Habonim Dror reach out to smaller communities
Ken HaShemesh HaOlah (KSO) is Habonim Dror Australia’s groundbreaking new outreach program, providing socialist-Zionist and progressive education for Jewish youths regardless of where they may live in Australia.
With three kenim (branches) operating in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth respectively, this new initiative from Habonim Dror aims to provide education to youth who live in areas such as Adelaide, Byron or other locations prohibitively far from a physical movement space.
Recently KSO ran its first every weekly program for seven children from all over Australia, and it was a huge success.
Over an online video call, HDOZ madrichim (leaders) from Melbourne and Canberra introduced themselves to the chanichim (movement participants) who were from years 3-6, discussed aims for the distance-education program, as well as what it could mean to have an ongoing relationship, both between madrichim and chanichim as well as between the chanichim themselves.
The chanichim all seemed to get along really well with us as well as with each other.
There are Jews and Jewish communities all over Australia outside of the capital cities who have little or no access to progressively-inclined Jewish or Zionist education – but that is not to say that there is not an important place for it.
Stressing the value of “klaliyut” (inclusivity), the movement is trying to utilise the age of social media to provide content and meaningful Jewish spaces through our new Ken as well as outreaches planned to the Canberra Jewish community.
Habonim Dror is an all-inclusive, passionately educational and spiritually driven environment, whether on camp, in Israel, or over a video call, and HDOZ believes that this opportunity should be provided to all who wish to take it.
If you or anybody you know could benefit from this initiative, please take a look at bit.do/shemesholahsignup or email [email protected]!
Brooke Levy contributed this article
