Page 13 - Iton 10

Samo has just finished his term as federal mazkir of HDOZ, and is now in Israel
as the new shnat oz madrich.

Dear Bogrim

I'm still going to have an opportunity to address the movement at Asepha but I thought this was a
good opportunity to say farewell in person and I guess allow for some closure on my behalf with the
youth movement.

At the beginning of the year we planned a program to be run in all the states, as a part of the
program there was a question that stumped most of the bogrim. The question was:

If you had to explain Habonim Dror to a non-Jew, how would you do it?

It's taken me some time but if you allow me I would love to share my answer with you.

I'm going to need some creative lee way here so please be patient

Life is a road, It has a beginning and an end neither of which you remember. The road is long and
full of challenges- some bumps, some potholes or perhaps a beautiful tree or butterfly along the
way. Sometimes the heavens cry and the road gets wet sometimes the road grows wider and
narrower, matures and changes its nature due to the seasons.

On this road there are many different Cars, different shapes different sizes, different engines,
different radios, Most of all the cars have different interpretations of the road and different
perceptions on how to tackle the road ahead.

There are big monstrosities which seem more like trains than cars, There are really cool fancy cars,
there are cars with all kinds of gadgets, there are cars who have to drive in one lane and are not
able to alter course, There are cars in Cruise control, there are cars on the road just because,
There are cars on the road that drive without ever stopping, there are cars that are destructive,
there are cars that love, there are cars that are loved, there are many different types of cars
and we as individuals have the ability to choose which car, “which vessel” best encompass who we
are and what we want out of our journey on the road.

Habonim Dror is one of these cars a little blue and red one trudging along in the mud with one of
those bumper stickers reading "If the car is rocking don't come knocking."

Our car has its own movement code, its own car culture, its own interpretations and our car is a
structure that encompasses the values of our movement. A movement for change, a movement for a
better tomorrow. The values behind the structure of Habonim Dror lead us down the road of life,
finding meaning and purpose in man's actions towards each other and man's actions toward the
world.

Habonim Dror's values are one of these new GPS systems, the values give us a moral compass that
dictate how we live our lives driving around in our little car.

Habos car like Habo is really fun, it also teaches us to question everything including reality. It gives
us a place of feeling welcome and it gives us weirdos a home and the empowerment to take
charge and to manipulate the cars actions.