Galil Blog

Hi! It’s Hannah and Amina from Kvutzah 72! We’re in Israel on Workshop and we wanted to share a little bit about what we’ve been doing. If you don’t know, Workshop is the longest running North American gap year program in Israel. Fall 2022 marks Habonim Dror’s 72nd consecutive year of running the program! This 8-month program offers Workshoppers a fulfilling and engaging encounter with Israeli Society and their Jewish identity. During the first part of the program, Shorashim, participants take part in immersive group-centered learning on Jewish history, Zionism, and Hebrew, and contribute to Israeli society through agriculture. In the second portion of the program, Adama, participants will spend a month living and learning in Jerusalem, the historical and religious centre of Israel. For the last part of the program, Anafim, participants will move to Haifa – a vibrant multicultural city – where they will build social justice through coexistence education, and work with Israeli youth in schools and after-school youth clubs in connection with Habonim Dror North America’s sister movement, HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed.

Since living on Kibbutz En HaShofet for six weeks, we’ve taken ulpan classes, tried different kinds of avodah, and run peulot for each other. This past week, we visited Jerusalem and met other members of the movement from all over the world. We had delicious hummus in Yaffo and saw lots of interesting art and architecture.

Our kibbutz and our new kvutzah are beginning to feel like home and we’re so happy to be growing and challenging each other together.