Boneh pre-Pesach update

As Pesach approaches, we can all look forward to the questions we ask ourselves on the holiday celebrating the exodus from Egypt. (Why is this night different? Etc.) Boneh shnatties will be ready, having been asking themselves related questions over the past two weeks.

Last week Boneh finished up the module on antisemitism. In classes, we looked at modern antisemitism, the connection between antisemitism and criticism of Israel, the historical conditions that contributed to the development of antisemitism, and the forms antisemitism has taken. On Sunday we screened the film Gentleman's Agreement, in which journalist Philip Green writes a story about antisemitism by posing as a Jew. To my delight, I just discovered that it is possible to watch the whole movie on youtube. See this video at 7:58 to 9:42 or this one at 0:44 to 3:10 for a few of my favorite clips. Ari Levy, a graduate of Habonim Dror North America and founder of Hechalutz, spoke with the shnatties on Tuesday evening about antisemitism and exile. We explored the traditional kibbutz principle of self-reliance and self-labor through a few facilitated cleaning sessions in the shnatties' rooms, moadon and kitchen and we are happy to report they are taking more and more responsibility over this area of their lives.

This week we moved through the first Zionism module and began the Peoplehood module. (We will be discussing Zionism again in later modules.) In classes this week, shnatties discussed Zionism in the context of European nationalist movements of the 1800s, the need for a Jewish safe haven, and Zionism as a movement for a regeneration of the national character. Muki Tzur, a historian and former secretary of the kibbutz movement, spoke with the shnatties on Tuesday evening about Zionism. On Thursday, the shnatties went on a siyur to Tzfat, Tzipori and Ein Yizrael. At each location, we focused on a particular period in Jewish history. We learned about the Sephardic and Ashkenazic synagogues in tzfat, the Greek and Roman influences on the home of Judah HaNasi, and the story of King Saul's demise on Mount Gilboa while we were looking at Mount Gilboa. We asked how Judaism has endured over such a long time period, and what defines that Judaism.

Chag sameach to all!