Shnat Netzer
Shnatties Corner 1: Our Journey So Far
Hello RSY! After four very exciting and busy months of Shnat Netzer, Rhea suggested we should let you all know what’s going on, so here we go. . .
As I’m sure you are aware, from next year, university students will be lumbered with even more debt than ever before which made choosing to take a gap year in 2011/12 a difficult and controversial choice. As a result this year there are a smaller than normal number of Shnatties- three from RSY (Emily Kay, Naomi Raanan and Jemma Woyda) and five from LJY. Together with eight Americans from the NFTY sniff, two Netzer Barcelona participants and one from Netzer Germany we make a solid group of nineteen- a very respectable size.
So, what have we been doing? All nineteen of us spent the first week together in Jerusalem on “Orientation Seminar” doing things like touring the old city, exploring the area and eating far too much falafal. It was a lot of fun and in just a few days we really were all a really close group and ready and rearing for the next 8 months.
For the next three weeks of “Group Experience” we headed down south to Kibbutz Lotan where we were lucky enough to be the first ever shnat group to take part in the ecology programme. We built a Netzer mud bench and miniature golf courses on the kibbutz with all natural materials, played with compost and had really interesting lessons about the environment as well as learning Hebrew. We also got to live in the Bustan Neighbourhood- a collection of surprisingly luxurious and spacious mud dome bedrooms, an ecological kitchen complete with solar and mud ovens, solar powered showers and composting toilets.
Then it was time for Options Period- the choice between staying on Lotan to work in a selection of work branches or going to the north of Israel to volunteer and live in a town called Karmiel. All three RSYnicks, all five LJYnicks and two Americans chose to stay on the kibbutz while the two Netzer Barcelonians, six Americans and the Netzer Germany shnattie went to live in Karmiel.
Kibbutz experience has been incredible- I (Emily) am working in the kitchen, Naomi with the goats and Jemma in the gardens. Others work in the cheese factory, milk the cows and work in tourism. The work hours are long- about 8 hours a day six days a week (appreciate your Sundays!) and we’re often totally exhausted but it is an amazing feeling to know we are contributing to the running of a real kibbutz and learning so much in the process. Kibbutz life in general has been fantastic- the members are extremely friendly and we have made some amazing friends here, the kibbutz and its scenery is beautiful and it really does feel like home. Shabbat is also amazing here with a great Kab Shab, community dinner and then the kibbutz pub which is always so much fun!
A few of us have been to visit Karmiel. Their flat is all newly done and shockingly tidy. They are enjoying volunteering in a range of great placements including a nursery, soup kitchen, farm, zoo and school. They also seem to have built a fairly successful community in the flat although of course they still disagree about whos turn it is to wash the dishes…
And now? Well Options Period ends next week! I can’t speak for the Karmiel group but we will all be extremely sad to leave the Kibbutz. We absolutely love it here and plan on visiting lots in the next four or so months, Next comes the choice between Etgar and Machon (both in Jerusalem). All three RSYnicks have chosen Etgar, the Netzer programme, where we will be living in a flat with 13 people and taking a range of classes about Judaism, Hebrew, Netzer ideology and so on as well as going on a range of exciting trips around he country! Machon is more of a university feel where participants will live on a campus rather than a flat with a few other movements. If it is anywhere near as good as Shnat has been so far I can assure you it will be great- watch this space.
Shnat Update numero uno!
As we try to enjoy the last week of Group experience to the fullest, we can not believe how fast this first 6 weeks of Shnat has gone by. We look down at our schedules completely packed with final Ulpan lessons, Tiyuls around the Arava , sessions about our bustan neighborhood, reform zionism, religion, the odd ideological debate and several practical work sessions. From early mornings to late nights, we keep on living the kibbutz life we have adapted to, but this time even more feelings and thoughts rushing through our heads.
In a few days, our Shnat group will be splitting in different paths; half are leaving to Karmiel, while the other half stay at Kibbutz. I am sure I speak on behalf of the whole group when I say that this has been an incredible month. It has been amazing not just being around the people we are going to be with for the next months, but actually becoming a group.
Our trust walk last week around the kibbutz, as we metaphorically travelled through our journey this year, stopping in several destinations representing our year, opened our eyes as we have learned to appreciate every second of this year.
This week we went on another trust walk tiyul where we were met with a beautiful landscape of one of the largest sand dunes in the arava. Each person form the group approached this in a different way. Some of us ran down, some slid, some took a long reflective walk down but we all enjoyed the soft sand on our feet and the view over the whole arava.
Although we will be sad to spilt the next 3 months will be full of many more new experiences- Naomi will be working with the goats , Emily will be cooking for the whole kibbutz in the kitchen and Jemma will be working in the refet milking. We are all so excited to see what will happen.
First Full Week of Shnat!!
This has been our first real, proper week on Shnat and I think we talk on behalf of everyone in the group when we say it has been fantastic.
The last few days of Orientation, based in Beit Shmuel – in central Jerusalem the headquarters of Progressive Judaism worldwide – far surpassed our expectations of a week of ‘get-to-know you games’ and ‘rules and reg’ sessions that last years Shnatties had led us to believe would be the case. On Thursday we were taken on a 4-hour tour of the Old City by Amy Ben-Dov – a NFTY movement worker famous for the incomparable speed at which she talks, her intimate knowledge of Jersualem and her infectious enthusiasm. Every single person came out of the tour with a greater connection to Jerusalem; we all designated our own spot at the Western Wall and learned more than we cared to remember.
Shnat Netzer - Gap Year
Shnat Netzer is a unique 10 month leadership training program for young adults in Israel that develops the skills and knowledge necessary for them to become madrichim (leaders) in the movement.
It facilitates personal development, offers opportunities to study Jewish and Zionist ideals and provides a structured environment for learning about and experiencing Netzer's principles.
Shnat Netzer is an exciting, challenging and stimulating way to spend a year in Israel and to be part of a communal way of life. Shnat Netzer will broaden your horizons and offering in opportunities to discover yourself and what it means to be Jewish and live in Israel from a progressive perspective. You will be able to form life- long friendships both with your peers within the Shnat Netzer group and with other Jews from around the world whom you will meet throughout the year. If you have been involved with a Netzer branch or if you have grown up in a Reform/ Progressive Jewish community and you are wandering where to go from here, this is the natural way to continue that involvement. It's a chance to acquire a whole new range of skills and abilities and many wonderful memories.
The year is spent with participants from all over the world, including South Africa, Australia, Argentina, North America, the Former Soviet Union and Europe. Together you will be able to develop skills and share experiences to help you become knowledgeable youth leaders
