He'arah 4: HDOZ Zine

‫קון‬ ‫תי‬

‫ע‬ ‫ו‬ ‫ל‬

‫ם‬

Welcome to He'arah Volume 4 ‘Tikkun olam’ is a pretty broad tent. ‘Healing the world’ is a very vague concept that doesn’t actually mean anything particularly important by itself. So I guess it’s a really good thing that tikkun olam does not exist in an ideological vacuum. In traditional, religious Judaism, tikkun olam is a process we engage in when we observe the mitzvot - praying every day, loving thy neighbour and eating kosher are ways that we heal the world by respecting HaShem, practicing Jewish morality and not spreading disease via rotten pork.

For us in Habo, tikkun olam is what we strive to achieve by actualising our ideology. Building positive and holistic Jewish identities in our youth is ‘healing the world’; so is educating towards Socialist Zionism and contributing to our community.

Anyone on the planet could throw around the phrase ‘tikkun olam’ to justify their particular beliefs because it is a hollow statement without guidelines. And so the purpose of the youth movement is to choose an ideology, and decide upon a specific path that all who wish can walk down towards our vision of what it means to heal the world.

Each Habo chavera who walks that path to tikkun olam will have a different experience of it, and different priorities. Environmentalism may feature as a core part of a chavera’s journey to bettering the planet, or queer rights or postcolonialism. The personal variations we can add to movement principles of building a better future through Jewish, Zionist leadership is what makes Habo a rich and colourful place where young people can express their passions.

Aleh v’hagshem, Hannah Blount Federal Gizbarit 2020

Sign up for FED in your state here https://www.hdoz.com/fed

Joys of Habo Garden It's been such a joy to watch the Habo Melbourne garden thrive this year!

From an overgrown garden sprawling with weeds, over the last few months, mixed groups of madrichimot and chanichimot have prepared the soil and planted an array of winter crop seedlings.

Despite challenges to garden accessibility during a time of harsh restrictions, the crops thrived in their garden beds and have since gradually been harvested and delivered to families’ front door steps.

From broccoli heads, purple carrots, bok choy, rainbow chard, mixed variety lettuces, sweet peas, broad beans, green + purple cabbage… and more… the Habo community are enjoying the abundance of goodness grown straight from the soil.

Developing a greater appreciation for plants, feeling connected to families during a time of social distancing, spending time outdoors and learning new skills are just some of the outcomes of this modest veggie patch. As Rosh Garden this year, I’m excited to see how the garden can continue to bloom into the future and become a more central part of the movement.

Ella Hermann Shavit

Vessel

Becky Nebenzal Eyal

This is my vessel. What is a vessel you ask? A vessel is defined as a “hollow container, especially one used to hold liquid, such as a bowl or cask”. I created this artwork in visual arts this year in a module that was called future artefact. Essentially the piece was meant to represent and reshape a piece of our culture that we felt like expressing. I chose to explore the idea of a fragmentated family, a realistic relationship that can be seen to be broken or not whole.

The small little pebbles that you can see explore the idea that these relationships can be repaired and put back together, much like the Jewish concept of tikkun olam, that to me means repairing the world and constructively aspiring to mend aspects that can benefit from being mended. Overall, I wanted my artwork to convey the realities of our relationships, that are often actually not as perfect as they may seem. In response to this, it made me think about these ideas and about how I can aspire to make such relationships better – my understanding of Judaism’s concept of Tikkun Olam.

Below is a Haiku poem that I spent a good amount of time generating in a Haiku poem generator. I hope you enjoy.

Vessel – A Haiku Beautiful art class A bulbous vessel creates a tikkun olam Here are some responses from critics.

“The juxtaposition of a vessel and tikkun olam is truly inspiring.”

- The Daily Tale “I don’t like short poems.

So why am I reviewing a haiku, you may wonder?

Well, I liked the title – ‘Vessel’. It went downhill from ther.e”

- H.D Laurence

“Amazing how so few words can set a scene so perfectly. I close my eyes and all I can see is the beautiful art class.”

