Habonim, at Ramat Efal Seminar Centre (just outside Tel Aviv).
Today, the Boneh portion started, with some formal and informal gibush (bonding/getting to know you activities) with the Habonim Dror UK group, who are also present on Netivaleh for Boneh. We also had a short tour of the kibbutz (as scene above), and some basic orientation information was gone over. The rest of the evening was time to prepare for tiyul tomorrow, and relax a bit!
Tomorrow the workshoppers are on tiyul in the Sde Boker/Judean desert region. The plan is for them to set off relatively early on Monday morning, and hike in the Ein Ovdat region, and then sleep in a camping ground next to Midreshet Sde Boker - called Chan HaShayarot. On Tuesday, they will hike in the beautiful Dead Sea area, followed by some swim/floating time in the Dead Sea, and spend the night at the Masada youth hostel. On Wednesday they will either have a short hike, or possibly more Dead Sea time, depending on how Tuesday pans out! The buses will then do a drop off for the Rosh Hashana chag weekend.
Hoping everyone is well,
Vered

Orientation Continues..

Hi again,
The workshoppers have now moved onto Kibbutz Hanaton guest house for the 2nd part of their orientation, after a nice and relaxing weekend in Jerusalem. During the weekend, workshoppers got an introduction to Israeli culture both through various tasks they had to complete on Emek Refaim street; and a giant jeopardy/quiz game including subjects such as "The Price is Right" (where workshoppers had to guess prices of fairly random but common Israeli items). A definite highlight was the leisurely Friday evening stroll from the hostel through the Old City to the Kotel.
I have received a request for the mailing address for all workshoppers for the next few months, while they are on Boneh. It is:
[Participant Name]
Habonim Dror
Kibbutz Netiv HaLamed Hey
D.N. HaElla 99855
ISRAEL.
Until next time,
Vered