Page 17 - Issue 24

is Zionism and Chalutziut, tomorrow it may be
Socialism or Revisionism. As long as there is no
political body which can impose upon us
acceptance of its own particular political body, we
will be in a position to retain these freedoms
which are the lifeblood of a true youth movement.
But let us in Habonim be quite honest and plain
with ourselves. In spite of the value which lies in
the inherent revolutionary power of youth, this
period of youth reaches its biological end. In the
realities of the world it becomes lost in a void,
unless there is some continuity between its
biological revolt and a further social revolt; and the
latter can be achieved without surrendering our
independence. The social revolt does not for us
imply conformity to the rigidity of political dogma.
It means something far loftier; a revolution in our
own lives as individuals. We should clearly
understand that it means Aliyah and the social
revolt manifest in kibbutz society. This must be our
highest challenge and goal. Only in this way will
there be a link and continuity between the
biological revolt of youth and a broader social
revolt in life. Without it we will be impotently
suspended in air.

Anyone who maintains that we must beware of
any commitments to ideological goals is in fact
insisting that Habonim exist in a void. We are not
merely a school for the education of Jewish
children. Over and above, our educational
responsibilities is our responsibility to the Jewish
people, which in the context of this epoch has
come more and more to mean the future of our