Page 93 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - Winter 20
P. 93
SHNAT HACHSHARA Amiad was a fantastic base for us. Members
were extremely welcoming, the work was
1981-82 varied and enjoyable, the place was vibrant,
had excellent facilities (including a great
KEVIN FEDDY moadon/pub!) and of course lies in a
wonderful part of the world, a short ride from
Tiberias and the Kinneret, as well as the
Golan, Tzfat, Rosh Pina and other notable
and scenic parts of the Holy Land.
Everyone began their Shnat experience on
Amiad, with the Machonikim among us
I orientation.
departing a few days after our group’s initial
t was the year that the term ‘Internet’ was
coined and when personal computers
For those of us remaining on the meshek, we
were in their infancy.
were inspired and led by Barry and madricha,
It was the year of inner-city riots across Smadar, on a superb programme of tiyulim
England, IRA hunger strikes, the first and outings throughout the country,
London Marathon and the launch of Post-It educational seminars and speakers, including
Notes.
many movement leaders and Olim from
Bryan Robson broke the British football yesteryear living on kibbutzim, such as Kfar
transfer record with a £1.5m move from West Hanassi and Mevo Hama, helping us to
Bromwich Albion to Manchester United, Ian develop as individuals and to develop our
Botham and Bob Willis helped achieve a love of the land of Israel, as well as equipping
remarkable Ashes Test victory at us for our senior roles in the Movement, once
Headingley, Only Fools and Horses was we returned to our native countries.
aired on TV for the first time, and Prince Kibbutz Tuval was just taking shape, and we
Charles married Lady Diana Spencer.
enjoyed a number of visits ‘up the hill’.
It was 1981, and how life has changed since We made the most of Amiad throughout the
then.
year, getting to know kibbutz parents (mine
At the end of August that year, a group of 25 were the late Avraham Azani z”l and his wife
Habonim Dror-niks from the UK and two Sharon, whom I had known when they were
from the Netherlands arrived in Israel for shlichim in my home city of Leeds), bnei
their Shnat Hachshara, based at Kibbutz meshek, enjoying film nights, the pool after
Amiad in the Galil. work and much more besides.
Our group was met at Ben-Gurion Airport by The ulpan, which ran for several weeks, was
the legendary Barry Coleman, Kibbutz very useful in helping us to improve our Ivrit
Amiad resident and the madrich for our Shnat and has stood me in good stead to this day.
group.
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