VEIDA XIV
12/26/05
9:30pm
Opening Ceremonies
Candlelighting
46 – Naomi,Azar, Abe Chiswick
48 – Alex Sharone, Mazkir Tnua
49 – Anne Heisler
50 – Dick Halperin
51 – Rachael Sevilla
52 – Toby David
53 – Jamie Messinger, Brian Cohen
54 – Paul Gross
55 – Cressa Pearloff
56 – George Stevens
57 – Talia Bailey, David Rosenberg
Od Lo Gamarnu – sang
Reports
Alex Sharone, Mazkir Tnua – emotional to be standing here after so many years of being in the movement. Gilboa. 7th Winter Seminar – since 1996. Can see how we’ve progressed in the movement since then, Such good energy, level has been raised- nice too look back and see that change. 2 yrs ago, lone candidate for veida, didn’t know what he was getting himself into, has had an amazing time in the year and a half since then. We in the mazkirut artzit – do it together – deserve a big thank you. Working with us all has been really wonderful. We’ve come a long way together, and we’ll continue to grow. A special thank you to Jenni for coordinating and organizing this seminar. Jenni is really rock solid, in so many ways. Thank you to all the shlichim, strongest mishlachat he’s ever seen. Thank you to tzevet of winter seminar, which included 5 ma’apilim and Eli who was the driver. Thanks for coming in to NYC and helping us plan and run this seminar. Next thank you to tzevet mitbach – and the Rosh tzevet mitbach – Rachael Sevilla. Thank everybody in this room for showing up. Thank you to Pearlstone, and to the Mashkiach particularly. Saw some Geese, thought of the movement. We’re all flapping our wings together, helping each other fly.
METAPHORS – thanked Abe – talked about t’nuat bogrim – METAPHORS – thank all the Roshei Machanot who are here – Gil, Jamie and Joe. And on mifgash – Jamie, Gil, Kenan, and Itamar Landau. UPZ. Hatikva slate. VOTE HATIKVA 2006
Have an election this veida for the next makir tnua – between Matt Becker and Gil Browdy – will take place tomorrow night. Very exciting – two very qualified individuals who will serve the movement well. STANDING OVATION
Naomi Azar, rakezet tochniot. Thank yous all around. Very inspiring to see the programs grow, see the people on the programs grow (ups to WS 54). Tnuat Bogrim – having a huge impact on programming. Boneh. Touring to promote programming. Parent trip.
Rachel Profeta, rakezet HaboU and Kenim. HaboU – started last fall – Debbie Cohen, Eli Wykell, Ario Shapiro. This year 5 people 1st semester, 4 for 2nd semester (Elana Adell here) – Abe Chiswick on tzevet tsafon. An important step for ma’apilim in their process of Hagshama. Will do a session with Abe about HaboU in the next few days. Ken resource book. In close contact with eizorim with Rashei Eizor. Ma’apilim seminar in Montreal. Database of ma’apilim, Habo College guide to pre-madatzim. Camping association – payscale increase at all machanot this summer.
Yona Prital, central Shlicha – this is 5th winter seminar, from Ma’aleh Chamisha. Feels like Peter Pan. Youth movements – being a part of it is the most amazkin gthing. How can a movement that is 70 years old and still be a youth movement. There’s something in the genes – this is an anti-aging movement. Intro of shlichim – Eyal Eshed (Galil), Naomi Kassel (Miriam), Alona Nir (Na’aleh), Omer Eshel (Gesher), Carmel Beham (Na’aleh), Moran Lencer (Tavor), Roee Peled (Gilboa), and Einat Rafaeli in absentia (Moshava).
Jenni Tonti – Gizbarit – budget presentation. But before that – a brief glimpse into jenni’s job. Been working with Stephane Acel. Goes over how finances work in the offices. STANDING OVATION.
T.B. Report – Abe Chiswick
Reads letter from Silvio – the world Mazkir. As a rep from Israel, can’t add much to what we’re doing in Israel than what has already been said by the Mazkirut Artzit. What I can say is that we are waiting for more of you to come and join us. I hope we can look at Debbie Cohen as an example of what is to come in the future.
