Hineni (Australian youth movement)
| Hineni Youth and Welfare | |
|---|---|
|
Hineni Australia Semel(emblem) | |
| Summary | |
| Motto: | Hineni |
| Meaning: | "I am here" |
| Founded: |
Sydney-1975 Melbourne-1996 |
| Ideology: |
Pluralist Zionist Modern Orthodox Politically active |
| Website: | http://www.hineni.org.au/ |
Hineni Youth and Welfare or Hineni is a Modern Orthodox, politically active, Zionist youth movement. It was founded in Sydney, Australia, and has centres in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.[1]
In Sydney, Hineni is the official youth movement of the Central Synagogue. In Melbourne, Hineni is affiliated with and supported by Caulfield Hebrew Congregation, where weekly meetings take place. In Canberra, Hineni is based at the Canberra Jewish Community Centre.
Hineni runs weekly educational meetings for Jewish youth from years 3–12, as well as biannual camps, Israel year programs, seminars and other communal events. As an outreach movement, Hineni welcomes participants of all Jewish backgrounds.
Characteristics
- Hineni provides informal Jewish education to complement that received in school and the home. It provides a relaxed environment, where chanichim (program participants) forge a Jewish identity as well as an Australian one.
- The last senior summer camp, "Camp Technicolour", attracted more than 110 participants from across Australia and New Zealand.
History
Since its establishment as a synagogue youth group in 1974 it has developed into one of Australia's largest youth movements.
- The movement has grown out of Sydney, branching out into Canberra and Melbourne.
- The ideology has developed to its current form with three pillars of Modern Orthodoxy, politically active and pluralist Zionism.
- They have been accepted into the Australasian Zionist Youth Council (AZYC).
- There are weekly meetings and biannual camps.
- Groups of high-school graduates have been to Israel for the year-long 'Shnat' program.
- Shlichim have been sent to the movement from Israel.[2]
Shnat
Shnat is a year-long gap program run by Hineni for high-school leavers.[3] For the duration of the program the members reside in Israel and experience Israeli life and culture, while fulfilling the role of a Zionist Jew. The 2012 Shnat program has 25 participants, which is the largest group Hineni has sent to Israel.
The program encompasses volunteering, experiential and educational components.[4] A year in Israel with Hineni is a chance to connect to the Jewish homeland; to learn about Jewish history, culture and religion; to form friendships with other young people from Israel and around the world; and to learn Hebrew.
The Hineni Shnat Program begins with AZYC Opening Seminar and Hineni Opening Seminar. Hineni Shnatties participate in Machon, a four-month program facilitated by the Education Department of the Jewish Agency for Israel. Machon is an educational institution where participants engage in leadership training, Jewish education and Zionist learning together with youth movement members from around the world. Hineni Shnat also includes a two-month Options Period where participants can choose from volunteering and educational options such as MDA ambulance service, the Marva army program, studying in Yeshiva/ Midrasha Jewish learning centres and more. Shnatties spend approximately six weeks living and working on a Kibbutz as well as participating in Hineni Jewish Learning Seminars and shabbatonim throughout the program.
Three Pillars
Political activism
Hineni’s educational philosophy adopts a politically non-partisan approach concerning Israeli, Australian and world politics. Madrichim have the responsibility to educate objectively on the spectrum of ideological views, however they are still encouraged to discuss their own personal beliefs. Through this balanced and unbiased approach, Hineni empowers both Madrichim and Chanichim to develop their own personal political ideology.
Pluralist Zionism
Hineni believes that ‘modern’ Zionism is an entity that encompasses support and love of Israel. Hineni expresses this through:
- Aliya Nimshechet (continuous Aliya)- emigration to the state of Israel, and, upon making Aliya, continuing to uphold Hineni’s ideology and seek to act always towards the betterment of the state of Israel.
- Promoting a balanced, unbiased, Zionist education of Israeli politics encouraging chanichim to reach an informed political opinion.
- Promoting and supporting the Hineni Israel year programmes.
- Supporting charitable Zionist organisations.
- Affiliating with the AZYC, ZYC of NSW and ZYC of Victoria, ACT Jewish community, the Central and Caulfield Synagogues.
- Continued self-education of Israeli current affairs by the madrichim.
Shir Hineni (Hineni Anthem)
| Original text | Translation to English |
|---|---|
| לחזק ישראל, על פי הנבואה
של צדק ושלום, זו תנועה דתית מימין לשמאל, כל עיקרון נחשב כאילו הוא נכון, זו תנועה שויונית הנני בא לקים הלכה ללמד, להדריך, ולתת גם דוגמה הנני זה נוער ישר ועניו הנני זה נוער ציוני והנני זו התנועה שלי הנני זו התנועה שלי מצפון גולן, ובדרום מתחת כל ענן ישראל, המולדת שלי וביום קרוב בעתיד, נהיה צברים בארצנו לתמיד, אנו תנועה ציונית הנני בא לקים ללמד, להדריך, ולתת גם דוגמה הנני זה נוער ישר ועניו הנני זה נוער ציוני והנני זו התנועה שלי הנני זו התנועה שלי |
To strengthen Israel according to the prophetic vision of justice and peace, this is a religious movement. From right to left, each principle considered as if it's correct, this is a movement of equality.
Hineni comes to keep Halacha, to teach, to lead, and to set an example. Hineni are youth, honest and humble; Hineni are Zionist youth. Hineni is my youth movement. From Golan, in the north, and in the south, beneath each cloud of Israel, my homeland. And on a day in the near future, we will be sabras in our land forever, we're a Zionist movement. |