- Zionist youth movement
A
Zionist youth movement is an organization formed forJewish children and adolescents for educational, social, and ideological development, including a belief inJewish nationalism as represented in theState of Israel . Youth leaders in modern movements useinformal education approaches to educate toward the movement's ideological goals.History
Most Zionist youth movements were established in
Eastern Europe in the earlytwentieth century , desiring the national revival of the Jewish people in their own homeland, and soon formed an active and integral part of theZionist movement. All emphasisedaliyah (emigration to theLand of Israel ) and community, with many also focussing on a return to nature.Blau-Weiss is considered to have been the first Zionist youth movement, established in Germany in 1912, and were inspired by the culture of outings and hikes prevalent in theGerman youth movement . Adopting an official Zionist platform in 1922, the movement stressed an agricultural way of life, leading many of its members to theKibbutz movement in Mandatory Palestine.With the upsurge in European
nationalism andanti-Semitism ,pogroms in Eastern Europe and the barring of Jewish members from German youth groups incubated the Zionist national consciousness of the Jewish youth, appealing to their idealism.Youth movements played a considerable role in politics, Jewish
education , community organisation and Zionism, particularly between the twoworld wars . Within Europe, they were the nucleus of the Jewish resistance movements in the ghettos and camps of theHolocaust . They also led the escape ("Beriha ") from Europe following the war, particularly to Palestine, where most surviving members settled.Many of Eastern Europe's movements established themselves as worldwide organisations, although these were less influential. Alumni in Palestine organised their movements there from the 1920s, with an emphasis on pioneering and personal fulfillment ("hagshama atzmit"). There they strengthened the settlement organisations, particularly building the
Kibbutz movement and most affiliated with or established Israel's political parties.After Israel's establishment in 1948, some of the movements' roles, such as education, were taken on by the State. With the growth and development of the country, movements' aims have been adjusted, despite a lesser public interest in the pioneering ideals of earlier Zionism.
In the
Jewish diaspora , the nature of Zionist youth movements has varied in time and place. During periods when the general Zionist movement has been strong, such as that preceding theSix-Day War , movements have been particularly active. As well as acting towards Zionist causes, the movements have been seen as an important Jewish education and socialisation when it has not been otherwise available. Hence, with the development of stronger community structures, youth movements have often played a lesser role. Many youth, particularly in the large Jewish population ofNorth America , have opted for Jewish social groups without ideological pursuits.Modern movements
Zionist youth movements, both in Israel and the diaspora, continue to play a large role in community organisation, Jewish education, welfare, politics and activism. While upholding and adjusting their individual movement ideologies, diaspora movements commonly idealise
Jewish continuity and identity in opposition to cultural assimilation, and Zionism in the way of an active community involvement while living in Israel (termed by some as "aliyah nimshechet" or "continuing ascent"), with importance placed uponleadership skills andpersonal development . In some countries, resistance in response to anti-Semitism is also a significant political focus.Movements generally focus on education for school-age youths, who are known as "chanichim" (Hebrew for educatees; singular "chanich/a"), approximately aged 8 to 18. The nucleus of movement leaders ("madrichim", singular "madrich/a"; literally "guides") are graduates ("bogrim", singular "boger/et") of the movement, although it is popular for senior "chanichim" to also lead junior groups.
Much of a movement's activity is carried out through regular meetings or events, in many countries weekly, as well as camps one or more times a year. Leaders use methods of informal education to inspire and teach "chanichim" within a particular ideological framework, or to induce discussion and thought. Such events are also highly social and often involve recreational activity., making the educational and ideological pursuits more enjoyable for participating youths.
Preparation ("Hachshara")
Most diaspora movements organise programmes in Israel, aiming for personal and ideological development, experience and training, such that participants would either remain in Israel as a form of ideological fulfillment, or return to their diaspora communities and movements in a leadership capacity. Many of these programs cover most of the year following one's graduation from high school, and are known as "shnat hachshara" (year of preparation) like their predecessors. Most require of their programmes' participants a two year commitment to their movement on return from the program in Israel.
Many such programmes are coordinated together with the Department for Jewish Zionist Education of the
Jewish Agency for Israel , whose "Machon L'Madrichei Chutz La'Aretz " (Institute for Leaders from Abroad) [http://www.jafi.org.il/education/study/m-chul/english/] has been a component in many movements' year programmes since 1946. Year programmes may also include:
*studying at a Jewish educational institution, such as ayeshiva , or independent study programmes
*touring Israel
*volunteer work in a kibbutz; in adevelopment town ; with welfare and charity organisations; with theMagen David Adom ambulance service; in schools; on Israeli summer camps; with the IDF inSar-El [http://www.sar-el.org/] ; at archaeological digs; etc.