Rakazei Tnua Reports
Aleph – Jackie Silbermann and Ruth Stevens – Resource book on Genocide. Hoper lots of information, peulot ideas, actual peulot in there, good resources for all ages.
Bet – Danny Fisher (Poop) – B’Tnua. It is a movement quaterly magazine. We need your articles! You can write about anything that is related to the movement. We like photos and crosswords.
No Rakaz Gimmel – they work on the website. The website could use a facelift…
Eizor Reports….
Gesher – Carly Shenfeld, Leah Silverberg, Avital Oretsky, Danny Fisher, Omer Eshel – Danny Fisher just appointed Rosh Eizor Montreal. We have a ma’apilim ken with weekly habo breakfast and weekly peulot. Starting up a chanich ken. We have high hopes that this time the chanich ken will work. Toronto – trying to incorporate a lot of chinuch into our kenim. We’ve done monthly or bi-monthly peulot. We had to the science center and fall seminar. In april we’ll have tikkun olam month. 2 kvutsot at a time will have a specific tikkun olam project. We look forward to having a good year. We’ve also been trying to recruit kids from smaller communities.
Miriam – Adam Levi, Joel Daniel Newman Bluman, Naomi Kassel
Victoria – had 4 events, uncluding a thanksgiving dinner. Shabbat dinner, peula on the new kibbutz movement. Had fall seminar with the Vancouver ken. Trying to get younger kids involved. It’s pretty fun.
Vancouver – had 17 kids at our channukah partty, which is a huge deal for us. We haven’t had an active ken in a very very long time, so all of this is very exciting! We’re in the beginning of creating the new kenim and strangethening the ones that exist. Next February, we’re doing a seminar with Gilboa. Hopefully we’re starting a tradition of a West coast seminar. This year it’s in Vancouver.
Gilboa – Isaac Oderberg, Zach Greenwald, Tohmer Soltes, Ro’ee Peled.
LA – aspire to have at least 2 peulot a month. We’ve been doing pretty well. No tikkun olam yet, but it’s planned. We have a building in the LA area where we meet. LA is going to have a big reunion in February – with everyone from gilboa. Anywhere between 10 and 25 kids for each peula.
Bay area – peulot twice a month. Down to Irvine – 12 kids – 1 peula there. We need more girls at Gilboa. Hadracha seminar – be there! Gilboa will have 30 people at that seminar.
The fact that we have 2 rashei eizor this year. Our goal is to have 40 new kids this summer.
Tavor – Moran Lencer, Yelena Adelman, Jamie Messinger, Dafna Eisbruch, Sam Kaplan
Ann Arbor – our ken is sweet. We have like 40 kids. Had 30 kids at our sukkot dinner, on sukkot. Started having separate peulot for chotrim and down and bonim and up. Also have tikkun olam planned. And a sleepover with Detroit. A lot of exciting stuff planned.
Ma’apilim in ann Arbor – a lot of people, but not so active. Gonna try to implement montreal style breakfast.
Chicago – Kupa supper with 70 people at it. One ken peula that was bonim and up – focused on Israel peulot. A lot of people in oak park, but not much activity. A Lot of ma’apilim in chiacago, but most over 30. going to have Shabbat dinner at Joe’s house.
Detroit – really active this year. Had a few peulot. Going to have a winter Olympics soon with Detroit and ann arbor. Bringing a Michigan Shabbat-on and a Chicago one. Last year set goal of 490 new chanichim and got 54. everyone is working hard to recruit new kids to the ken and to machaneh. Set a goal of 40, hope we reach over 50.
Going to have a 50th anniversary party at the beginning of this summer.
Na’aleh – Carmel Beham, Aaron Kokotek, Laura Merrill, Jake Hill, Rachael Sevilla
NJ – one event a month. Fall seminar, channukah party, about to start rehearsals for dance troupe. And about to start our second neshef.
Talking about changing over to running peulot by chavot instead of regions. Maybe starting that in the next few months. We have va’adot that are in charge of activities. Our rashei ken go to camp committee meetings. Started a listserve of ma’apilim – trying to get them involved.
