May Fever

Since returning from the Pesach break, the shnatties have plunged into the frenzy of national holidays in Israel.

On Yom Hashoa, all the workshop and shnat groups gathered at Lochamei Hagetoaot, a kibbutz near Acco that was founded by fighters in the Warsaw ghetto and members of Dror, which also contains a very unique musuem [that we visited as part of the Poland preparation process]. Every year the official ceremony to close Yom Hashoa is held at the Amphitheater. It is a very special and unique ceremony, often with a focus towards the Youth movements in Israel. A highlight was the speech by Chavka Folman-Raban, a fighter from Dror in Warsaw, who spoke about the need of the youth to fight against the destructive elements in Israeli society today. Before the ceremony itself, we held a small Habonim Dror remembrance ceremony which was prepared by our very own Brits.
The week after, we celebrated May Day - the workers festival . Although traditionally celebrated on May 1st, as there was a conflict with Yom Hashoa, it was moved to May 4th this year. We gathered in Kikar Rabin in Tel Aviv and participated in a march through Tel Aviv streets, together with a few thousand members of youth movements in Israel - Hanoar Ha'oved V'lomed, Hashomer Hatzair, and Machanot HaOlim. It was an incredible sea of blue and red, and we then finished outside the Workers Federation Building with performances, dancing and singing and lots of sitting in the beautiful sunshine! Although it was a long day, it was also a really nice event, and afforded a great opportunity for the shnatties to see their friends from their "sister chavot".

Following that week was Erev Yom Hazikaron (Remembrance Day for Fallen Soldiers), and Yom Ha'atzamaut (Israeli Independence Day) - which was extra special this year as Israel is celebrating its 60th anniversary.
The shnatties have also been on a siyur at Ein Harod, to learn about the differences in the Kibbutz movements; and also on a tour of the seperation fence along the Wadi Ara area of Israel.
This week has been the final full week of Shnat, with messimot coming to a close and cleaning in full swing! The American shnat group has already departed, and a great farewell dinner was had at a restaurant in Tel Aviv together; needless to say there were many tears shed at the airport!
The shnatties leave their home of the past 4 months in Holon tomorrow (Friday) morning and will be at the Nachsholim guest house, on sikkum seminar, until they depart Israel on the morning of the 27th May. I will try to put in one more post before they finish!!