Hashomer Hatzair Group Activity report 2021/22 [ENG]

This report provides an overview of the activities of Hashomer HaTzair in the 2021-2022 academic year. 

Group activities 

We had 3 age groups that covered a range of ages from 6-17. 

• Peulot - Non-formal educational activities 

  • In Shomer we educate children according to our values. Peula (activities) is the most effective tool for this. Participation in peulas broadens the worldview, values, practical and academic knowledge of the members of the movement. It promotes the Shomeric values of acceptance, bettering the world and ourselves, dialogue based on debate, equality between people. Through the presentation of a wide range of opinions, children acquire the tools of critical thinking. Groups are divided into age groups and the methodology and depth of topics are set according to the age.

  • The sessions are written and delivered by Madrichim - youth leaders, who have undergone adult and youth leadership training. The number of hanichim  (participants) in an age group can vary between 15 and 25. For larger groups, the group is split in two. This structure ensures that we can listen to each other in an intimate environment and that everyone can express their views.

  • We held 1 peula per month in 3 age groups. All the peulot focused around the topic of the year - Jewish culture. The topics of peulot included: 

    • Jewish gastronomy, Jewish holidays, the value of education and learning in Judaism, Judaism in art, the Holocaust as presented through cultural representation, the role of women and men in Judaism, Jewish diversity in Diaspora cultures, Israel, the impact of Jewish culture on the world and other cultures.

• Zman Kvutzot [Hebrew for time in a group]

  • Zman Kvutza is a program focused on team building. The main point of this program is that the hhanichim get to know each other and themselves more. In Hashomer having a strong and close relationship with your peers is really important, since camaraderie is one of the main values of our movement. During this program hainichim have the opportunity to really get to know each other and deepen their connections. This program also teaches the hanichim about being part of a community, and how to be an active part of a group. 

  • This program is also held once a month, by the Madrichim of each age group. 

Hashomer Hatzair Group all age activity report 2021/22 [ENG, Part 1/3]

All age programs

Part 1/3

This report provides an overview of the All age activities of Hashomer HaTzair in the 2021-2022 academic year. 

Hultza Lacing Ceremony 

The hultza (our uniform) fundamentally symbolizes what HaShomer represents. It has two crucial parts: the shirt itself and the shoelace that connects the collars. In Hashomer getting a hultza is an honour. Traditionally, every year we hold one or two hultza lacing ceremonies, where people get their hultza and then someone who already earned their hultza laces it up, completing the shirt. This year we had two lacing ceremonies, altogether 30 people got their hultza. 

Shomer day - festival that tells the story of the movement and its ideology

Shomer day was the opening party of the season. It was significant because due to Covid - 19 and immense organizational development, Hashomer had not been able to organize programs for almost 1.5 years. The program was centered around Hashomer, its ideology and history. 40 children and 15 parents participated in the program. 

CineMarathon 

CineMarathon is a Shomeric tradition. Every year we organize this program, where children can stay up all night, watching movies together. The program is divided into two parts. The first movies (usually 3 or 4 in different rooms) are open to the smaller participants as well. After the first movies we hold discussions about the film. After this program for the younger members is over, the older ones stay for the entire night. There were 50 participants of whom 50% were attending for the first time. 

Chanuka Hora Day 

Chanuka hora day was aimed at learning hora dances together while learning about Chanuka traditions as well. During the program hora dance learning classes and chanuka workshops took place in turn, one after the other. In the chanuka workshops hanichim learned about the Maccabee uprising, how to play with the dreidel, and had arts and crafts workshops about the Maccabbee uprising. The program was attended by 30 children. 

Solidarity day 

Solidarity day’s aim is to teach the participants about less fortunate people in society and encourage them to empathize and take action in order to help people who are not as fortunate as them. The program was attended by 20 hanichim.

End of Part 1/3

Hashomer Hatzair Group all age activity report 2021/22 [ENG, Part 2/3]

All age programs

Part 2/3

This report provides an overview of the All age activities of Hashomer HaTzair in the 2021-2022 academic year. 

Environmental Action day 

Environmental action day is about being conscious of the environment, about our shopping decisions and our ecological footprint. During the program hanichim learned about sustainable environmental practices. The program was attended by 20 hanichim. 

