Shabbat began saturday morning for MBI with special chugim, a structure that you have probably grown familiar with if you have followed the blog closely. Chanichim were able to choose from learning rikud (Israeli dancing), playing music for each other, learning about the history of drag culture, writing letters, and learning together about the LGBTQ movement for equal rights in Israel.
In the afternoon, in kvutzot, MBI had a peulah on constructive rebellion. The peulah's purpose was to prepare the group for what they would see today at the Lochme Ha'Getaot (Ghetto Fighters Museum). They used the example of the ghetto fighters in Warsaw from the Dror Movement who rebelled in the April of 1943.
Yesterday was the five year anniversary of a shooting at the gay youth center in Tel Aviv. MBI learned about what happened there and led a small march around their hostel to remember the event and to symbolize their solidarity for those who struggle for LGBTQ rights.
Chugim
Getting ready for the march
This morning they traveled to Kibbutz Lochme Ha'Getaot (Ghetto Fighters Kibbutz), a few kilometers east of Acco. The Kibbutz was founded shortly after the war ended by members of Dror Movement and other movements who fought in the uprising. There is a beautiful museum there that MBI had the privilege to tour.
The first of two exhibits they saw was called, "Resistance In The Holocaust." Here they learned in depth about the struggle of the Dror Ghetto Fighters and how the Movement played a crucial role in organizing the battle against the Nazis.
The second they saw was, "Children In The Holocaust." Here they have an entire room dedicated to Janus Korczak. Korczak had an orphanage in Warsaw and hid many children there during the war until tragically, he and the children were taken away to camps.
After touring the exhibits MBI had a tekes (ceremony) outside the museum. The tekes featured a few songs, poems and was was in honor of Chavka Folman Raban, a former courier between the ghettos and those who established the Kibbutz. He was a great friend to Habonim Dror recently who passed away this year,
After their time at the museum they toured the city of Akko and learned about the history of the old city there. They also discussed the Arab-Jewish relations in the city since there were riots in 2008. Following the tour they had some time in the Shuk (market) and then drove to the nearby Shlomi Youth Hostel where they will be located until they leave Israel on Thursday morning.
At the tekes after museum
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