Towards the end of Machatz

As some of you may or may not have heard, we unfortunately had to send home another three MBI participants. On one of the Kibbutzim there is an area where the 18 year old army aged Kibbutzniks live and the MBIers there were warned not to go spend time there. Unfortunately, despite no less than two separate warnings about spending time there, two nights ago several MBIers went there after they were supposed to be asleep and these 18 yr olds provided alcohol to these MBIers. The three MBIers were caught partaking in this alcohol and as had already been made clear, is against our rules and results in dismissal from the program.

It was sad and unfortunate to have this happen again despite having the MBIers witness the consequences of others who partake in similar actions. Despite providing a safe environment with overall consistent supervision(Approx 1:6 madrich/chanich ratio) and clear rules, we cannot always prevent the unfortunate breaking of our important rules. We have and will continue to enforce our policies and evaluate the circumstances of these instances to try figure out if there is anything we can do in the future to prevent this from happening. The fact remains that by and large our program participants follow our rules, as part of creating a positive social environment that is crucial to the spirit and success of MBI and Habonim Dror.

Today the MBIers had their final full day of Machatz with a variety of activites. Many of the Kibbutzim were wrapping up their respective tiyulim. Some participants had mornings by the Kinneret packing up, hiking and heading back to their Kibbutz. Others partook in more aspects of their tiyul, enjoying the beauty of the areas near the Kinneret and the Golan Heights.

Many of the MBIers also took part in work projects on the Kibbutz. Some of them had the opportunity to join different anafim(work groups) whether they were working in the fields, landscaping, working with kids, or others. Most of the MBIers got some time after avodah and coming back from tiyul to relax and have fun at the great Kibbutz pools. The pool on a most Kibbutzim is a social place and usually quite nice as swimming pools go.

In the evening most of the MBIers had dinner with their host family as a farewell but also to have delicious home cooked meal. It was a final chance to connect with their host family and a chance to have a more traditional Israeli meal. Many of the MBIers had the chance to watch the Olympics and cheer on Israel, the US and Canada. The evening was rounded out with a farewell mesibah(party) with their new Kibbutz friends as their special time on Kibbutz was coming to a close.

Tomorrow the MBIers will be picked up from their buses to head towards the center of the country. They will all head down to Holon where they will meet up for lunch and then have a fascinating afternoon at the Blind Museum which is unique is attempting to have museum-goers to experience what it's like to be blind. In the evening they will head to a familiar and welcome stomping ground of the air-conditioned cabins at Nes Harim. Just a few more days of MBI...

As a final note that I will post tomorrow. I will be out of town from Friday until Sunday night at a close friend's wedding. As always I can be reached on the Habonim Dror cellphone during that time should any issues arise.

Machatz Continues...

The MBIers were busy having fun experiences on their various Kibbutzim. Below I will list a glimpse into some of the activities that took place on each Kibbutz. Given that there are 8 Kibbutzim, they all are having varied, but similar experiences will slightly different schedules.

On Kibbutz Afikim the MBIers woke up early to some work doing some landscaping, cleaning up and pruning some trees on a nearby orchard on the Kibbutz. Later on they set off for a tiyul which included going Kayaking on the Jordan River. They also will be sleeping out under the stars with their new Kibbutz friends as part of the tiyul.

Today Bet Haemek set off for their tiyul which included going to the Achziv beach on the Kinneret to both relax and to take in some fun water activities. They also slept out on the banks of thr Kinneret where they a bonfire, sang songs and enjoyed the starry sky above.

On Maayan Baruch they actually headed into a nearby forest to take part in a day of "Survivor". Many different games and competitions took place in this day of outdoor fun and bonding.
Shaar Hagolan went on a Jeep tour of the Golan and later on went Banana Boating on the Kinneret.

