August 17th, 2010
Everyone has arrived home from machane and hundreds of madrichim and chanichim across the country are having a very sleepy Tuesday.
Machane has been absolutely fantastic and thanks is due to the dedicated roshim, sganim and madrichim who made it happen. Bnei Akiva flourishes because people appreciate what the movement can achieve and give more than is humanly possible to make sure that things happen. Those who run the machanot show an exceptional level of commitment and everyone who benefits from the work of Bnei Akiva is truly indebted to them. The success of Bnei Akiva and the success of machane is a reflection of the communities and families which we are all a part of; we have all learnt that there is nothing more fulfilling and worthwhile than giving to others and passing on the experiences that we had to those younger than us.
We hope that everyone had a great time and we look forward to seeing you at Bnei Akiva when sviva kicks off in September. Also remember to keep your winter free for machane (brochures out soon!)
Bevirkat Shalom L’Torah V’Avoda
Bnei Akiva
Posted in Alef, Alef Chalutzi, Bet Base, Bet Chalutzi, Bet Midrash, Gimmel, Group 1 5770, Group 2 5770, Group 3 5770, Group 4 5770, Group 5 5770, Group 6 5770, Israel Machane 5770, Kaytana, Summer Machane, Yachad | No Comments »
August 14th, 2010
Shabbat at machane really is the highlight of the week, the calm and rest is very welcome after a crazy and sleep deprived week of machane. Friday night tefilla set the tone across the machanot with a lively service unlike any Shul that we might attend during the year. After much singing and dancing there was a lovely Shabbat meal accompanied by singing and Divrei Torah. Each machane finished the evening with an optional tisch.
Shabbat morning tefilla is much more interactive than at home with parsha quizzes and explanations of parts of the service by madrichim. After Kiddush the machane as a whole have an exciting activity looking at a theme from the parsha.
Shabbat afternoon brings with it more menucha (free time) than usual and the customary shluff is partaken by many.
Seuda Shlishit is a slow and emotional end to Shabbat and definitely one of the most memorable parts of machane.
Shabbat at machane gives everyone regardless of their shabbatot at home a chance to experience Shabbat where the focus is not on what you can’t do but on the beauty of celebrating Shabbat together.
All machanot are looking forward to an emotional last day and playing their part in site cleanup, (a skill which everyone is sure to take home with them).
Posted in Alef, Alef Chalutzi, Bet Base, Bet Chalutzi, Gimmel, Summer Machane, Yachad | No Comments »
August 13th, 2010
Gimmel have been on machlaka, a three day hike around North Wales. The machane was divided into four groups and were delivered to a start point around 20 miles from machane. Each group had to find their way back to the camp, taking responsibility for their own cooking on the way. All groups had a fantastic time, having had many unique experiences on the way; along the way they met locals and made friends as well as finding people who were happy to offer their fields for camping. One chanich said on returning how he loved the creativity and initiative necessary on the hike; another compared their journey to the Jewish people’s arduous journey to Israel.
This morning Gimmel were surprised as they came out of breakfast to see Wales’ biggest collection of inflatables and it was fun, fun and more fun until everyone went for their pre-Shabbat showers.
Everyone is looking forward to a great Shabbat which they hope will be as lively and inspirational as last Shabbat.
Posted in Gimmel, Summer Machane | No Comments »
August 13th, 2010
Bet Base went on tiyul on Thursday morning. They just missed the rain and also avoided the lively cows along the way.
Yachad machane visited on Thursday and everyone took part in an exciting tochnit making their own tshirts followed by some very enthusiastic Israeli dancing.
The theme of the day was the Enlightenment and how it played a part in the shift of the Jewish people from life in the Galut to life in the Land of Israel.
Posted in Bet Base, Summer Machane | No Comments »
August 13th, 2010
On Sunday we had our mini golf tournament and group bike rides. The machane learnt about chalutziut (pioneering) and had a great tochnit on building our very own answer to the Diaspora in “I’m in the Diaspora, get me outta here!” After dinner we had a boys vs girls tochnit with a twist which had everyone in very high spirits.
