Page 24 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - September 14

HOWARD MILLER
Born - Glasgow 1945; Glasgow Ken (Garnethill Branch) from 1956;
Hachshara at Eder Farm- 1964-66; Movement work as National Camps
Organiser - 1966-68; Aliyah to Kibbutz Amiad - 1968; studied at Hebrew
University, living in Jerusalem before returning to UK in 1973; entered Local
Government; now retired and living in Stony Stratford

T A few weeks later, I decided to go on
he best part of 12 years of my life was
Hachsharah at the Eder Farm. I’m not sure I
spent in Habonim. My cousin persuaded
me to go along to a new group which was
being formed in Garnethill Shul in the West End learned too much about agriculture, apart from
how to operate a grain milling machine and
of Glasgow by a friend of his, Gerry somebody, plough a field, but I did learn a great deal about
who, he said, was a decent bloke. It sounded like communal living. Despite the challenges and
quite a good idea at the time but I went along a difficulties, I gained a lot from being part of such
bit uncertainly. Within a few weeks, the numbers a positive, committed group with such worthy
began to dwindle and the group eventually folded values and strong aspirations.
but the experience obviously made an impression In the spring of 1966, I was asked to become
on me because, a short time afterwards, I joined National Camps Organiser for the movement in
another group at the Bayit in Sinclair Drive.
London. I started as a complete novice. There
That was just the start. Soon, I was spending were successes and some setbacks but I was
most weekends at the Bayit, participating in surrounded by good people and doing something
movement activities whenever I could. In those very worthwhile.
early days, Habonim offered me an escape from In the fall of 1968, I went on Aliyah to Kibbutz
my traditional, narrow and slightly detached Amiad, served in the army, then worked and
existence. I remember the sense of freedom I felt studied in Jerusalem. I was in Israel for 5 years.
at the time and the exposure to a wealth of new
ideas and opportunities. In due course, I became While I didn't stay on kibbutz nor in Israel, I
a Madrich and was introduced to the notions of have no doubt that I gained a lot from my
responsibility and leadership. I made a number of involvement in the movement – a strong set of
very good, lasting friendships in Glasgow Ken. values, a sense of responsibility, being part of a
team, adaptability, fortitude, an understanding of
Before long, I was going to camps and winter the power of rational debate and the beginnings
activities, thus widening my horizons. By 1963, I of management and leadership skills, not to
was on Continental Rambling Camp, where we mention an appreciation of the finer points of
were split up into groups to walk from near crisis management.
Carcassonne to Andorra. Despite the exhaustion
and the blisters, this gave men a sense of Even allowing for lapses of memory and the
achievement, not only walking for ten days rose-coloured tint of nostalgia, I think the things
carrying tents and all the gear on our backs but I valued most were the sense of belonging I felt
also the real sense of comradeship which and the friends I made. What I remember most is
developed through such an intense experience. the sense of purpose and commitment we shared,
In 1964, I went on Israel Camp. We travelled the and, of course, the enormous fun we had. It was
country and spent a short period at Kfar Hanassi. a great way to grow up. It definitely was a good
That was a turning point for me. idea at that time.

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