*experience or training with the IDF, such as the 8-weekMarva Army Experience Program [http://www.wzo.org.il/en/programs/view.asp?id=120]
*a historical tour ofPoland and the remains of Nazi EuropeFulfillment ("Hagshama")
As well as education, the movement experience is directed towards "hagshama atzmit", or personal fulfillment of one's ideology, often closely aligned with that of their movement. Typically, for a diaspora movement member, this involves immigration to Israel, seen as an ultimate goal of Zionist ideals. Many movements organise groups of participants to take this difficult step together, forming a "gar'in" of "olim" (group of immigrants) who are prepared together for the process of "aliyah".
ervice Year ("Shnat Sherut")
In Israel, it is common for active movement participants to commit a year of movement leadership between completing high-school and conscription into the
Israel Defence Forces .Educational methods
:"This section needs expanding."Youth movements employ informal education methods to educate an ideology to their members. This is often achieved through regular meetings that socialise participants within their groups, as well as camps. Particularly on camps, but in all interactions movements create a "
counter-culture " that produces a particular social environment where members can express themselves freely, although with an underlying focus towards the movement's ideology.Activities and camps are essentially peer-led, usually by youth leaders who are often a few years older than the participants. Because of this, a friendly relationship is created between leaders and participants that encourages leadership by personal example ("dugma ishit"), whereby a leader's method of education is by being a moral, active and ideological member of the movement themself.
List of modern movements
*
AJ6 : The Association of Jewish Sixthformers, based in the United Kingdom, with a branch inShelomi , Israel.
* Ariel: 1980–ongoing. Split fromBnei Akiva in Israel, separating its meetings for males and females, and with each branch having its ownrabbi for authority.
*BBYO : 1923–ongoing. The Bnei Brith Youth Organisation. Active internationally.
*Beyajad . 1988–ongoing. Active inMonterrey, Mexico . [http://www.beyajad.com]
* Betar: 1923–ongoing. Associated with Revisionist Zionist movement andLikud party. Its members were heavily involved in Jewish resistance in the ghettos of Nazi Eastern Europe. Active internationally.
*Bnei Akiva : 1929–ongoing. Associated withReligious Zionism and theNational Religious Party . Ideology of "Torah ve'avodah" -torah study and contributing to the build-up of the nation. Bnei Akiva claims to be the largest Zionist Youth Movement in the world, with over 50,000, members internationally (35 Countries) with another 100,000 in Israel.
*Chazit Hanoar : Politically unaffiliated, Jewish and Zionist education. Active in South America. [http://www.chazit.org/]
* Ezra: 1919–ongoing. Religious movement, originally affiliated with theAgudat Yisrael party in Israel. In Palestine from 1936. Has founded manykibbutz im andmoshav im. [http://www.ezra.org.il/]
*Federation of Zionist Youth (FZY): 1910–ongoing. (As FZY since 1935). Pluralistic - believes in teaching Jewish and Israeli culture, promoting the giving of charity, defense of Jewish rights andaliyah . [http://www.fzy.org.uk/]
*Habonim Dror : Merger of Dror (est. 1915) and Habonim Union (1929) in 1980. Associated withLabour Zionism , theUnited Kibbutz Movement and the Labour party. Dror led the Warsaw ghetto uprising. Active internationally. Asecular youth movement.
*Haihud Hahaklai (the Agricultural Union): 1978–ongoing. Associated with a union of agricultural villages, but politically non-partisan. Active in Israel. [http://www.ihaklai.org.il/Youth/]
*Hamaccabi Hatzair : 1926–ongoing. Founded inGermany , associated with the World Maccabi Jewishsports organisation, while the youth movement also promoted aliya and pioneering through rural settlement.
*Hamahanot Ha'olim : 1926–ongoing. Associated with theUnited Kibbutz Movement . Five principles of pioneering, Zionism, socialism, democracy and humanism. Established originally byHerzlia Gymnasium . Active in Israel. [http://www.hamahanot-haolim.org.il]
*Hanoar Hatzioni : 1932–ongoing. Scouting movement with pluralistic outlook. Active internationally.
*Hanoar Haoved Vehalomed : 1924–ongoing. Established as HaNoar HaOved ("the working youth") by theHistadrut (General Federation of Jewish Labor in Palestine) to meet the social, cultural and education needs of working youth. After merging in 1959 with the Habonim Union, the current movement was formed, "the Working and Student Youth". Active in Israel.
*Hashomer Hatzair : 1913–ongoing. A Zionist-socialist youth movement founded in Galicia (today's Poland). Established what was theMapam party, following the migration to Israel and founding of kibbutzim by many members in the early 1920s. Its members were heavily involved in Jewish resistance in the ghettos of Nazi Eastern Europe. Active internationally.