Shomer portya 

Somer portya is a tour in the city where we learn about the Jewish history around us. The participants have to find the stops, and then at every stop solve a task or hold a game in order to get the clue for the next stop. The program was attended by 15 hanichim. 

Shomer Hike 

Since Hashomer is a scout movement we keep a very close relationship with nature around us. That’s why we went on 2 hikes this year. The first hike was during the winter time, it was attended by 20 participants. The second hike was in March, attended by 60 participants. 

Kabbalat shabbat 

We held a Kabbalat Shabbat with our community but not in the traditional way. Our aim was to make Kabbalat Shabbat enjoyable for the hanichim. We filled this activity with interactive parts, singing, dancing and games. The hanichim learned a lot about Shabbat and all its traditions, participated in a Kabbalat Shabbat service and enjoyed themselves at the same time. The program was open for families also, it was attended by 40 people.

Spring Camp with JCC Budapest and Hanoar Hatzioni

Hashomer Hatzair participated in and helped organize a spring camp in collaboration with JCC Budapest and Hanoar Hatzioni. The camp’s highlight was that Hashomer Hatzair could join forces with the other big youth movement in Hungary (Hanoar HaZioni), and with this start to build bridges between the two movements. Approximately 40 children participated in the camp, divided into 4 age groups. 

Upside down day 

Upside down day is one of our most loved programmes. During the programme we reverse the roles. The madrichim become hanichim and the hanichim become madrichim. The hanichim prepare and hold a programme for the madrichim. This program teaches about leadership and teamwork for the children from an early age. The programme was attended by 20 people.

End of Part 2/3

Hashomer Hatzair Group all age activity report 2021/22 [ENG, Part 3/3]

All age programs

Part 3/3

This report provides an overview of the All age activities of Hashomer HaTzair in the 2021-2022 academic year. 

Moonlight tiyul (trip)

Moonlight tiyul is also one of our scout programmes, and is a traditional Shomeric programme. This program is for the 12+ age group. During moonlight tiyul we hike overnight, and then sleep in nature. The hike is usually 6-7 hours long, it is meant to be a challenge for all the participants, and meant to encourage them to step out of their comfort zone. The program was attended by 20 hanichim. 

HaShomer Prom 

Hashomer Prom is a traditional ball, where participants can learn classical dances and then practice them on the dance floor. This program was really popular among young teens. Participant learn how to ask each other to dance, and how to behave in these kind of social situations. The program was attended by 40 in total. 

Tzofi day

Tzofi is a hebrew word meaning scout. Tzofi day is centered around traditional scouting activities and hiking. We sleep in nature, learn how to start a fire, collect wood and build objects out of them. 

Chevruta day 

Hevruta as we understand it is the Jewish way of discussions. We wanted to teach and educate hanichim about debating, which is very important for us in Hashomer. The program was divided into two age groups. The younger children learned about the ten commandments of Hashomer through games. The older hanichim participated in a debate, and a dilemma cafe. This program was the closing event of the year. For this reason we held a traditional hultza lacing ceremony where 12 hanichim and alumni got their hultza. After the lacing ceremony we closed the year with a mifkad, which is a Shomeric tradition steming from a military practice. The program was attended by 40 and their family members.

End of Part 3/3

Humanitarian Aid for Ukraine [ENG]

Hashomer Hatzair World Movement is on a mission to deliver systematized and targeted humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Hashomer Hatzair Budapest has the most significant part in these efforts, and has been serving as the logistics centre. 

The General Secretary of the movement is leading the operation. Since there is a Hashomer group in Ukraine, basked in Kharkiv, we have an active relationship with people in Ukraine. They communicate with us through WhatsApp, send us their stories and the lists of those items they most need. The list is the basis for the collection of donations. All the Hashomers in Europe are collecting donations. Most of these items are shipped to Budapest.

We received a huge amount of support from our community as well. This includes the generosity of the Dutch Fund, UJA federation, JDC Hungary, Visegrad Fund, Hashomer Hatzair World Movement, and Schusterman Foundation.

Detailed reports are available at https://somer.hu/category/hirek/mozgalom/humanitarius-munka/