Page 81 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - Autumn 21
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(overseas youth guides’ institute), I became a Collins, Wolfin families
Hebrew teacher.
As it says: “In the country of the blind, the Aryeh Wolfin and Alec Collins belonged to
one-eyed man is a king”. Garin Gimel (destined for Amiad).
At the end of the day, I never worked even Throughout the interviews with Garin Hey
for a day in agriculture in Kfar Hanassi. members, Alec Collins' name kept being
Luckily for me and probably for the children recalled as the key motivator in the history of
too, I never worked a day in education! I the Garin. In 1955 Alec was sent by the
didn’t have a choice and every time I rotated Movement to the convention in Jerusalem
through the same path of jobs. where a decision was made to join together
Habonim and the United Movement in Israel,
thereby creating United Habonim (a personal
comment: I represented the United
Movement at this convention – Tamar
Wolfin). During his visit in Israel, Alec met
with Garin Gimmel members who were
already on Hachshara here in Kibbutz Galed.
He said in his interview that he also visited
Amiad and attended Batsheva and Marki's
wedding.
I returned to England and reported to the
Left to right: Movement secretariat. I said that we didn't
Reggie Pearlson, Frankie Glick want to go to Amiad. Shmuel Hatzor was the
Shaliach then and he suggested we set up a
Today I belong to a creative writing group in new Garin. I met with members on
English and our next topic is called "If I Hachshara in Reading and Eder Farm and
were…." proposed we set up a new Garin. One
The first thing that came into my mind when hundred members signed up. We suggested
this topic was suggested was what would I we call it Garin Hey, both because actually
have done if I had stayed in England. There Garin Gimmel was supposed to be called
is no way I could imagine doing that. I would Garin Daled and primarily because of the
not have found myself there. There are lots of enthusiastic cries of Hey! Hey! Hey! which
things I love about England, but I love my life developed into cries Hey Daroma! Since we
here and the people around me and all that we wanted to establish a new kibbutz in the
have done together. We all did the best we Negev.
could. I was elected Garin secretary. I sent the first
group to Israel: Simon, and Gerry and
Interview by Shoshana Sharki. Diane; Judy, who married Harvey Jackson
joined; Natan Ben Avi; and, then Dot, Edna
and I joined.
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