My name is Sara Zebovitz and I am the Mazkira Klalit (general secretary) of HDNA. I am writing to give you an update on the current state of the movement. 

WORKSHOP: We are excited to have two kvutzot this year on Workshop with 40 chanichim altogether! They are currently based on Kibbutz Revivim, near Be'er Sheva. Last year, we added a new program to Workshop called Ofek. Ofek is a 10 day experience that the chanichim (participants) get to choose their experience. This coming year, the options will be: working in the mango fields on Kibbutz Ravid, planning and going on a 5 day tiyul (hike), experiencing sustainable living in a geo-dome on Kibbutz Ravid, and a creative hadracha seminar. They are very excited for this experience next month!

HDCA: The Habonim Dror Camp Association is a collaborative organization of all 7 HDNA machanot (camps). Three or four times a year, board members, professionals, shlichim, and movement members get together to share best practices and discuss shared challenges. This November, we had a get- together with 55 participants! We discussed Israel education, the areas with room for partnership between lay leaders, movement members, shlichim, and professionals, and had a memorial tekes (ceremony) for Yitzchak Rabin.

PARASHAT HASHAVUA: Since the winter of 2012, movement members reflect weekly on the parashat hashavua, the Torah portion of the week. Alumni, high schoolers, and everyone in between has contributed to this incredible tradition. Over the summer, the reflections are read at many of our machanot. Check out all the past commentaries here!

VA'ADOT: The movement has several va'adot, or committees, working on a number of different projects. On va'ada is working on a movement siddur (prayer book), while another organizes the weekly parashat hashavua (described above). A third is building a policy for inappropriate sexual conduct amongst movement members, and another is looking over and organizing the proposals for our veida (conference) coming up next month. And these are just some of the va'adot! These va'adot provide ways for movement members (and professionals, shlichim, and lay leaders) to stay involved, no matter where they live or what their role. 

SEMINARS: 

• In August and September of this year, the Mazkirut Artzit (bi-national staff) travelled across the US and Canada for a modified Moetzet Kenim, a seminar for the leadership of our year-round programs. In some cities, we joined the entire tzevet eizor (staff) for a seminar, preparing for the year. In others, we ran introductory programming for first-time leadership. All in all it was a great success, providing movement members with tools and those of us in the office with rewarding experiences! 

• This December, we will have 177 people at our Winter Seminar and our 19th veida. At Winter Seminar, we intend to discuss what it means to magshim (actualize) today, during high school, college, and beyond. We will be learning about the history of HDNA and the Kibbutz movement, and get a closer look at the Urban Kibbutz movement, which many alumni of HDNA are joining and shaping. We look forward to lively conversations about the proposals that will come to veida, which we expect to know more about in the next week or so!

• This January, eleven members of the Workshop 63 kvutza (group) will be attending our Mifgash Seminar in Israel. The participants are involved in the planning of the program with their madrichim (guides) and are very excited to be back in Israel a year and a half since Workshop!

SHLICHUT: Last time I wrote an update, the youth movements in Israel were working with the Jewish Agency to solidify a start date for our year-round shlichim. We are both excited and disappointed with the outcome. We are excited because we will have a total of five shlichim this year: our central shaliach and community shlichim in DC, Vancouver, Philadelphia, and Toronto. Unfortunately, the arrival of two of those shlichim was delayed; James, our central shaliach, will be joining us mid-December and Anton, in DC, will be joining us in March. We are excited to have maintained shlichut for another cycle! Thank you to all of those whose generous gifts made this possible.

Please forward this update to any friends you are still in touch with from your time in the movement, and let us know what we can provide for you, as alumni! Please feel free to reach out to me at any time with any questions, ideas, memories, donations, or just to say hello! We'd love to know where you are and what you're doing!

Aleh v'hagshem, arise and actualize,