Recruitment – trying to get 100 kids for this summer. We are about to attend 2 camp fairs in New Jersey. In terms of chinuch topis – American political system, habo activism in the communities. Our big news is that we’re buying a machaneh this summer.
Galil – Eyal Eshed, Evan chinoy, Ben Profeta, Shira Laurence, Brian Cohen
3 rashei eizor, soon to be 2. 1 shaliach. Many tzevet,. 180 kids. Eizor Galil has recently restructured. Now there is one entire eizor activity a month and one kvutsa peula each month. Each kvutsa has a tzevet that runs their peulot for them each month. In total there are 20 madrichim, which rules. Evan’s 2nd year as rosh eizor. Some of the events we’ve had – had our own sort of merkaz at machaneh. We had peulot about leadership and discussed our eizor goals for the year. Fall Seminar – 115-120 kids and 25 madrichim. Very successful. Had a carnival as a recruitment event. Had a channukah sleepover, 80 kids at that. MLK day of service in January. In February, mosh, na’aleh, and galil will have 2nd annual winter mifgash at Pearlstone! Trying to recruit younger kids…goal is 100 new ones for this upcoming summer.
Moshava – Jamie Beran, Ben Sager, Ben Meiselman, Aimee Mayer, Yonah Meiselman, Zach Arnson-Serotta
Structured sim ilar to galil, in that it’s schichvah peulot. 4 successful eizor peulot this year. DC9 – kvutsa building and commercialism.
Ma’apilim Ken. Jamie lives in a baytit. Had a lot of peulot for maapilim recently. In January showing walmart mopvie and having a sicha about it.
Very successful ken season so far. There are 15 active post-madatz.
Alex thanks the Camo Committees. Something about camp cWE LOVE DICK.
Approval of Veida procedure
Motion to set quorum to 50 % + 1 of the people in the room currently
Dov Goldman
Motion to amend – Ari S.
Quorum is affected by who is affected and as people leave quorum is affected that the number. As people leave the seminar the mazkirut will adjust the number.
Friendly amendment
Notes: There were some that felt this was too low and that 60% would be a good compromise.
Motion to vote
For / Against / Abstain79 / 48 / 9
Motion Passes: Quorum set at (50% of 136 + 1) (Gil Browdy)
Second – Safi Gerchak
Motion to Accliam – Safi Gerchak
Question – Only incluiding people in the room who are eligible to vote.
No objections – quorum is set at (50% of 100 +1)
Motion to amend to include tzvet mitbach – gil browdy. Motion to acclaim – Jamie beran. No objection – motion passes.
Motion to allow Abe chiswick and the schlim to address the veida (Ben Meiselman). Second (Safi Gerchak).
Gil points out that’s already including in veiuda prodecure in the consitution.,
Motion to acclaim (Gil Browdy).
No objection.
Veida procedure approved!
Plenary Session I: Consitution (Yoshev Rosh: Jon Sulman)
Too Legit to Quit
By the Mazkirut Artzit
Whereas the constitution of Habonim Dror North America serves as the by-laws of our not-for-profit corporation;
Whereas Habonim Dror must be in compliance with all New York State laws of incorporation, which requires certain bodies to be clearly articulated (i.e. Board of Directors, Officers, Membership)
Whereas it is vital for Habonim Dror to maintain its unique structure of leadership as a youth movement;
Therefore let it be resolved that the following document be adopted as the revised Constitution of Habonim Dror North America.
Furthermore, let it be resolved that Regulations and Procedures for the Implementation of the Constitution be adopted as a separate document not part of the constitution.
Additionally, let it be resolved that Habonim Dror’s affiliation with other organizations be adopted as a separate statement not part of the constitution.
Note the underlined proposed changes.
CONSTITUTION OF HABONIM DROR NORTH AMERICA
The Labor Zionist Youth Movement
Preamble
Habonim Dror North America, The Labor Zionist Youth Movement, strives to upbuild a new social order throughout the world, based on the principles of social justice, cooperative economics and political democracy embodied in the vision of the Prophets and exemplified in the achievements of the Chalutzim. The renaissance of the Jewish People is directly connected with the evolution of a just world, as is the self-determination of all peoples.