Metzuba had a more relaxed enjoying the amenities of the Kibbutz and enjoying swimming in the Kibbutz pool among other activities. At Kibbutz Kinneret they too had a time to swim, play and enjoy the pool. Later on they had a learning tour about Naomi Shemer who is a famous Israeli singer and songwriter who is from the Kibbutz and passed away several years ago. Lastly Kibbutz Ammiad also had a tiyul where they went to the Chof Chalukim at the Kinneret and took part in various water activities. They too had the thrill to also sleep out on the banks of the Kinneret.

First Full Day of Machatz

With MBIers getting a taste of Kibbutz on their various Kibbutzim, varied but similar experiences are being had by all the MBIers. I am going to try to list some of the many different activities the MBIers are taking part in. Some of the activities done on one Kibbutz will be done later in the week or possibly not at all. Overall the Machatz(Kibbutz) has and will be a memorable one. Most of the MBIers have Kibbutz families who are again providing a new insight into Israeli life and culture on the most basic level.

Last night was a fun night to get to know the Kibbutz and the Israeli Kibbutzniks that are the same age as the MBIers. Today continued the cultural exchange through a variety of activites. On one Kibbutz the MBIers set off for a great hike along Nachal(River) Ziv and ended up sleeping out near the Jordan River and will do some more hiking tomorrow.

Other Kibbutzim had more relaxed days with hikes planned for tomorrow. One Kibbtuz had a dance party at the Kibbutz Disco tonight which was a fun look into Israeli music and the Israeli integration of Western culture and music. Another group took part in an Israeli culture night to learn more about what's new and cool in Israeli music as well as eating delicious humus among other Israeli foods.

Many of the Kibbutzim had time to go swimming today in the Kibbutz pools which often are quite lovely and fun to swim. Two of the Kibbutzim had fun night of "al haesh"(on the fire) or barbequing by the fool while meeting and spending time with the Israelis their age. Many of the Kibbutzim had activities led by their madrichim(counselors) and also gave the MBIers that chance to catch up on some sleep as they were aware of the busy schedules of MBI and the relaxed atmosphere often found on Kibbutz.

Tomorrow several groups are taking part in their avodah(work) projects, with waking up early and heading out to the banana and lychee orchards. One group is taking a jeep trip through the Golan. Many of the groups are going on tiyul tomorrow at the Kinneret where the MBIers will get more time to swim, sun and sleep out on the beautiful banks of the Kinneret. It is a great mix of fun, relaxing, and ultimately a slice of Kibbutz life in Israel today.

End of Machaneh and beginning of Machatz

Saturday morning the MBIers awoke to set off on a Shabbat Tiyul, a tradition shared by the Israelis and those from Machaneh(Camp) Miriam. They set off for a short hike which included many interactive parts to the morning besides hiking. First off they stopped not too long after setting off to have a delicious breakfast they would make themselves. As part of bringing Israeli and Hanoar Haoved culture, they made a fire and cooked on a taboun which is a sort of Middle Eastern grill that is a half-sphere of metal to place over the fire. On they cooked different pastries they made that were filled with delicious fillings of cheese and vegetables. They also made pita and had other spreads to go along with breakfast.

The hike continued to be an infusion of Israeli and NOAL culture as there were also a round-robin of stations during the hike led by the Israeli madrichim(counselors). At the the stations they learned different stories of Israeli folklore and culture. This was part of the continuing effort to shed light on the narrative and background of Israeli culture that their Israeli counterparts grew up with.

They returned to the Yaar Levi for lunch in the Chadar Ochel(Dining Hall) and proceeded to have a more traditional MBI shabbat afternoon. There were Chugim which included many different topics to learn and discuss with their madrichim(counselors) about contemporary issues in Israel, among others. Later they had a peula(activity) focused on Tikkun Olam(Social Justice/Fixing the World), as it is a fundamental part of Habonim Dror and Hanoar Haoved.

They also proceeded to have a special Musicale with their Israeli friends, had dinner and moved on to close out the week with Havdallah. It again was a special experience for the MBIers to share their North American tradition of Havdallah with the NOAL participants, many of whom were quite foreign to the weekly practice, especially the version that is enjoyed in Habonim. The evening was rounded out with Mishpachot(families) with all the machanot(camps) getting some time to sit down together and catch up on the week past and prepare for the excitement of the week ahead.