Monday looked at the underground movements who played an integral role in building the State of Israel. Looking at them the machane focuse on the ethical issues surrounding the movements and some of their actions. The day finished with an underground movements wide-game.
Tuesday was spent looking into the creation of the state through the eyes of BAUK founder Arieh Handler and learning the significance of a state for the Jewish people. There was an MIA debate followed by a ceremony in their honour. We built the state and later had a charity auction which saw madrichim complete dares raising over £290 for One Family, the Israeli charity for victims and family of those hit by terror in Israel.
Wednesday focused on wars in Israel and the IDF – following on the theme of the day we kicked off colour war shortly after breakfast and after several rounds of epic warfare, ended the day with a supper quiz to try and gain more valuable points for the various colours.
Thursday was trip day….a great day of fun in Walibi World, one of Europe’s biggest theme parks . We were lucky with a great day of sun until we were assaulted with rain on our way back to the coach stop; the only cloud to an otherwise fantastic day!
Posted in Bet Chalutzi, Summer Machane | No Comments »
August 11th, 2010
Yachad started on Monday and the new ‘Yachad-mobile’ picked up the chanichim from London and they rocked up the motorway to Denbigh, driven by the Rosh Anna Coleman, while those from Manchester had a short journey in the Mazkir’s car.
After arrival Yachad settled in to their new rooms and got to know the fantastic madrichim. Every chanich received a Yachad Siddur and together they decorated the front covers.
On Tuesday Yachad ventured to the local farm where they helped to feed the animals and rode on the tractor. They have been enjoying spending time with Aleph and Aleph Chalutzi in the chadar-ochel and have been contributing to the gret ruach of BA machane. In the evening they visited two of the groups from Gimmel who were on machlaka (three day hike), taking them some treats and checking out their makeshift camps sites.
Now everyone is enjoying film night, singing along to ‘Mamma Mia’. Everyone is enjoying some great jokes about opposites and days of the week.
Yachad is definitely the most loved machane and everyone is having a great time. Roll on the rest of machane.
Posted in Summer Machane, Yachad | No Comments »
August 11th, 2010
Thursday was Bnei Akiva day on Gimmel looking at what it means to be a part of the greatest youth movement in the world. We started by looking at our roots, not far from our camp site in Caerwys the first Bnei Akiva farm was set up in the UK in St Asaph where chaverim learnt to farm in preparation for their Aliyah. The chanichim explored the world of farming by shepherding the local sheep, riding on the farmer’s tractor and finding exciting uses for some of the farm’s hay.
Appreciating Bnei Akiva in the UK was next on the list as chanichim split up in to their local svivot (branches) and took part in a scavenger hunt of the site.
Friday brought with it the blessing of showers and a great time was had by all (while some boys couldn’t really see the point). Each kvutza prepared for Shabbat by writing a song which was performed for the whole machane at mifkad. Friday night tefilla and dinner was some of the best ruach ever experienced by Shevet Lehava as the singing and dancing went on well in to the night (with a few breaks for chicken soup and roast dinner).
Shabbat looked at Avoda and what it means as part of Bnei Akiva’s ideology. There was lots of menucha and everyone enjoyed time in the field just resting. Seuda Shlishit was an introduction to chassidut as different madrichim taught about aspects of Chassidic belief and practice, from dancing and singing to the relationship with the rebbe. This was all topped off with a Chassidic tisch as the sun went down and darkness fell upon the campsite.
After a beautiful Havdala the mood took off again with a wedding tochnit accompanied by music and professionally catered hors d’ouevres.
