Page 26 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - October 19
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working with Bonim and ‘Reception Areas’. issued regularly, and can be seen in the Archives
Chaverim started and ran a Gedud in whichever in its collected book form. Other literature from
centre they were ‘billeted’ as evacuees (refugees the Hostels also remains.
from London). Lily Beyrack said that, “Hostels
could be much more than a safe area in ordinary Extract from comments about Dawlish:
Jewish conditions.” Being Jewish was not often “Altogether the first few months were difficult as
something the Englishman just accepted! the Hostel was in a state of unpreparedness, there
being no electric lights, or blackouts or furniture,
Chozer 3, Wartime issue, September 1940: and the Chaverim were as yet strangers to one
Page 1: another. As soon as our cultural activities started
“We lost our Gedudim in the evacuation. Many we began to understand and realize why we were
Chaverim joined the armed forces. Nearly all our at the Hostel, what our responsibilities were as
older chaverim disappeared. We were left without Jews, and members of Habonim. We also realized
men and without money. Yet we created Gedudim the difference between the Bayit and an ordinary
all over the English countryside. Younger billet.”
Chaverim entered our Chavurot and shouldered
the responsibilities relinquished by their much Kol Vatikei Habonim, 1994/Vol. 1 No. 10, 1999:
older predecessors. The whole movement was fed Pessach Porat (an Israeli resident) recalls:
by a flow of publications far exceeding anything “The period I spent in Dawlish from 1940 to
in previous years. When the children drifted back 1945, from the age of 10 to 14 was one of the
to the towns, we reformed Gedudim in the old happiest in my life and shaped my character and
centres. Came the air raids and once again, the fate. From the personal fulfilment of the Zionist
children were scattered. But by then we had Ideal, to the love of classical music – creativity,
established a hostel at Exmouth, the only one of cooperation and self-discipline were the rules,”
its kind in the country” … “Habonim must survive
this year”. A photo from Dawlish Hostel from 1943 shows
Pessach Porat (in the centre) with his friends aged
Page 5: from 10 – 16 years.
“… an enormous amount of work has been done
with children from the Continent… Groups were
formed in many Reception Areas, more and more
addresses were obtained from the British
Movement for the Care of Children from
Germany...
During the last few months, the hostels in London
and the other larger Provincial towns were again
filled with returned evacuees, and another phase
of work opened in this sphere. Chaverim acted as
Madrichim to each of these Hostels… The work is
difficult and we still need more Chaverim, who
could visit a Hostel either in London or the Maintaining the Hostels was not easy. There was
Provinces, once a week.” strict rationing in the UK, coupons were issued (in
little booklets of coloured stamps), to every
The interaction of Hostels and Gedudim was registered individual, for essential foodstuffs –
discussed. Efficient organization and training for butter, sugar, meat, sweets and tobacco, etc.
Madrichim was needed. A magazine was planned
and in 1941-2 ‘Davar Hamaon’ was
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