Aliyah to communal frameworks actively working in pursuit of our ideological aims is an effective path to the actualization of our movement goals. We constantly seek alternative social forms based on the concepts of collectivism, which are deeply rooted in our Jewish heritage. Developing a positive Jewish identity is fundamentalto the fulfillment of our ideology. We reject those institutions of modern society that repress and exploit the individual and that mechanize and degrade human relationships. Furthermore,only active concern and personal involvement can alleviate the ills of society and bring about this just world.
To these ends, we celebrate the creation of one united Labor Zionist Youth Movement based on the merger of Ichud Habonim Labor Zionist Youth and Dror Zionist Youth and adopt this Constitution as a foundation for our continued activism. Moreover,we call upon all who hold a progressive vision of Israel, the Jewish community, and society at large to join in the implementation of these ideals.
Article I: Name
Habonim Dror North America is an independent, autonomous entity organized as a New York not-for-profit corporation and incorporated under the name “Habonim Labor Zionist Youth, Inc.” and the organization shall also be known as Habonim Dror North America. In Hebrew, the name is “Habonim Dror b’Tsafon America.” Henceforth the organization will be referred to as Habonim Dror or the Movement.
Article II: Aims
As an autonomous Labor Zionist youth movement whose members strive for the concrete expression of its ideals in their own lives and society, Habonim Dror has the following aims:
To upbuild the State of Israel as a progressive, egalitarian, cooperative society, at peace with its neighbors; actively involved in a Peace Process with the Palestinian people with the common goal of a just and lasting peace; and as the physical and spiritual center of the Jewish people. To this end, Habonim Dror calls first and foremost for Aliya to communal and collective frameworks that actively work to achieve the aforementioned goal. In addition, Habonim Dror also calls for active involvement in progressive Zionist and Jewish issues in Diaspora communities.
To strengthen the relationship between North American Jewish youth and Judaism through their involvement in progressive Jewish communities with the purposes of enlisting their participation in the upbuilding of a renewed Jewish culture, including pluralistic religious expression. This will be accomplished by the development of individual Jewish identities by means of promoting the exploration of Jewish spirituality, the full expression of the Hebrew language, an understanding of Jewish history and a personal relationship with Israel.
To participate in the creation of a new social order throughout the world, based on the principles of self-determination, individual freedom, political democracy, and cooperative economics, the equality of all peopleand the equality of human value.
To participate in constructive activities in the North American Jewish community while advocating change where necessary to foster Jewish continuity and creativity and the democratization of the community.
To develop within its members the will to realize their own capabilities andto develop a collectivist attitude to actualize the movements goals through cooperative frameworks (kvutzah).
Article III: Membership
Section 1.Membership in Habonim Dror is open to all youth in the United States and Canada who recognize, accept and adhere to the principles of the Movement.
Section 2.Membership in Habonim Dror shall be divided into three groups with the following designations:
CHANICHIM—Grades 2-10
HADRACHA—Graduates of the Hadracha programs (MBI and Madatz) and/or chaverim/ot of the equivalent ages.
MA’APILIM—Members and graduates of the Workshop program and/or chaverim/ot of the equivalent ages and all chaverim/ot of the pre-Workshop kvutza who work at a Habonim Dror machaneh.
Section 3.Hadracha and Ma’apilim members shall have the right to be represented and to vote at meetings of members, provided they have paid the prevailing Mas. Each such member shall be entitled to one vote. Chanichim shall not have the right to vote.
Article IV: Meetings
Section 4.Winter Seminar: Habonim Dror shall hold an annual meeting of the voting members, at a time and place determined by the Mazkirut Artzit, which shall be known as Winter Seminar.
Section 5.Veida: Habonim Dror shall hold a biennial meeting of the membership, which shall be known as Veida. The Veida shall be held at a time and place determined by the Mazkirut Artzit, to set policy and direction for Habonim Dror. Veida decisions can be amended or set aside only by the Veida. Decisions are made in this forum that relate to ideology, programming, movement projects and movement programs. Any member eligible to vote may bring a proposal to the Veida. The Veida also elects the Mazkir/a. If the election or re-election of the Mazkir/a occurs during a year when there is no Veida, the Mazkir/a shall be elected at Winter Seminar.