Page 19 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - February 14

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
DECEMBER 2013
ARYEH WOLFIN, KFAR HANASSI
The much-talked-about annual event, reduced to
a one-day affair due to circumstances (see last
issue of the Iton), took place at the end of May
2013, at Yad Tabenkin, Ramat Efal, the inner
sanctum of the Kibbutz Movement. It is a
location we know well, from the 80th
Anniversary in 2009 and our Archive Day, a year
later.
Amongst other activities that took place, there
were two highlights in the program; the speaker
in the afternoon, Brenda Katten, who spoke on
“The gap in Israel Diaspora Relations” followed
by the showing of Alan Rosenthal’s film “The
First Fagin”.
Brenda is the former head of WIZO in the UK
and former chairperson of the Zionist Federation
of Great Britain and Ireland. She is currently the
chairperson of ESRA – the English Speaking
Residents Association. Brenda’s talk helped to
clarify many hitherto-clouded issues regarding
the Diaspora and Israel, both of which are
influenced by the changes in the world generally,
and in world Jewry in particular. The lecture was
most interesting and thought-provoking, and she
dealt expertly with many poignant questions
raised at the end of the talk.
We were honoured to be chosen as the venue for
the premier in Israel of Alan Rosenthal’s latest
film “The First Fagin”, preceded by Alan's
introduction. The film was a culmination of his
research on Charles Dickens' sources for Fagin,
the arch-type Jew. It reveals the story and
adventures of Ikey Solomons in England set at
the beginning of the 19th century, who, for his
so-called crimes, was sent to Australia with the
rest of the convicts of the period, a little known
but fascinating story, by all accounts.
We were honoured too, to have had amongst us
19
Henry Foner who, as a young child, left
Germany (and his family) on the Kindertransport
to UK. He is the author of a very exciting book,
published by Yad Vashem, based on the original
postcards that he received from his father after
they parted. Because of the demand, the supply
of books for sale, on behalf of Yad Vashem, was
exhausted after a very short time. And, in the
mood of the Kindertransport, conspicuous by his
absence was Tommy Berman, world-renowned
oceanographer, who reached Britain as a Winton
Child, saved from Czechoslovakia by Nicolas
Winton who was responsible for shipping over
600 Jewish youngsters to UK. Tommy regularly
participated at our functions but sadly lost his
life in a tragic fatal accident in South America,
in April. ךורב ורכז יהי.
The annual event was successful according to
the criteria we set ourselves, and the number of
people who attended was according to
expectation. However, according to the feedback
we received, there were mixed feelings as to
whether we should return to the two-day event in
a hotel or continue with the new one-day format.
By the time the Iton will appear, the committee
will have decided one way or another at the next
meeting.
Our sincere thanks and appreciation go out to
Geoffrey Felberg, who is resigning as the gizbar
of Irgun Bogrei Habonim, the position he has
held for the past eight years. Thanks to him, the
finances of the Irgun are in a healthy state. In his
capacity as gizbar he was actively involved in all
the events and activities that took place during
this period, including the 80th Anniversary, and
he greatly contributed to their success.
Geoffrey’s contribution was essential to the well-
being of the organization. Stepping into his big