Page 60 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - Winter 20
P. 60
Ball was created, including moonlight youngsters were heroes, who, by instinctive
veranda. A world unto itself. Marching for intention born of “Habonim chevrutah”,
Peace and Independence Day. Saturday saved each other that dark night on the moors.
afternoon Mazkirut meetings and an annual I returned to Glasgow again within the
Asepha, it all came together. Madrichim month, now May 1967, to recruit volunteers
meetings, seminars and teach-ins, and senior to replace our chaverim on Hachsharah, who
get-togethers in the flat. Weekly meetings of were on their way to Israel as volunteers.
a myriad of groups followed by occasional Luck would have it that this weekend was a
ventures up to Shawlands to the local rambling weekend up and above the lochs,
Chinese. Not to forget Berl’s bake house so, with no cell phone, just the stars, compass
across the road between the co-op and the and map coordinates, I scouted my way to
Mayfair cinema, next to Levingstone’s.
find the chaverim. Which I did.
The proverbial penny finally dropped So, in a sporran, there it is. One more
(followed by a scuffle of non-proverbial Sassenach survived.
youngsters), when I found myself roaring like
Hampden, cod liver oil and orange juice for
breakfast, finding the cludge up the dunny, “Should auld acquaintance be forgot
dancing the hora in the hall late into Sunday And never brought to mind?
evening, actually stannin’ when I thought I Should auld acquaintance be forgot
was dancin’. And days of auld lang syne?” (old times)
After two years, I returned south to join “For auld lang syne, my dear
North-West London Ken, but was recalled a For auld lang syne
few weeks later following the terrible bus We'll tak’ a cup o' kindness yet
accident. For days of auld lang syne”
We sat in the Klali of 6, Sinclair Drive, those
who were not hospitalised, to just be together
and give thanks. No one organised that
meeting, chaverim just wandered in to seek 1968 - Chanichim waiting at Sinclair Drive
comfort in each other’s presence. And then Bayit for the bus to take them to Scottish
the black jokes began… an occasional smile, Amelim Camp. (from the personal collection
a smirk and guarded laughter. “If you miss of Ralph Golomb)
me at the back of the bus…” For these
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