Page 19 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - June 13

Palestinian background news) was given in these mention: “Starting Period 1928 -1930,” as
clubs, many of which were managed by his
friend Basil Henriques. Wellesley recalls that
except for the name over the door virtually
nothing Jewish was going on. Thus, one source
of our Movement’s origin came from a lack of
co-operation in Zionist politics at its central
London headquarters!
Additional Statements Supporting the Founding
of Habonim in 1928
From Wellesley’s Article of 1960, ‘Habonim in
Retrospect’
“On various occasions during the last 30 years I
have been asked what prompted me to found
Habonim in the latter part of 1928…”
From Wellesley’s Published Letter of
17th November 1964 - to the Editor of ‘Mosaic’:
“I have enjoyed seeing your publication
MOSAIC (autumn issue 1964) which has just
reached me courtesy of Habonim. I was
particularly interested in the article entitled ‘35
Years of Habonim’ by K.Z. My name may not be
known to you or for that matter to K.Z., but I
think for the sake of historical accuracy and for
the record, I must refer to the sentence on page
19, under the caption “Purpose of Habonim”
which states “Habonim was founded by young
adults in 1929 …” (K.Z. was the chief editor of
Mosaic.)
“The truth is that I, personally, conceived, or
invented put together and certainly launched
Habonim in 1928.”
From the Minutes of Various Meetings, reference
to writing “The History of Habonim”:
(which materialized 20 years later).
All were at Wellesley’s home, then in Tel Aviv.
On 25-09-1966, 8.30 pm: “It is to be divided into
various time periods, a) 1928 – 1930,
Foundation and Early years…”
October 1966: “Should divide the 38 years of
Habonim’s existence into 7 periods.” (Taking
1966 minus 38 equals 1928, which confirms this
as the starting year.) These minutes later also
19
before.
January 1969: the minutes still noted: 1928 –
1930 for “The Beginnings” of the History.
Norman Lourie
This founder has also written about the early
days of the Movement. His home was in
Johannesburg, South Africa, and in 1928 he was
in England to study law at the L.S.E. (London
School of Economics). He had also visited
Palestine (on the way to England, no doubt). In
London he met Chaim Lipshitz who was then
involved with the Torah Talmud in Teesdale
Road. Later, Norman (as a second leader) helped
Chaim to run the new group of young boys,
before it was given any Movement names.
Norman does not mention his part in the
founding meetings, but recalls attending a
Wellesley lecture in January 1929. Norman
enthusiastically worked with Wellesley (he even
stayed at Wellesley’s home for a few weeks, so
deeply was he committed) for the preparation of
the Movement terminology, the Handbook and
other writings. Norman returned to South Africa
in 1930. He and his bride Nadia carried the spirit
of Habonim with them. They soon established
the first Habonim branch there, with gedudim in
Johannesburg and other southern African towns,
countries and a new branch in India.
To Summarize:
There were three founders of Habonim not one,
and there are doubts about some of Wellesley
Aron’s recollections being correct. From the
above extracts he claims that the initial meetings
outlining the Movement took place early in
November 1928. This may have been when he
prepared memoranda for a proposed youth
movement. However there is a contradiction
between his account of the two lectures being in
early November and the meetings which actually
were on the 3rd and 10th January 1929, as
described in his letter written on the following
day to Dr. Brodetsky.