*Hehalutz : 1918–Initially established in Russia underJoseph Trumpeldor to prepare potential "olim" for labour and pioneering work. Mostly collapsed after World War II (ongoing in South America only). Active in South America.
* Hineni: 1976–ongoing.Modern Orthodox Judaism , Politically Non-Partisan, Zionist movement. Not associated with particular Zionist ideology or party, only with local synagogues. Active in Australia. [http://www.hineni.org.au]
* Hatzofim Haivriim (the Hebrew Scouts): 1919–ongoing. Associated with the worldScouting movement, whose ideals it generally shares. Active in Israel. [http://www.zofim.org.il/]
*Magshimey Herut : 1999–ongoing. Acitivist movement associated withRevisionist Zionism made up of religious and non-religious young adults. Ideology a combination of retaining the borders ofGreater Israel and social activism on behalf of Israel's poor. Affiliated with theHerut party. Active in North America and Israel.
* Netzer: 1980–ongoing. Associated with theWorld Union for Progressive Judaism . Central focus onReform Zionism and social activism through "tikkun olam " (repairing the world). Netzer Olami also claims to be the largest zionist youth movement in the world with over 30,000 members worldwide. Active internationally.
*NOAM : Associated with theMasorti (Conservative Judaism) movement. Active in Israel, Argentina and the UK.
*North American Federation of Temple Youth : 1939–ongoing. The organized youth movement ofReform Judaism in North America. Affiliated with theUnion for Reform Judaism andNetzer Olami .
*Tzeirei Ami : 1978–ongoing. Chilean pluralistic Zionist scouting movement. Active in South America. [http://www.tzeirei.cl]
*Young Judaea : 1909–ongoing. Associated withHadassah Women's Zionist Organization. Focus on Zionist Jewish identity and social action in a pluralist environment. Active as the largest movement in the USA.List of youth movements by region
Africa
* Habonim Dror Southern Africa
*Betar
* Netzer Southern Africa
* Bnei Akiva Southern AfricaAustralia
*
Betar
*Bnei Akiva
* Habonim Dror
*Hashomer Hatzair
* Hineni
*Netzer Olami Europe
*
Netzer Olami
*Bnei Akiva
*Hashomer Hatzair
*Hanoar Hatzioni
*Habonim Dror Former Soviet Union
*
Netzer Olami Israel
*
Hanoar Haoved Vehalomed
*Hashomer Hatzair
* Hatsofim
*Netzer Olami
*AJ6
*Bnei Akiva
*Hamachanot Haolim
*Noar Kahane
*Noar Hazit
*EZRA
*Hanoar Hatzioni North America
*
Bnei Akiva
* Habonim Dror
*Hebraica Miami
*Magshimey Herut
*North American Federation of Temple Youth
*Young Judaea
*Netzer Olami
*Ezra USA
*Hashomer Hatzair
*Hanoar Hatzioni (Canada )South America
* Habonim Dror
*Betar
*Beyajad
*Hejalutz Lamerjav
*Jazit HaNoar
*Etz Jaim
*Israel hatzeira
*Hanoar Hatzioni (Argentina )(Perú ) (Uruguay )(Paraguay )(Netzah Israel Brazil )(Tzeirei Ami Chile )
*Bnei Akiva
*Noam
*Macabi Olami Clam
*Netzer Olami
*Maccabi Hatzair (Chile)
*Hashomer Hatzair
*Tikva (Chile)
*Bet El (Chile) Central America
*
Hanoar Hatzioni United Kingdom
*
AJ6
*Betar
*Bnei Akiva
*BBYO
*Ezra (youth movement)
*Federation of Zionist Youth (FZY)
*Habonim Dror
*LJY-Netzer
*Maccabi (youth movement)
*NOAM MASORTI YOUTH
*Netzer Olami (LJY-Netzer )
*Netzer Olami (RSY-Netzer )
*Hanoar Hatzioni List of historical movements
*
Blau Weiss
* Gordonia: 1925–1951. Associated withLabour Zionism and its namesakeA. D. Gordon . Founded in Poland, and active in Palestine from 1925, idealised manual labor, mutual aid and human values. After helping to establish theUnited Kibbutz Movement , it merged with other youth movements.ee also
*
Youth group
*Zionism
*List of Jewish youth organizations References
* Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, [http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Modern%20History/Centenary%20of%20Zionism/Youth%20Movements "Centenary of Zionism - Youth Movements"] , 1998.
External links
* [http://www.wzo.org.il/en/resources/expand_subject.asp?id=45 Articles and resources on Zionist youth movements] -
World Zionist Organization
* " [http://www.infed.org/informaljewisheducation/jewish_youth_movements.htm The World of the Jewish Youth Movement] " by Daniel Rose - on movements and informal education
* [http://www.bne-akiwa.ch/ Jewish-zinonist Youth Movement (Bne Akiwa)]
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