Page 87 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - Winter 20

the fields at four o'clock in the morning Aliya a year later, after another year's activity
armed with a mallet.
The idea of kibbutz and communal living was
at peak popularity after the 6-Day War, and
youth flocked from all over the world to
volunteer in Israel on kibbutz, usually for a
few months at a time. As a result, there was
also quite an interest in the Hachshara. One
manifestation was a visit to our Hachshara
by a German Television team who came to
film us. What I recall was their filming us
putting on our wellington boots in the
morning. We must have done the take at least
a dozen times, on and off. I don't know how
much it contributed to the Zionist cause, but
it was gratifying that the Hachshara was
attracting awareness even overseas. We also
held open days, mainly for the parents, with
write-ups in the local newspaper. (Examples
of such write-ups will appear in the next
Newsletter – ed.)
In mid-September, we held a goodbye party
for those leaving the Hachshara. They say all
good things must come to an end, but for us
it was just the beginning, with some like
myself who had joined Garin Zayin to go to
Kibbutz Amiad, and others who joined Garin
Chet to go to Kibbutz Mevo Chama.
In retrospect, it was a wonderful experience,
with a dedicated group of young people. I
think we all learnt a lot. I also owe a debt of
gratitude to Bill and Annie Stewart who
taught me, among other things, how to work.
Fond memories!
A postscript: Four of us on the 1968
Hachshara formed the last kvutza of Garin
Zayin – me, Norrie (Norman) Brodie, Elaine
Barnett, and Lainy (Helene) Rose, but made
87
in the Movement.
th
We left England October 8 , 1969, travelling
with our backpacks through Europe on the
way, stopping off at youth hostels in Paris,
Torino, Florence, Rome and Naples. When
we reached Naples, a young representative of
the Jewish Agency welcomed us and took us
on a tour in his car of the city and bay of
Naples. He even accompanied us to the port,
the following day, when we boarded the Zim
ship "Moledet", arriving in Haifa on October
th
19 , and from there, straight to Amiad.
Now, 51 years have passed. In January 2020,
I was sorting out some of the old paperwork
and came across my 1969 diary.
I looked through the pages and came across
the name of the young man who made our
stay in Naples so enjoyable. The name
seemed very familiar, and I sent off a mail to
Coral and asked her if by any chance she was
acquainted?
His name… Ronie Navon!
(Coral’s comment: “Ronie’s father was the
Gizbar of the Jewish Agency in Naples at that
time. After his military service, Ronie spent
close to a year in Naples and helped by
greeting and aiding Olim/visitors and by
taking them for local and regional tours. Then
he ended up on the Eder Farm, where we met
– I was on Hachshara – and the rest, as they
say, is history!)
Coral & Ronie on
the Eder Farm, 1970