Published: 5 December 2019
Last updated: 4 March 2024
This is the question that is currently causing great division between the bogrim (youth leaders of Habonim Dror Australia, who overwhelmingly support having olim affiliated with the Dror Israel movement as leaders on their Shnat program, and the PnF (Parents and Friends of Habonim Dror), HDO (Habonim Dror Olami) and who feel that leaders from Dror Israel or HeChalutz contribute to an “unsafe environment” for youth.
WATCH VIDEO
The majority of the bogrim are unwilling to send their 2020 Shnat participants on a program lead by HDO, which they say “no longer reflects our movement’s values and has failed to address long-standing educational and safety inadequacies.” Among their main concerns about HDO are their differing educational standards and refusal to sign contracts outlining their obligations as a service provider.
A statement from the Federal Mazkirut of Habonim Dror Australia said: “Despite being a youth movement of responsible young adults, the leadership of Habonim Australia now feels it lacks self-determination.
Objecting to the actions of the PnF and the Kibbutz Movement, the Federal Mazkirut added that “a group of older people in Israel and Australia—removed from the day-to-day reality of the local youth movement—wish to maintain the status quo, despite the unambiguous dissatisfaction of almost all individuals who have participated in the program over the last several years.”
This makes “Australia is the last “colonial outpost” for HDO, the statement said, adding that it will fight at any cost to keep its Australian revenue-stream, even if it ultimately causes the collapse of Habonim Australia.”
The Federal Mazkirut would prefer the Israel program to be managed by Tlalilm in 2020, but this option has been rejected by Masa on the grounds that the formal request was too late, having been only lodged in in September.
A statement from the President and CEO of the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) said that Masa has “a range of criteria which require further investigation,” before approving a change in program providers. The letter concludes that “Masa have advised us that the decision for 2020 is final and they will not be revisiting that, particularly given the short time before the program commences.”
The ZFA also stated that it “is committed to the continued strength and growth of Habonim Dror Australia, one of our community’s strongest youth movements with a proud local and global history.”
In relation to the Israel program, the ZFA stated that the “strength of any youth movement is directly supported by strong Shnat participation and by having JAFI/ movement shlichim (emissaries) to support the local movement in their education and ideological focus.”
Expressing its r disappointment with the inability to change Israel program providers, the Federal Mazkirut concluded that “whilst we do not believe the HDO program will provide the highest level of safety and the best possible educational environment or prepare the participants for leadership in the Australian movement, irrespective of what program they go on, the 2020 Shnat participants will have the opportunity to come back to Australia and become leaders in Habonim Australia.”
The Year 12s in Habonim Dror Australia are now considering the range of options before them in deciding what Israel program will most suit them best for 2020.
Photo: Outgoing Melbourne Mazkira Ruby Bouhdana and incoming Mazkira Brooke Levy
