Embedded Files
Welcome to the HDNA Online Archives blog! Here is where we will post the latest treasures that have been unearthed, whether by the Mazkirut Artzit or by HDNA alumni who have submitted their own artifacts. We will share stories, images, and whatever else we think you may find interesting.
November Archive Update
November Archive Update
December 13, 2025
Written by Kaela Evenchick - Workshop 64
Over the past month we have received almost 50 submissions to the HDNA community archives! Included in these submissions were peulot, photographs, articles from the Habonim Magazine HaBoneh, memoir excerpts, poems and memorabilia. Ranging from 1935-2023, they span many years of Habonim history. We’d like to highlight a few of these artifacts, each one offering a glimpse into Habonim at different moments in time.
Our oldest submission was a series of photos from 1935-1937, which was made courtesy of Elissa Treuer. Elissa shared photos from her mother’s (Norma Hoffman Salz) time in Buffalo Poale Zion and at the Habonim summer camps at Accord and Cream Ridge, NJ. Norma was one of the members present at the Cleveland gathering that established Habonim in the US.
Our next submission was made courtesy of Alisa Belinkoff Katz (Machon participant during the year of Workshop 20), who shared excerpts from Bernie Pearl’s memoir. Bernie was a pioneer of the Blues in Los Angeles whose brother Ed established the Ash Grove folk music club. Both Bernie and Ed were members of Los Angeles Habonim, and Bernie went on Workshop in 1957-58. Bernie shares how his early years at Machaneh Gilboa exposed him to counter-culture folksongs, and sparked his lifelong passion for Folk and the Blues:
As with other Habonim camps, Gilboa instills the community-minded values of the Kibbuts movement, but in an American Jewish context. Campers participate in traditional camp activities, such as hiking, kayaking, arts and crafts, and archery; there is also an empasis on "Israel, Hebrew, understanding current events and, most importantly, making campers personally responsible for the success of their Gilboa experience.
I was introduced to the organization by my brother Ed, who somehow arranged for my attendance at the summer camp. We did not have money for such things. It was far from fancy, and all shared work and maintenance responsibilities. Lots of hiking, sports, a swimming pool - where I learned how not to drown, if not to swim. We discussed Israel, Jewish history, philosophy, politics, and idealism.
Every evening after dinner there was folk dancing, and we sang all kinds of songs. I especially loves the late-night "folk" music records: singers like Pete Seeger and the Weavers, Harry Belafonte, Josh White, Burl Ives. In those times, the "McCarthy Era", when the nation continued to conduct witch hunts and congressional inquisitions, seeking to expose and destroy the domestic "Red Menace" and "Fellow-Travellers", it was fairly risky and brave to be part of the dissident counter-culture that sang folksongs and played guitars. It was also meaningfully delicious to be a part of the opposition. Music was integral to that identity.
He also tells stories from his time on Workshop, which began in September 1957 with an 8-day journey across the Atlantic:
You can read more about Bernie Pearl’s time on Workshop, including tales of the grueling work of harvesting potatoes and an unfortunate case of Amoebic dysentery in his memoir, …sittin’ on the Right Side of the Blues.
Our most contemporary submissions were made by Tamar Ladd (Workshop 73, Gilboa), who shared a variety of documents from Machaneh Gilboa from 2017-2023. We selected a few gems from Tamar’s submissions. First, a peula teaching about Parshat Chukat and how to manage feelings of anger.
Next we have a poem written in Gilboa’s 2018 Chug Womxn:
Last but not least, a poem written by Chat GPT about the Chotrim from Gilboa, which was included as part of a peula about Technology and AI and how it impacts their lives:
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the HDNA community archives! We can’t wait to see what else you have in store for us. Don’t miss out on December’s monthly challenge, to send in a copy of a tochnit or peula OR to write to us about a memorable peula and how it impacted you.
Celebrating 90 years of HDNA and 75 years of Workshop
Celebrating 90 years of HDNA and 75 years of Workshop
October 11, 2025
Written by Kaela Evenchick - Workshop 64
On September 18th, nearly 100 people gathered on Kibbutz Nes Harim to celebrate Habonim Dror North America’s 90th anniversary. In addition to 90 years of HDNA, we have also reached 75 years of Workshop, HDNA’s gap year program in Israel. We had attendees from Workshop’s first year, all the way to Workshop’s current participants, who are currently staying on Kibbutz Ein HaShofet.
The evening included speeches by Tamar Levi, Muki Tzur, Michael Hess, and a video address from Bougie Herzog. Another highlight included a video compilation of interviews with HDNA alumni and current maapilimot from every decade of Habonim history. You can view the video HERE.
Meetings between generations of Habonim Dror are rare and it was beautiful to see alumni of all ages connecting over peace, Zionism, progressive Jewish values, and of course the movement that we all hold so dear.
We also could not forget those members of our community who could not be with us due to the atrocities of October 7th. Notable among them are; Vivian Silver, a Habonim bogeret from Winnipeg and passionate peace activist who was killed at her home on Kibbutz Beeri; Ophir Libstein, Habonim Dror Olami chairman and head of the Sha’ar HaNegev regional council who died protecting his Kibbutz; Hersh Goldberg-Polin, connected to the Camp Moshav community, who was held in captivity and killed by Hamas; and Eitan Horn, a boger from Habonim Dror Argentia who is still being held hostage in Gaza.
The past two years have been more than trying, and many of us have had moments of despair about the war, the government, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and so much more. This opportunity to gather as a community was an important reminder that we are not alone, and that we must continue to dream and work towards building a better future for Israeli society and the next generations of Habonim Dror.
Aleh V'Hagshem
Shirly (שרה) Ehrmann, a Habonim bogeret from Workshop 1, meeting participants on Workshop 75
Muki Tzur, former secretary of the Kibbutz Movement and former Habonim central shaliach
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