- Shilliam Wakespear “I felt that I was a vessel. It was spooky. I hope to read more by Rebecca. Perhaps next time, something longer."

- Zob Gloop

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Jews of Colour Including the narratives of Jewish minorities in our movement is of upmost importance. The following are some of the posters that bogrimot and chanichimot have made to better educate ourselves and our community on Jews of colour.

Chloe Miller and Max Kidman Eyal

Created by Aaron Lemberg and Becky Nebenzal Eyal

Rosh Hashana & Yom Kippur provide us with the space to self-reflect. We ruminate on questions such as: Who am I? Do my actions reflect who I am? How can I be a better version of myself?

During this introspective process, we should evaluate how our actions contribute to tikkun olam. In doing this, we practice tikkun atzmi, the healing of the self.

Rosh Hashana & Yom Kippur Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, A time for family laugh, banter and cheer.

Coming together for a familial feast, Tradition spreading from the Mid-East.

Some of us won’t be surrounded, some of us will, Some of us with our entire communities, others with nil One thing that unites us is our strong Jewish flame, Our own Jewish traditions, the youth should reclaim.

Have some interesting discussion about the origins of the life, Or have some about how Melbourne is in strife.

At the end of the day, special or not, This chag is a time to remember what you have got.

A happy new year to all, and one to remember, Let us all hope we eden's can be thing together next September!

Chag sameach everyone!

Brandon Wazkubtzki - Shavit

This year on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, Ayelet HaShachar welcomed in the new Jewish year with an online musical song-based service.

The service included regular kabbalat shabbat songs with all the crowd favourites, the blowing of the shofar as well as thoughts and prayers for the high holidays. The music was replete with juicy reverberating melodies, harmonies, guitars and even occasionally some egg shaker to spice it all up.

One of the many symbols associated with the holiday is the blowing of the shofar, which wakes us up, reminds us that we are being judged, and makes us reflect on our actions in order to improve ourselves for the year ahead. At the service, the shofar managed to echo its way through the zoom call, uniting our community despite us all being physically distant.

We recited the Schechechiyanu blessing, traditionally said when celebrating a holiday or doing something for the first time that year. The prayer is about being grateful for being alive and having the privilege of living in the present. It reinforces Rosh Hashanah’s themes of repentance and renewal. ‫ֹלקינּו ֶמלֶ ך ָברּוך‬ ֵ ‫ ַא ָתה ה‘ ֱא‬:‫ ֶש ֶה ֱחיָ נּו וְ ִקיְ ָמנּו וְ ִהגִ יעָ נּו לַ זְ ַמן ַהזֶ ה‬,‫ָהעֹולָ ם‬ We introduced a new song to the service, Zorcheinu L’Chaim, which in translation means “Remember us for life”, “Chotveinu b’sefer ha’chaim” “Write us in the Book of Life”. During uncertain times, the sentiment was specifically potent, reminding and perhaps humbling the community with the idea that most things are beyond our control. Being alive might be a little stress inducing, yet it is a gift.

Between the holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the ‘Days of Awe’, Yamim Nora’im – days reserved for introspection, humbleness and reflection. Throughout this period, Ayelet HaShachar will be (and has been) posting reflective pieces of writing from members of the Ayelet community, discussing the different themes of the High Holy Days. I recommend you check out the Ayelet Instagram or Facebook to read these!

Eden Cohen - Shavit

Fresh and Sweet Visions By Lucy Korman - Shavit

A vision board for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

May 5781 be abundant, fresh and oh so sweet!

Yom Kippur Reflection

Hannah Moshinksy - Ra'am

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In Memory of RBG By Timnah Olcha - Shavit The death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, 87, has been a devastating shock to many who loved and admired her, as a small Jewish woman with a voice to be reckoned with.

Her contribution to America and the rest of the globe is outstanding and completely incomprehensible. Paving the way for equality, she was a true feminist, who advocated for the rights of woman but also fought battles on behalf of many marginalised males, who were also subjected to the sexism of the patriarchy.

