Bnei Akiva
Bnei Akiva is the largest religious Zionist youth movement in the world, with over 125,000 members in 42 countries. It was established in 1929 in Mandatory Palestine.
History
Bnei Akiva was established in 1929 as the youth wing of the Mizrachi movement. Concurrent with the establishment of the movement in pre-independence Israel, organizations of religious youth operated in the Diaspora. Some of them adopted the name Bnei Akiva and others had appellations such as HaShomer HaDati. Twenty-five years later, the Israeli and Diaspora groups merged and the Mazkirut Olamit of Bnei Akiva was formed.Ideology
Bnei Akiva's motto is Torah v'Avodah, or Torah and Work a phrase coined by Rav Shmuel Chaim Landau. Bnei Akiva's objectives are to educate Jewish youth with values of Torah and work, to provide stimulating experiential and informal opportunities for encountering Judaism, and to encourage Jewish continuity and leadership. Bnei Akiva's twin ideals of Torah and Avodah translate to religious commitment and work on the land of Israel. Bnei Akiva believes in emigration to the land of Israel as a central commandment of Judaism, and maintains that the future of the Jewish people is tied to the state of Israel. In the organization's early years, Avodah was understood as meaning agricultural work, as reflected in the symbolism of the movement's emblem. In more recent years, there has driven a shift in ideology towards a broader definition of working for the development of the country. Members are encouraged to spend a year in Israel on organized learning and touring programs to broaden their knowledge of Israel and developing their leadership skills.Similarly, the original socialist aims of Bnei Akiva are less actively pursued. Until the 1980s many Bnei Akiva members joined religious Kibbutzim in groups based on mutual army service or Aliya. Since the 1990s, Bnei Akiva members now typically settle in development towns and settlements.
Organizational framework
In Israel, Bnei Akiva is affiliated with the Religious Kibbutz Movement and the party "The Jewish Home". It is run by a National Secretariat. Outside Israel, local branches of Bnei Akiva are under the Bnei Akiva Olami organization. In every country, Bnei Akiva operates a network of Shabbat groups, summer camps, leadership seminars, Shabbatonim, and other activities.Symbols of Bnei Akiva
Emblem
The "Semel", Bnei Akiva's emblem, shows farming utensils and wheat sheaves symbolizing the agricultural perspective of the ideology, and two tablets of stone in the center symbolizing the Torah. The two perspectives of Torah and Avoda are united together by the ribbon which says Bnei Akiva on it - symbolizing that the two aspects can only and must work hand in hand. The letters on the two tablets are the Hebrew letters 'Tav' and 'Ayin' standing for Torah veAvoda.Anthem
The Bnei Akiva's anthem, entitled Yad Achim, was composed by Moshe-Zvi Neria. He composed the anthem during the Chol HaMoed period of the holiday of Sukkot, 1932, at a gathering of youth leaders in Kfar Saba. Although the words and the melody have been changed to some extent, the anthem is sung on many Bnei Akiva occasions. It is sung in Hebrew.| Original Text | Translation to English |
יד אחים לכם שלוחה, הנוער החביב על דגלנו כולכם, חנו מסביב יזהיר לכם כוכב תורה דרככם סוגה בעבודה בלב אמיץ ובעזרת ה´, עלה נעלה! קדימה בני-עקיבא, הידד במעלה! מולדת זו, ארץ אבות, ארצנו הקדושה מידי אביר-יעקב לנו מורשה ראשינו בעמקי תורתה כפינו ברגבי אדמתה בלב אמיץ ובעזרת ה´, עלה נעלה! קדימה בני-עקיבא, הידד במעלה! | A brotherly hand is stretched out to you, O beloved youth: Gather yourselves around our flag. The star of the Torah shall shine for you, Your path shall be one of labor. With a sturdy heart, with the help of God, we will go up, Forward, Bnei Akiva, forward to the heights! This homeland, the Holy Land of our fathers, our heritage from the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob. Our minds are steeped in her Torah, Our hands are immersed in her soil. With a sturdy heart, with the help of God, we will go up, Forward, Bnei Akiva, forward to the heights! |
Mifkad
Bnei Akiva branches all over the world start or end their meetings with mifkad, forming the letter Heth using the participants. The mifkad is the assembly where announcements are made, members are counted and the ideology is reaffirmed. With slight variations, the text of mifkad is the same all over the world, following a basic structure.Lexicon
International
Australia