Posted in Gimmel, Summer Machane | No Comments »
August 8th, 2010
On Friday Bet Chalutzi looked at early Zionism especially the First Zionist Congress and the option of creating a Jewish state in Uganda. After some Shabbat preparation and a site clean up we brought in Shabbat in true Bnei Akiva style. Each kvutza has written their own song about the week that was and performed them for the rest of the machane. A beautiful Friday night was wrapped up with an oneg before some well earned rest.
Shabbat was incredible and after a gourmet lunch we had kvutzot looking at Israeli geography. After a restful Shabbat there was a bit of a scare as the Rosh, Benjy was ‘murdered’ and the chanichim had to solve the mystery as part of a great murder mystery.
Each day brings with it an exciting and fresh look at a popular film, looking for the Jewish angle of one of the themes of the film.
Posted in Bet Chalutzi, Summer Machane | No Comments »
August 4th, 2010
Machane is one of the highlights of the year for any BA nik as it is the time when you get to really live Bnei Akiva together with all of your friends. There is nothing quite like the atmosphere at machane and even routines such as tefilla and meal times take on a whole new meaning and significance when they take place with a crowd of chaverim who become bonded through shared experiences over the two weeks.
Machane is a chance to meet up with ‘machane friends’ and also to make new ones. Roshim and madrichim make a conscious effort to mix up groups and to ensure that everyone gets a chance to meet each other. Making new friends is not always easy but by taking part in games,, activities and challenges with others it is much easier to start talking and become friends. It is definitely true that friendships made at machane often last a lifetime and many best friends and even shidduchim emerge from machane.
From watching what goes on at machane it is also a chance for chanichim to express themselves and sometimes reinvent themselves in an entirely new environment. Opportunities to stand on your chair and sing or to stand in front of the machane and give a dvar Torah (often with a little help and encouragement from a madrich/a) stand people in great stead for later life as they themselves will become madrichim and go on in to the big wide world.
Education is at the core of what Bnei Akiva does and whilst everyone wants to come to machane because it is the most fun few weeks of the year it is also a time to learn and to grow. Our education department works from early in the year to prepare material and themes for machane ensuring that every day of machane is enriching and teaches something to the chanichim.
Watching the success of machane makes me aware of the exceptional dedication which Bnei Akiva inspires amongst its chaverim. Hundreds of young people who have themselves enjoyed the benefits of machane are currently having early mornings and late nights, singing at the tops of their voices and being constantly on the go because they love Bnei Akiva and want to ensure that machane is the best ever. Those people are a credit to their families and to Bnei Akiva. I know of no other area of the community that is blessed with as many generous and passionate people as Bnei Akiva, and any single day at machane will show you just that. If you ask your children when they return how machane was, you will if you are lucky get a nod of approval or a very tired “it was great”. However if you were lucky enough to watch the fun and craziness of a day at machane you’d see for yourself why they want to come back over and over again.
Posted in Alef, Alef Chalutzi, Bet Base, Bet Chalutzi, Bet Midrash, Gimmel, Summer Machane | No Comments »
August 4th, 2010
The chanichim of aleph Chalutzi had their first, rather wet taste of the outdoors last night as they camped out in the grounds of Howell’s school. Unfortunately the weather had slightly different plans and the worst rain all week fell meaning that many people retreated to their warm and dry beds inside. Despite the rain everyone had great fun and are looking forward to a less rainy night tonight.
The theme of today was Yehoshua and the wars in Tanach, this was brought to life through a tochnit on modern Israeli wars with a special focus on learning about the plight of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
This afternoon the Bet Midrash Programme visited AC to run a tochnit on Jewish leadership and what it means to us as chanichim of Bnei Akiva and the future leaders of Am Yisrael.
The ruach has been amazing and AC claim to have drowned out Alpeh during mealtimes (however this is hotly contested by those at Aleph).
This evening saw an exciting colour war with a treasure hunt for glow sticks, making the most of the fields and space around the site. Everyone is pretty tired but that doesn’t seem to stop the fun and everyone’s sure that tomorrow is bound even better than today.
Posted in Alef Chalutzi, Summer Machane | No Comments »