Page 10 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - October 19
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THE IMPACT OF OUR MOVEMENT DAYS
DAVID MENDELSSON
I knows, affect the future of our people. Perhaps the
n July of 1979, having completed my
movement exaggerated our ability – הנשנ התאו ינא
undergraduate studies at Manchester
University, I entered Habonim offices at 523
Finchley Road to become Camps Organiser. For םלועה תא- but running programmes, leading at
camps, veidot and all the rest gave me this sense
the next year, I worked shaping winter activities that I had a role to play.
and summer camps as well as being a madrich in
North West London Ken. Looking back, I am In those days, the British mantra of stiff upper lip,
amazed that at the age of 22 the movement had or perhaps what later was called suck it up,
confidence in people like me to assume determined that the challenges of adolescence had
responsibility not only for its finances but also for to be met by suppressing feelings, whether
the youngsters in our care. How did we have the anxiety, depression and/or loneliness. I often think
nerve to undertake this responsibility and how did that the movement provided a safe place for us.
parents put their trust in us! And, to be sure, we We found friendships – the best of friendships –
jealously guarded this autonomy. I remember with those with whom we shared our teenage
shortly after I started working, a new shaliach challenges, thoughts and even innermost feelings.
joined the team. He assumed that he could take Many of us went to single sex schools and the
the reins of the movement and make it in his own movement provided an environment that helped
image. The three of us movement workers, and, us explore a world of the unknown. These were
indeed, our central shaliach, called him to order after all turbulent times: the permissive society,
and clarified “that’s not the way we do things the technological revolution, the political
here.” upheavals and the fast-changing sexual norms.
Habonim created a strong sense of “we.” As a
Some years later, at the Hebrew University, I
recall taking a course in informal education and child of one parent who came to the UK on the
discussing the criteria that define a youth kindertransport and the other a survivor of an
movement. Haim Shatzker argued that the internment camp, I was strongly aware of my
autonomy of the youth and the remarkable Jewish roots, mainly ethnic but also traditional
responsibility given them often from the age of religious. The movement placed a very strong
sixteen was the hallmark of the youth movement emphasis on the collective, not just because of its
and differentiated it from those myriad other commitment to kibbutz values, but also due to a
youth organisations that functioned in parallel to sense of our common Jewish history, culture and
us. language. It also inculcated a very strong sense of
service, mentioned in a previous edition of the
When I look back on those years in the Iton Kol Bogrei Habonim by Steve Israel. Being a
movement, I realise that the autonomy given me madrich during the year and at camps was always
allowed considerable experimentation, innovation voluntary and I remember when I attended the
and scope to play with ideas that otherwise would Machon LeMadrichei Chutz La’aretz in 1975-6,
have been limited, controlled and often vetoed by being shocked to learn that our American
an adult generation. My successes – I hope there counterparts were paid. Hadracha was a privilege
were a few – gave me the confidence that I could earned after much experience as a chanich and a
make changes, impact my environment and, who good degree of training.
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