There are currently four snifim in Australia; one in Perth, one in Melbourne, and two in Sydney. The Melbourne snif is the largest in Bnei Akiva Olami. Tochniot are held on Saturday afternoons, and bi-annual camps are run for each state. Other initiatives include weekly learning, group volunteer days, and regular minyanim. Bnei Akiva Melbourne runs an annual "Amazing Race" styled event. Bnei Akiva Sydney celebrated its 50th anniversary on November 7, 1999, at the Hakoah Club. The event was well-received by madrichim, chanichim, and bogrim. Bnei Akiva Perth is a flourishing snif that is a driving force in the Perth Jewish Community. It coordinates a number of events during the year including a themed Kabbalat Shabbat, providing gift baskets for Purim, an Israeli history movie night, and Shabbat dinners throughout the year. There is a federal summer camp held in December attended by senior chanichim from all snifim in Australia and New Zealand. Bnei Akiva Australia is a member of the Australasian Zionist Youth Council.Brazil
There are two snifim in Rio de Janeiro. One in Copacabana and another one in Tijuca. Bnei Akiva's presence in São Paulo started in the early 50s. It now has two snifim, one in Higienópolis and one in Jardins. Bnei Akiva also has a snif in Belém. Today, Bnei Akiva has more participants than any other Zionist Youth Movement in Rio de Janeiro, making up to 180 chanichim and 70 madrichim. Bnei Akiva's activities include Shabbatonim, field trips, and camp; each year, in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, there are two camps, one in the winter and one in the summer, while Belém only has a summer camp. There are commemorations of the Jewish holidays in the local Bnei Akiva synagogues in Rio de Janeiro and Belém, and São Paulo, where there are two synagogues.Europe
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, Bne Akiwa started after the Holocaust period. During the latter half of the 20th century its main yearly activities were weekly pe'ulot on Shabbath in Amsterdam and on Sunday in other cities, summer and winter camps in the country, different European camps in the summer, Avoda summercamp in Israel, and participation in Hachshara year in Israel programs; Shabbath Ha'irgun weekend; publication of the magazine Zeraim. Different from other countries the movement is led by a Board which consists of members aged 16–22 years, placing a rather big responsibility on young shoulders, while the shaliach is the chairman. Many members have made aliya, while those who stay play significant roles in Jewish communal and non-Jewish life.France
There are snifim in the most important cities such as Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Strasbourg. Paris hosts several snifim. Each year several mahanot are organized for the winter and summer holidays. A Shabbat is organized each year for all the madrichim around the country. In France, the director of a snif is called a merakez.Belgium
There are two snifim in Belgium: one in Antwerp and one in Brussels. The larger snif in Antwerp has 120 members, while Brussels has 40.Switzerland
Bnei Akiva Switzerland was founded in 1936. Numerous former Bnei Akiva Switzerland chaverim have made aliya as a result of being in the youth movement. Today, Bnei Akiva Switzerland has more than 120 members in the two chapters, in Basel and Zurich. Geneva used to have its own chapter, but was closed by the parent organization in Israel because of a lack of interested members. Bnei Akiva is the biggest Jewish youth organization in Switzerland. Due to the lack of a Jewish high school in Switzerland, Bnei Akiva fulfills an important role as a regular meeting place. It is a vital entity that allows high-school students, who do not see each other on a daily basis, to stay in contact with their Jewish friends. Every year there are two camps, one in summer and one in winter. Additionally, the two oldest shvatim join the Sayarim summer camp on a biannual basis, followed by a four-week Israel trip the following year. A number of Shabbatonim take place throughout the year, such as the Yom Yerushalayim weekend. This snif is known as one of the worst snifim in Europe.United Kingdom
Bnei Akiva in the UK was founded in 1939. Its beginnings were closely associated with Bachad and the Torah V'Avodah movement, which both encouraged aliya. Arieh Handler was the main figure in the early growth of Bnei Akiva, as he brought over children from Nazi Europe on the Kindertransport and placed them in Bachad Hachshara centres. These aimed to prepare the youth to work the Land of Israel on kibbutzim by learning agricultural techniques. The first of these was at Gwrych Castle, which held the first-ever gathering of Bnei Akiva UK in December 1940. After the local Marquis shut down the centre and expelled the Jewish immigrants, other hachshara centres were set up in Bromsgrove, Buckinghamshire and the most famous, Thaxted, Essex.Many Kibbutzim, including Lavi and Beit Rimon, were founded by members of BAUK. In modern times, hachshara takes place in Israel and involves two schemes: Torani and Kivun. Bnei Akiva is the leading provider of gap years to Israel for 18-year-olds in the UK.
