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My Thoughts on HDNA’s Ma’apilim Mifgash by George Stevens
About two weeks ago, I returned from Mifgash. also a commitment to living out that better
I hadn’t been to Israel since I went on future as best they can today. That
Workshop 56, about two years ago. It was a devotion/hope/vision (which are all intertwined)
pretty great time with a lot of good discussions. is at once the most inspiring and challenging bit
I left pretty inspired. But I was also somewhat of lived-education I’ve ever come across. It’s
loathe to leave. inspiring because it empowers me (and any other
movement member who allows themselves to feel
We had a lot of interesting discussions – how we this way) to feel like I can help build a positive
should view Israel’s actions in Gaza, whether or future for the Jewish people, like I can live a
not there should/can be a Tnuat Bogrim in North satisfying, meaningful, challenging life if I am
America. But the real essence of mifgash for committed to my values and ideals. It’s
me was not about challenging because
those very important they make me realize
discussions. For me, it how my life here often
was being inspired and falls way short of true
empowered by what I hagshama (and, not
saw and realizing that coincidentally, of that
hagshama is a constant type of satisfaction
choice. from life). I don’t live
that intentional of a
There is something life in North America, I
about our movement in don’t constantly choose
Israel, the magshimim to live by my ideals.
there, that you can
only understand when It’s also challenging
you see and only feel when you’re there. There because so few people in the movement outside
is a genuine belief, without shame or postmodern of Israel want to talk or think about those
cynicism or crippling doubt, that by devoting things. Does my life take responsibility for
their lives to the Jewish people, by taking something greater? Am I living out my ideals?
responsibility for them through educating, they What are my ideals? Is my life, and are my
can lead us to a better future. That belief, relationships, a model of the better world that
which is really the essence of Zionism, underlies we’re striving for? These are fundamental
every aspect of their lives. questions, questions that are so irrelevant to our
university years that they generally become
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think the Bogrei passé or taboo.
Tnua in Israel are perfect saints who are totally
revolutionizing the Jewish people despite their But life need not be that way. If we as a
meager numbers. They are real human beings ma’apilim community take our lives, our values,
with their own flaws (which people, myself our ideals, and our relationships seriously, we
included, love to list when they’re feeling can continue to ask these questions, and
bitter), and they are clearly not going to achieve continue to provide some sort of answers with
their goals with their current numbers. But our actions. It is a choice each of us makes to
amongst them there is a widespread devotion to ask these questions or to ignore them
ideals which guide their actions both in their altogether. It’s a choice that’s frustrating and
personal lives and towards society at large which difficult and empowering and important and
I don’t think I’ve come across in my two decades scary. It is a choice we can make actively or
of life in North America. There is vision for a passively. But it’s definitely a choice.
better future and a hope that it can exist, but
