What is Shnat?

Shnat is the name given to the Habonim Dror 10-month program for bogrim are encouraged to remain active in the movement, become madrichim, and take on leadership positions. The program is an intensive 10-month education and leadership program in Israel. It plays a central role in our movement and is one of our greatest sources of new leadership and strength. It is an opportunity for members of the movement to gain an incredible experience of and in Israel. We see it as an essential part of the development of the senior leadership of our movement.

Note: This page will soon be updated. Check the photo gallery for 2006 and 2007 photos (still being added).


Shnat 05 May Day Update!

Hi all !

Yesterday we held yet another giant shnat activity, the focus being MAY DAY - the workers holiday!!
Contrary to how May Day might be viewed in some (or most) of your countries, in Israel, what once used to be quite an important day seems to have faded into a bit of obscurity. For the 3rd year in a row, Habonim joined with other youth movements/organisations in a march and rally of sorts through Tel Aviv.

All the English speaking shnat groups, together with the South American Habo Machoniks (almost 150 chanichim in total), met in Ramat Efal in the morning where we did a peula together in mixed groups (all the south americans also speak english!). The peula had 3 main aims. To a) to understand the meaning and origins of May Day b) to question the relevance of MayDay to Habo, and vice versa and c) To ask where is May Day today with a focus on Israel. Overall the peulot worked very successfully, with some groups better or worse than others.

After the peula, an exhibition on "Lewis Hine and Child Labour" was set up in a classroom, which contained many of Hine's shocking photographs of the situation of child labour in the early 1900's, and accompanying stories. (See http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/childlabor/ or look up on google for more info.) A lot of the chanichim found this exhibition to be quite moving and eye opening.

Everyone reconvened on the grass of Efal, where we had lunch and learnt some of the songs and chants that would be sung at the march. The morning of activities was planned and run by the tzevet of madrichim - Elli, Josh, George, Zohar, Emily, Adi, Leon, Ben, Yuval, Mauri and Doris.

From there, we went to Rabin square in Tel Aviv to join the other masses' of people. The event is organised primarily by HaNoar HaOved as the largest body there, followed by Habonim Dror and Machanot Haolim. Smaller groups of Kvutsat Habehira and Hashomer Hatzair attend, as do occasional Gay/Lesbian, or Yachad Noar-type etc groups. It is intentionally a non-political rally and every year a group of anarchists try to hijack the event (as they did yesterday, and a whole bunch of them got arrested).

There was about 2,500-3,000 people in attendance, dressed in a sea of blue chultzot and red. The march route went down Ibn Gvirol, turning into Shaul Hamelech and making our way to Arlosoroff and the park opposite the train station. Every year it is quite amazing to see the reaction on the faces of the Tel-Avivians who are sitting in cafes, shopping or doing usual things. At the end of the march there were a number of speeches and performances, including one by Paul and Max from the workshop group!! Most of the chanichim found the event to be quite interesting, although it was long and very hot outside, it overall proved to be a valuable experience that gave everyone something to think about.

All the tochniot have now returned to their programming as usual after Pesach chofesh. All the English-speaking groups will have a chance to meet again on this coming Thursday at the Yom Hashoa tekes in Lochamei HaGetaot.

Alu V'hagshimu,

Vered

Click Here for photos from the May Day Rally.

End of March Update
The Shnatties are adjusting on the whole very well to the Machon.
Every Monday night we run two programs for them usually one for the
Australians and South Africans separately and one for them together.
One highlight has been that we took them out to Jerusalem for dinner,
a scavenger hunt in downtown Jerusalem and to The Time Elevator which
is an interactive movie/ride about the History of Jerusalem. The
evening was great and we all had a blast. We also have had extremely
successful programs. Most recently we staged a trial set in 1947 to
learn about the roots of Zionist ideology following the shnaties
participation in an pro-disengagement rally as well as a screening of
the film "Promises". We also had a walking tour with an educational
twist in Kibbutz Maale Hachamisha and built a Tower of Babel out of
legos. The experience of being on Machon with Habonim Dror Southern
Africa has also been positive to a great extent and enhanced their
experience. It is going to be difficult for them to part from each
other and they always ask to do activities together. Soon we will also
be running programs together with the South American Habonim Dror
Shnaties which just arrived to the Machon. In this way they are
getting a good sense of the meaning of Habonim Dror as a world
movement.

Click here for the photos from Shnat 2005.

Program Details
Please download the files below for a detailed outline of the Chalutz and Machon programs:
Chalutz
Machon

Contact us regarding Shnat
For more details regarding the Shnat program please contact Alissa Littman via email or by phone, 0407 600 088
For any financial matters please contact Raphy Krell via email or by phone, 0402 422 867.
There's some more info about the shnat program at the AZYC website.

Shnat 2004
Click here for the photos from Shnat 2004.


NEW Click here to download the Shnat 2004 Farewell PowerPoint from Dovi (HDSA)