As the new year roles forward rapidly and leaves us all asking “how is it almost October?,” we should look up to RBG’s spirit and might, to learn from this incredible woman.

"When a justice is of the firm view that the majority got it wrong, she is free to say so in dissent. I take advantage of that prerogative, when I think it is important” (RBG 2016). Her counter cultural views ensured that injustice was tackled to the ground. She dissented against the majority view 9 times on the Supreme Court, and demonstrated what we as Habonim Dror Australia know and hold true, that going along with the norm is not an option when fighting for Shivion Erech Ha’adam. For example, Justice Ginsburg’s dissent in an Olmstead case in 1999, was vital in expanding the scope of the American federal law, which resultantly reduced discrimination on the basis of disability in government services. This was a monumental, landmark ruling for special needs rights and whilst not a popular ruling among many, RBG ensured that the value of Shivi was upheld. “The demand for justice runs through the entirety of Jewish history and Jewish tradition” (RBG).

RBG was one of 9 woman in a class of 500 at Harvard in 1956. When asked what she could change in this world, she explained that as a society we have come very far, but that we shouldn’t stop until “women and men are partners in society at every level.” She truly was a woman beyond her time, imagining the impossible in a world that we as 21st century, Gen Z individuals will never comprehend. A large part of which we can say, was thanks to RBG and her unrelenting fight for feminism, equality among the sexes.

I personally really admired RBG and the way she fought her battles. She explains many times that her mother taught her to be like a lady. Instead of the traditional way we believe a ‘lady’ should act like, RBG explained that by that, her mother meant that Ruth should always be independent and strive to achieve everything you want to accomplish. She also explains that sometimes it’s good to be a little deaf and not get caught up by people who don’t believe in you or what you believe in, or try put you down. She represented the very best of what the law strives to do, guided by her Jewish values and strong sense of Jewish tradition.

I really admired RBG as a woman who demanded respect, but did so in a way that remained true to her strong convictions for justice and change. “Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time” (RBG).

Baruch Dayan Haemet, may her memory be a blessing for generations to come and continue her legacy in the pursuit of justice.

Over the past few months the bogrimot of HDOZ attended seminars about their place in the movement and world more generally. These seminars were built in collaboration with our Shlav Hachshara Bet madrichimot in Israel! Usually, these madrichimot would run the bogrimot seminars. This was impossible due to COVID travel bans. With the help of zoom, the bogrimot of Australia and our madrichimot in Israel were able to build incredibly engaging, challenging and inspiring seminars.

Bogrimot Seminars

Shavit Shemesh hang out on a farm We were blindly roped into visiting a farm in the middle of nowhere, where we thought we could finally relax and hang out with friends. Baby cows, long stretches of grass, clear river, god-like light pouring on us from the heavens nearly fooled us. Paradise, or so we thought. But, in reality our minds would soon be in constant turmoil, observing the challenges of postmodernism and anomie which govern our lives. During our time away we grappled with lots of mindboggling concepts that reshaped the way we view our lives as individuals, as shavit-shemesh and as bogrimot of the movement.

One of the concepts we delved into was the condition of anomie. “Anomie is a condition in which society provides little guidance to individuals”. We were confronted by the notion of living in a postmodern world which offers little moral direction, especially in the context of our current lives – being youth trying to establish direction for our future while living through a global pandemic. For us this concept was particularly relevant. But we soon came to realise that habo provides us with a moral compass and a strong set of values which guide our lives. As said by the one and only Hannah Blount, “Habo can be your anchor in the whirling ocean of anomie”.

We also tackled the notion of cognitive dissonance which is “the state of a person who holds two or more conflicting cognitions”. For example, someone who values environmentalism and contests unethical materialistic industries would be experiencing cognitive dissonance if they

bought into fast fashion. After that peula we are inspired to reduce the dissonance in our lives by encouraging each other as a collective to actualise our values.