Today the MBIers awoke for their final morning of Machaneh Tnua Achot(Sister Summer Camp). They a peula(activity) after breakfast and participated in a sikkum(summary) of the few wonderful days they shared with their new Israeli friends. Many new connections and friendships were sprung from this time together, as well as a deeper grasp and understanding of what it means to be 16 and live in Israel.

They also got a special shirt to commemorate this special machaneh(camp) to add to the many great memories and things they will be taking away from MBI. After saying many goodbyes the MBIers loaded up on to the buses and headed off for a new meeting of Israeli cultures as the Machatz time period was set to commence.

The MBIers got dropped off at their Kibbutzim by the late afternoon where they were met by Kibbutniks their age. For the next several days the MBIers will be on their respective Kibbutzim, taking part in similar, but unique programs at each Kibbutz. The MBIers got to settle into the homes for the Machatz time period and meet their Israeli hosts. Many had a barbeque to meet the Israelis there age and eat some great food. It should be a great week filled with more exchanges of Israeli culture, an overnight, an avodah project and much more. More to come tomorrow!

Day 2 of Machaneh

This morning the MBIers awoke from their tents, washed up in the bath houses, and headed to breakfast in the chadar ochel(dining hall). They proceeded to have a busy morning having peulot(activities) with their new friends. A lot of the experience was continuing the exchange between the MBIers and the Israelis. While learning about the differences between North American and Israeli culture, one of the goals of MBI was being realized to have first-hand experiences with Israelis their age.

In the afternoon the MBIers took part in different Shabbat Chugim, where they got to pick from several different options. The activities included, Rikud(Israeli dance), Soccer, Sports, Cards, and "Crazy Fun Stuff" where they played different games and activities. Afterwards the MBIers had some to rest, clean up and get ready for their first joint Shabbat with Israelis their age!

The MBIers led Kabbalat Shabbat and sang many songs they are used to singing at machaneh(camp) and at home. For some of the Hanoar Haoved participants this was a new experience to both have a more culturally Jewish experience was incorporating the traditional elements of Friday night. Often these exchanges are quite meaningful as some Israelis are used to living more secular lives and are not exposed to the positive Jewish experience that Habonim Dror provides.

After a nice Shabbat dinner, the MBIers had a sort of Beit Cafe(Coffee House) where all the NOAL(Israelis) and MBIers got a chance to mingle, have hot drinks and cookies, while people were playing music, and eventually some people were playing sports. The evening was rounded out in no better way then doing Rikud(Israeli Dance) in Israel, with Israelis their age.

Tomorrow the MBIers will take part in short tiyul(hike) in the morning where they will get to cook their own breakfast! The rest of the day will be a more traditional shabbat on MBI. Sunday will being the Machatz(Kibbutz) part of the program. Shabbat Shalom!

Machaneh Tnua Achot

Today the MBIers said goodbye to Ohalo and the beautiful banks of the Kinneret(Sea of Galilee). They set off to Yaar Levi to the forest and campsite there where they will be staying for the duration of Machaneh Tnua Achot(Sister Movement Camp). The morning was more relaxed as the MBIers got a chance to settle in and get acquinted to their new home. The Israelis their age came a bit later then expected and joint activities only commenced after lunch.

The MBIers were split into their smaller bus groups and each group was joined a number of Israelis their age who are from our sister youth movement, Hanoar Haoved ve Halomed. Each group played different icebreakers and get to you know games to start getting the new people to know each other. It also was a chance to grapple with the language barrier with the MBIers trying to use the Hebrew they know and the NOAL(Hanoar Haoved ve Halomed) youth tested their english skills. Fun, practicing and learning another language was great part of the afternoon.