Nowadays, Bnei Akiva is the largest Jewish youth movement in the country, with more than 1,000 members paying Mas Chaver each year. It is run by five full-time sabbatical workers who work in the London Bayit, the offices of Bnei Akiva UK. Bnei Akiva also brings over families of shlichim from Israel, one serving as the Bnei Akiva rabbinical couple and one serving the northern communities. The mazkirut and shlichim together with the nivcharim , who are elected by the movement's members each year, form the Hanhalla .
Bnei Akiva runs 21 svivot around the UK. They run activities on Shabbat afternoons as well as running Succah Crawls, Family Friday Nights and Shabbatot Ha'Irgun. This year, there are active Bnei Akiva groups in, Barnet, Borehamwood & Elstree, Brondesbury Park, Bushey, Cheadle, Chigwell, Edgware, Finchley, Golders Green, Hale, Hampstead Garden Suburb, Hendon, Leeds, Mill Hill, Muswell Hill, Oxford, Pinner, Radlett, Salford, South Hampstead, South Woodford, Stanmore, Whitefield and Woodside Park.
Areas which have previously hosted Svivot include, Accrington, Belmont, Birmingham, Bowdon, Edinburgh, Kenton, Kingsbury, Maida Vale, Newcastle, Redbridge, Sheffield, Southgate, Stamford Hill and Sunderland. The svivot mostly operate in local synagogues, however Bnei Akiva has two purpose-built buildings to house activities in Temple Fortune in London and Salford.
Bnei Akiva runs summer and winter camps from school years 3–12. The winter camps include Aleph, Ma'apilim, Haroeh, Gimmel and Hadracha Course. H-Course is a long-running leadership training camp which gives participants the skills to become the future leaders of the movement.
Summer camps include Ari, Aleph, Aleph Chalutzi, Bet Base, Bet Chalutzi and Gimmel. For Year 11, there is Israel Machane, a three-week-long tour visiting sites in Israel. In 2011, Machane Cadur Regel ran for years 3–5 in partnership with Arsenal Football Club. Bnei Akiva also used to run the widely acclaimed Yachad programme, which caters for children with disabilities who want to be involved in camps.
In addition, there is a Beit Midrash Programme which runs in conjunction with the other camps every summer. In recent years, Bnei Akiva has teamed up with Kaytana to run camps for Ethiopian children in Israel and also with Camp Simcha UK to run Keshet camp in London for children with serious illnesses. More than 1,000 people are involved in Bnei Akiva camps each year, making it the biggest provider of Jewish youth group camps in the UK.