On the front of our chovrot is a quote by Albert Camus, “What is a rebel? A person who says no: but whose refusal does not imply a renunciation. They are also a person who says yes�. Not only should we confront the problems in the world, but we should actively establish a vision for the future.

Once these concepts were all laid on the table for us, it became clear that collectivism would assist us in striving towards a more meaningful lifestyle. Overall after discussing all these concepts we were able to envision a future for our shichvah including a kvutsah based on love, at the centre of our shichvah and movement, that could be the solution to the cognitive dissonance we face.

We also have come to understand how important it is for our movement to value bog education because ultimately the knowledge and values which guide our lives trickle down to the chanichimot of the movement.

Sarah Rose Richmond & Eden Cohen - Shavit

Ra'am Seminar Hii chaverim!! <3

The first day of ra’am seminar was literally just an intro peula about aims and expectations. Don't get me wrong, intro peulot are important and we had really good aims and expectations of each other. Probably the best aims and expectations you could ever think of.

Its okay to be jealous Asked an oleh, they gave us a 10/10.

Call us AusPost cause we always deliver.

On the second day of Ra’am seminar we woke up bright and early to have a chat with ex federal mazkir Samo, he spoke to us about his movement experience and explained to us that the movement is made up of people who truly want to be there, therefore what we do should be determined by anyone who shows up. I found this point super interesting and really hadn’t focused on the movement in this way before.

After this our shnat mads ran a federal peula for us about the current tensions in Israeli politics. This was so nice as it was amazing to be back together with all of Zerem Raam in a peula and have our mads leading us again!! The last part of the day was my favourite, we all broke off into small zoom calls for international chavuah we spoke about shichvah, what it means to us as second years and how we can engage more with one another in the time of COVID-19. Seminar was such an amazing experience, especially as we were able to be with everyone in our shichvah even if it was online and make plans for our final year(s) in the movement!!

The night kept going for Melbourne with a series of sadnaot, 2 to be precise!!

Giddy ran his on Homlessness in Australia and Brooke and I ran ours on Britney Spears’s conservatorship. It makes me happy to see that we still find fun and engaging ways to bring content to each other and talk about things we find interesting. Even after a long day that consisted of multiple peulot, guest speakers and shichvah chavura.

We still chose to come back together and learn new things with each other The third and final day of Ra'am seminar was filled with hard questions and interesting sichot. We started our morning doing a guided meditation on zoom in the sun (which is incredibly rare for melbourne winter) and then went straight into a peula where we shared our movement experiences and thought about what the future holds for the shichvah.

During the peula we were able to reflect and dive deep into the dreams of what we wish for ra’am and the movement. We thought about what it means to think critically together as a collective of individuals, in a world where thinking together is feared. These thoughts were met with the idea of moratorium and how we can choose to shape and experiment with shituf in our lives.

Our last peula of the seminar was run by Matt who was in the the bedroom next to mine #KvutzatOr. We both had to close our windows because we could hear each other on zoom and through the wall, but we soldiered on like true chalutzim . We spoke about what it means to be a leader while reflecting on jewish experience and imagined what our third year would look like. This transitioned into the conversation of being a leader in the movement while still viewing each other as equals.

After looking back on big questions we asked throughout the second half of 2020; like what will next year look like for us federally and as shichvah within our kenim, we were able to share our ideas for ra’am in the movement next year and brainstormed different hitnasuiyot and potential tafkidim that we could do together We came back one last time to sikkum the seminar and contemplated all the different dilemmas that were brought up during the 3 days and it was clear that ra’am chose to take ownership and responsibility over hdoz

Katie Rumanovsky and Jordi Blackman Zerem Ra’am Shnat 2018

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Tikkun Olam Chinuch The term “mipnei tikkun ha-olam” (perhaps best translated in this context as “in the interest of public policy”) is used in the Mishnah (the body of classical rabbinic teachings codified circa 200 C.E.) In the Talmud, it appears thirty-eight times.

According to Jewish scholar Lawrence Fine, the first use of the phrase tikkun olam in modern Jewish history in the United States was by Brandeis-Bardin Camp Institute founder Shlomo Bardin in the 1950s.