Afterwards they had a peula(activity) to start to have an exchange to learn about the differences between Habonim Dror and Hanoar Haoved. While Habonim Dror North America is largely structured around our machanot(summer camps) and kenim activities during the year, the Israeli structure is quite different. While they do have summer camps, they are often 5 days to a week long and the focus is much more on the activities in the ken. In most areas the ken meets 1-2 times a week and clearly plays a different role then in North America. It was a great exchange of ideas and sparked a great energy and connection between the MBIers and the NOAL Israeli participants.

After dinner in the chadar ochel(dining hall), the MBIers took part in some fun in an Israeli game called a Salatron. It was a sort of color war with lots of different games and competitions. The joint group had really fun evening and capped off a great day with a lot promise for the rest of Machaneh(camp).

Tomorrow the MBIers will take part in a couple peulot(activities), shabbat chugim, and get ready to take part in much of the usual shabbat activities. It should be a nice way to end the week. Tomorrow I will post more about the return information as incredibly MBI has just over a week to go.

Final day touring the North

Before I start the update of today's events I want to go over a minor incident that took place on Tuesday. As some of you may or may not have heard, three participants of MBI were caught drinking alcohol on Tuesday night and were sent home today. They were caught in the act and as being both against the law and our rules, they needed to leave the program. MBI is meant to be an amazing experience and a safe place for all participants. We take our policies on drugs and alcohol quite seriously and as such was our reaction to the situation. The MBIers were briefed on what happened and were advised to not repeat the previous mistake and to speak with their madrichim(counselors) if they had any concerns or issues with what happened. We certainly want to help any participants who might feel driven to this kind of action, but we cannot tolerate participants taking part in this type of action, and any further incidents will be subject to the same consequences.

Today the MBIers set off from the lovely lodgings of Ohalo to explore the Golan Heights. The buses stopped at a couple vantage points including the Mizpe Shalom observation point. From there they could see much of the Golan off in the distance and was a great place as such to discuss history and politics. There they discussed the controversial nature of the Golan Heights in regards to its annexation, Syria's claims on it, and as such its place in negotiations and the peace process.

Then the MBIers went hiking around Mt. Ben-Tal which gave the MBIers the chance to see Syria off the distance and really begin to grasp the proximity of Israel's neighbors. They learned about the nearby military base and '67 and '73 wars and their impact on Israel and its neighbors. Part of all these discussions were to consider the Golan Heights and its place in Israel and the complex history behind its annexation. They got to look and see the Valley of Tears where one of the bloodiest battles took place during the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Seeing all these places first hand really puts into perspective the wars they have heard about or studied but now the MBIers have seen first hand where things actually took place.

Having had their fill of history and hiking mountains, the MBIers set off to walk around Nachal Snir(Snir Stream). It is part of the Hatzbani river which comes from Mt Hermon and eventually is a feeder into the Jordan River. The MBiers had a lot of fun walking along the river as the hike includes a part where the water is more of a pond and they got swim and splash around a bit. Some of the MBIers even helped one of the madrichot(female counselor) catch a fish with her bare hands!

The MBIers continued on north where they went to Mizpe Bnaya which is a lookout near Lebanon. The lookout itself is named after a soldier who had fallen during the 2nd Lebanon war. It again was incredible to travel not very far and see these two important neighbors of Israel and grasp their impact on Israel. Being there also was a chance to take stock of where Israel has come and the challenges it has and continues to face for its own safety and security in the long run.

After a fun and educational day, the MBIers returned to Ohalo for a hearty meal in the chadar ochel(dining hall) and prepared for the evening fun. The MBIers took part in a night of "Air Band Shows". Many of the MBIers got together in groups and picked favorite songs and went on stage to perform the songs as if they themselves were the guitarists, drummers, and singers. It was a hilarious evening with some amazing performances by the MBIers.

Tomorrow the MBIers set off for Macheneh Tnua Achot(Sister Movement Camp) where they will get spend a few days with Israelis their age from Ha-noar Ha-oved. They are our sister youth movement and the Israelis will be from all over Israeli and provide a different first-hand account of life in Israel for people there age. There will be lots of bonding activities and learning about the two groups. The machaneh(camp) will take place at the Yaar Levi forest and campsite.