Page 3 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - January 19

FROM THE CHAIRMAN
BARRY COLEMAN, KIBBUTZ AMIAD
L awareness of our achievements as we view them
ast April, two weeks after we celebrated
the introduction to mankind of the
concept of freedom as the Israelites were
released from slavery, we celebrated 50 years
since the founding of Garin Chet, which
th
coincided with the 50 anniversary of the
founding of Kibbutz Mevo Hama, the 70th
anniversary of Kfar Hanassi by British Habonim,
and the founding of the State of Israel.
History has a knack of reaching beyond the
years and bringing together great forces which,
when unleashed, ultimately create the very life
styles by which we choose to fulfill our own
self-realization (Hagshama Atzmit).
Who better to know this than chaverim of Irgun
Bogrei Habonim? And at what better occasion
than the 50th year reunion of Garin Chet to
remind ourselves of the absolute dedication and
commitment we demanded of ourselves in order
to achieve self-realization. In the words of Ivri
Tasker: “Those halcyon days became ingrained
in our memories and added a brick to the
foundations for whom we became” … and what
we all went on to achieve.
The chaverim of Garin Chet, chaverim of Mevo
Hama, showed that this same dedication and
commitment can also work wonders today.
Matched by the same passion on the part of all
the participants, we were transported yet again
into the magical Movement realm of
camaraderie and bonding.
I believe that Irgun Bogrei Habonim, rather than
relying on just nostalgia and the past, has also
stimulated over the last two years that same
dedication, commitment and passion by
providing activities that inspire camaraderie and
bonding in the “here and now” through
3
today.
Through cross- generational area meetings
(chugei bayit), new bonds have been created
between those generations, including awareness
of our legacy by a whole new generation of
youngsters who have come on Aliya from the
movement in recent years and who, no less
committed and dedicated, are attempting to
tackle the ills of modern Israeli society working
in various educational and social projects in
urban centers.
A similar creative force brought us together once
again in February of this year at the Eden Inn in
Zichron Yaakov. The camaraderie and bonding,
in the here and now, of chaverim who many
years ago had dedicated their youth - at different
times, in different circumstances and in different
places - to the pursuit of the ideals which defined
us.
Our 90th anniversary approaches. What better
time and place to recognize our personal and
group achievements; to sing in our choral
ensemble; to be involved in the programme, the
finances, the exhibitions, the archive
consolidation, the technological displays, social
media, promotions and so much more. We are
out to ensure that we have an event worthy of
the 90 years that you and I and so many
generations have dedicated to the movement. So
please join us now in our preparations.
We hope that through the continuing cross-
generational area meetings we will involve all
our chaverim in the journey towards our 90th
and beyond.