Bardin interpreted the Aleinu prayer, specifically the expression le-taken olam be-malchut shaddai (typically translated as when the world shall be perfected under the reign of the almighty), as a responsibility for Jewish people to work towards a better world.

As left-leaning progressive Jewish organizations started entering the mainstream in the 1970s and 1980s, the phrase tikkun olam began to gain more traction. The phrase has since been adopted by a variety of Jewish organizations, to mean anything from direct service to general philanthropy.

By the mid-1980s, rabbis, educators, communal workers, ac­tivists and others were invoking tikkun olam as a value concept in support of a variety of humanistic and distinctly Jewish causes, ranging from environmentalism and nuclear non-proliferation to Palestinian-Israeli reconciliation and unrestricted Soviet Jewish emigration.

The linkage of tikkun olam with post-Holocaust healing and revival emerged particularly after the trial of Adolf Eichmann which encouraged more public discussion of the Holocaust.

Rabbi Avraham Heschel walked with martin luther king and wrote that it was like “his legs were praying” - many people described this as tikkun olam.

w Pisces (Febuary 19 - March 20) Money and friends don't mix, so cut friends out of your life. Get some fake nails, an orange wig and a leotard. If that doesn't sound appealing, go talk to your friends.

Right a wrong with a John Bennett Ramsey beanie baby.

Aquarius (January 20 -Febuary 18) Are you ready to lunge into a leadership position? Meet your boss outside of work to ask them for a promotion 'as a friend'.

With your professional ambition activated this month, you're moving up.

Capricorn (December 22 - January 19) Your equilibrium may feel off this month.

It's probably because nobody understands your art. Be patient young one, your witchy days are ahead. Hang a 'do not disturb' sign on your door, pick up a pen and pad, get to it.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20) Connect with your long lost ancestors. You never know the intresting revelations regarding Ikea that you may discover. Do get distracted by drag brunch.

It's all part of the journey of discovering your Judaism.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Red rover red rover, send Taurus over!

Competitivness is healthy, but don't let it get in the way of your reputation. Be grateful for your friends and their appropriation of dog clothing.

Sagitarius (November 22 - December 21) Stop lying, you will never train Shanaia Twain. Feel like a smoothie? Unblend yourself by listening to Lil Wayne. Kill them with kindness, nobody can bring you down if you slap on a smile and wear a shirt that says 'challah back'.

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21) Think before you speak, your mouth could get you into trouble. Do not argue with your mum about handbags on the side of the road. Mercury is in retrograde, so you may get arrested. You're a capable Wexler woman. Delegate duties for efficiency.

Horoscopes with Abbi and Ilana

Cancer (June 21 - July 22) Birthright? More like Birthmark! Your perfect Jewish match awaits high above the clouds. It's like J-Date but on a plane.

Don't bring any luggage you care about, it will be destroyed.

Aries (March 21 - April 19) Find your own Bed Bath and Beyond. Let your creativity flow through your handshake sequences.

Everybody needs a happy place, especially you.

Maybe you will find a missing Soulstice trainer.

Libra (September 23 - October 22) You're a high class Jewess and your earrings know it. Think of all the celebrities your name rhymes with. It will give you power and strength in these trying times.

Take dog weddings seriously, karma is real and you will end up in a ditch with a fig.

Virgo (August 23 - September 22) Something bodily must be removed.

Perhaps your wisdom teeth. During this time of physical change, change your mental stance on American geography.

Florida is not for you. It's worthwhile slaving away in NY just to say you did.

Leo (July 23 - August 23) Unleash your inner Val. Get that piercing you always dreamed of, then eat it. You're a diamond in the rough. This is the month of manifesting your dreams, you have the power of the universe on your side, so use it to your advantage.

He'arah ‫הערה‬ Edited by Maya Buhrich, Yael Grunseit, Tal Levin & Itai Shaul Front & back cover by Tamar Gordon Thank you to all who contributed.

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