Yom Habonim Dror

This morning the MBIers finally bid farewell to their lovely rooms at Ohalo as they packed up and got on their buses to head down for their big day at Yom Habonim Dror(Habonim Dror day) The day by and large was a huge success with over 500 members of Habonim Dror coming together for a fun, educational, cross-cultural experience like no other. The over 500 participants came from no less than 11 different countries including Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, the U.K., Holland, and of course the U.S. and Canada.

When they arrived in the late morning at Sdot Yam, they were greeted with cake and coffee and listened to a speech given by the long-standing Gizbar(Financial Director) of World Habonim Dror, Rami Zdafee, who has taken part in many previous days and seen the movement and program change over the years. This was followed by a peula(activity) that mixed up all the participants into many groups. They proceeded to get to know each other and where everyone came from and eventually put on little skits and compared the differences and similarities of Habonim Dror in their home country. For example the US and Canada are unique in that other countries do not have the same culture 1-2 month summer camp experiences as most have week-long to 10 day camps. Some countries the emphasis is specifically on the ken,(yearly activities) twice a week in some places!

This was followed by lunch and some time to relax and have some fun on the beach. The MBIers had a chance to go swimming for the first time in the Mediterranean. There apparently was some sort of inflatable pyramid in the water that they could climb up and then slide down into the water. The afternoon was also a continuation of bartering and trading of Habonim Dror paraphernalia from across the globe. Many of the MBIers are going to come home with funky shirts from the many different countries they met people.

Before the day ended their was a tekes(ceremony) to close out and give out Chultzot(Movement shirts) and red strings to all the MBI participants. Of course just be sure that the MBIers have enough Habonim Dror stuff to bring home, they also received Green Yom Habonim Dror shirts and also Habonim Dror water bottles. The accumulation of exciting things to bring home begins!

Afterwards they headed back to the Kinneret to Chof Dugit where they are spending the night. They had dinner there followed by a big Medurah(campfire) where everyone sat around and sang kumzitz(campfire songs) with every machaneh(camp) adding its own songs and flavor. As the sky darkened and the stars began to fill the sky, the MBIers sang and began to settle in for their night sleeping out.

As many of you have noticed tomorrow they are heading off to their respective Kibbutzim for machatz. In the morning they will pack up and then be driven to their Kibbutz where they will be dropped off with their group and their madrichim(counselors). They will get a chance to settle in there and begin to meet the Kibbutzniks their age and the coordinators and counselors running the programming during their time on Kibbutz. I sent out the lists today so hopefully you all should have them soon.