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Mazkir's MessageShalom Chaverim,As we enter our 75th year of existence, I could think of few better ways to connect those who were in the movement in days gone by with the present members of Habonim than with www.habonimreunited.com. This has been an exciting project which has been in the pipeline for over a year now, and is sure to take Habonim Dror SA to another level. Not only will former tent-mates and gedud compatriots reconnect through this site, but all of us, regardless of our decade of involvement, area of residence or reason for involvement will be able to touch base and relay our amazing experiences. Habonim Dror SA is alive and well today. We just had an ultra-successful Machaneh Aleh Uvneh (To Go Up and Build) where we increased our channichim numbers by 130, having just under 1000 chevre on site. The Machaneh attracted people from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Israel, the USA, Australia, New Zealand and England. The Machaneh might have changed somewhat, but many of the age-old traditions still remain. Over the past few years, the movement has become stronger and stronger. The quality and dedication of the leadership is incredibly impressive, the result of which has been Habonim Dror expanding her range of activities and becoming ncreasingly involved in the Jewish and wider community. Our Israeli programmes have increased, with Habonim today sending more and more quality participants to the 10-month intensive leadership programme Shnat (formerly known as the Machon). Our Grade 10 programme Shorashim doubled its numbers in 2004 and all indications are that we will again double our numbers to over 50 this year! We are also scheduled to have a Bogrim Tour to Israel for all the leaders of the movement. Back to the website, I hope that this website will not only rekindle fond memories from yesteryear but also be a site full of rich debate and sound discussion. You might be sitting far from the warm Schlichsville (area where Shlichim stay and where Madrichim congregate at night) but I am sure that the level of debate will still be as fierce! I must pay tribute to two special people who were integral in getting this website off the ground. The website is the brainchild of ex-Mazkir Klali and Gizbar (treasurer) Doron Isaacs, Doron is one of those rare individuals who has the capacity not only to think out of the proverbial box, but pursue and actualise those out-of-the-box visions, and the launch of this website is testimony to his resilient character and idealistic fervour. Gadi Cohen, the creator of our sister site www.habo.org.za is the chalutz of the digital revolution in Habonim Dror SA. Today he resides in Tel Aviv, but his commitment to this project has been endless. I hope that we will all use www.habonimreunited.com to her full potential and that we will let our friends know of this exciting venture. May this be one of the many ways which we celebrate our 75th Anniversary. Aleh Vehagshem
Wayne Sussman Copyright © 2004 Habonim Dror Southern Africa. All Rights Reserved. Last updated: Sun 11 Dec 2005 09:20:20 PM SAST |
