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Email this pageNetzer Olami holds 2010 Veida
Last month, Netzer Olami, the World Union’s international Zionist youth movement, hosted 24 “Netzerniks” from Australia, Belarus, Britain, Canada, Germany, Israel, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Ukraine and the US for its 2010 Veida. The week-long gathering, which served as a forum for discussions on movement structure, policy and programming, was held at Mercaz Shimshon-Beit Shmuel, the World Union’s culture and education center in Jerusalem, and where Netzer is headquartered.
“It was a full and busy week,” says Raya Epstein, Netzer's new educational coordinator. “Asefot [business sessions] were held to discuss important issues, such as Netzer's platform for 2010, movement ideology (vegetarianism came up!) and the structural organization of different sniffim [branches].”
Specific matters discussed included current challenges in the former Soviet Union, and the encouragement of travel to Israel and participation in the Eisendrath high school, Kibbutz Lotan’s green apprenticeship, and other movement-oriented programs. There was also an update on the establishment of a snif in Panama, and a report on camp experiences there by members of Netzer-Spain (see WUPJnews #345 for a report on a previous camp).
In addition, the veida program focused on the spiritual side of Netzer.
“We prayed together twice a day,” Epstein said. “Kabbalat Shabbat was hosted at Kol Haneshama [a Progressive congregation in Jerusalem] by Noar Telem (as Netzer is called in Israel), and Shabbat Shacharit was self-led. Bonds were made between representatives from all over the world; new games and methods were taught, and melodies were shared.”
Another highlight of the program was a meeting with new immigrants from TaMaR, Netzer’s movement for Progressive young adults, who spoke with participants about aliya and a Reform Zionist framework for people in their mid-20s and 30s.
Netzer’s professional leadership in Jerusalem will soon begin preparing for the next veida, to take place in 2011.
An alternative prayer service at Netzer’s 2010 Veida led by (upper left, l-r) Ariel, Chana and Daniel, delegates from Netzer-Spain.