Bnei Akiva UK actively supports projects in memory of Yoni Jesner who was heavily involved with the Glasgow branch of Bnei Akiva. He died from a critical head injury following a suicide bus bombing in Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Mexico
Bnei Akiva in Mexico was founded in 1948. It is located in Mexico City, with three chapters and one main house, which is the center of activities. There are more than 100 active members in the movement and a large population of non-active members, those who have grown too old for the youth groups, or those who have "made Aliya". Bnei Akiva members are involved in community service such as participating in its institutions, studying in Jewish day schools, Hebrew schools and Yeshivot, and participating in Chessed activities.New Zealand
Bnei Akiva is one of the main Jewish youth movements in New Zealand, with weekly meetings and activities in Auckland and Wellington and national bi-annual camps. Bnei Akiva NZ's goal is to educate Jewish youth with the values of Torah ve'Avodah, combining a deeply rooted association with Israel together with day-to-day life in accordance with traditional Jewish values, and to provide stimulating experiential and informal opportunities for encountering Judaism. Bnei Akiva NZ ensures Jewish continuity and the future of the New Zealand Jewish community. Bnei Akiva New Zealand is a member of the Australasian Zionist Youth Council.Website of Bnei Akiva New Zealand.United States and Canada
Bnei Akiva of the United States and Canada was formed with the 1950 merger between HaShomer HaDati and Bnei Akiva. It has several tiers of organization. At its most basic level, Bnei Akiva operates on a local level with Glilim, which often contain one or more snifim where youth groups are run on Shabbat. Most Glilim are run by shlichim, from Israel, usually young couples. The first Bnei Akiva galil in America, technically belonging to HaShomer HaDati, was organized in Brooklyn by Meir Golombek in 1934, with additional Glilim forming around young leaders throughout the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s at a time when very little Zionist education was available in the United States. The level of activity in any given galil has fluctuated over the years depending on the level of leadership present.In 2000, in an attempt to help Glilim that were without their own shlichim, Bnei Akiva of the United States and Canada formally added an additional regional infrastructure, with shlichim appointed to serve in a regional role and coordinate activities in several Glilim. The first such regional shaliach, for the Midwest, was Ilan Frydman.
In additional to the galil-based organization of Bnei Akiva, a second focus of activities in Bnei Akiva of the United States and Canada are the summer camps, known as Camp Moshava. The first Moshava, in Hightstown, New Jersey, was established in 1936, with a second one opening in Rolling Prairie, Indiana in 1938 and a third in Bronte, Ontario in 1946. In 1947, a fourth Moshava began operating in Saugus, California. Camp Stone, the fifth Moshava, began operating as a Bnei Akiva camp in conjunction with Young Israel in 1972.. The largest camp is the New York metropolitan area branch, located in Indian Orchard, Pennsylvania, with 1,500 campers and 400 counselors. The Midwest Moshava moved to Wild Rose, Wisconsin, and the Canadian Moshava relocated to Ennismore, Ontario. The California Moshava currently operates out of Running Springs after a long hiatus following the 1985 sale of their Big Bear campus. Bnei Akiva also operates local day camps during the summer in New Jersey, directed by Shlomo Stern and Rabbi Ben Fried and Toronto directed by Samara Nathonson. This follows the first attempt at such a program in Atlanta in the early 1990s. Attendance at Bnei Akiva summer programs is typically larger than participation in Glilim, though many chanichim and madrichim are active in both frameworks.
Additionally, there are several national programs that are run by Bnei Akiva of the United States and Canada, most notably Mach Hach Baaretz directed by Rabbi Daniel Katz, a six-week tour of Israel following 10th grade which attracts many participants who are not otherwise involved with Bnei Akiva. This program was started in 1972 by members in Los Angeles, and has grown to be one of the most successful and popular programs offered by Bnei Akiva of the United States and Canada. Another program, Machal, which is for graduates of 9th grade, was originally a national program, but is now run out of each camp separately. Various national shabbatonim are run by the national office, including Kenes Manhigei Chevraya Bet which brings together some of the most promising young high school leaders for extra training.
Rabbi Shaul Feldman the Executive Director for over 20 years overseas a strong leadership team including Bini Dachs, Assistant Executive Director, Natalie Vinegar, Director of Marketing, Shula Bashkin Programs Registrar, Robyn Adams Director of New York-New Jersey region, Jennifer van Amerongen is currently serving as Merakezet Chinuch. Talya Saban currently serves as Mazkira Artzi and Devorah Goldson serves as Marakezet Tochniot of Bnei Akiva of the United States and Canada.
Boston
Bnei Akiva Boston has two active Snifim: Sharon Bnei Akiva in Young Israel of Sharon, and Newton Bnei Akiva as a joint program between Congregations Beth El-Atereth Israel and Shaarei Tefillah. Bnei Akiva Boston recommenced activity in September 2007 after a decade-long hiatus. As of 2017, Sharon Bnei Akiva operates its weekly activities on Shabbat afternoons for 2-8th grade children while NBA operates on Shabbat afternoons in the Fall/Spring and Motzei Shabbat in the winter.Chicago
Bnei Akiva of Chicago was established in 1935 is one of the largest Glilim in the country. Chicago hosts several local and regional shabbatonim each year. Galil Chicago has four snifim named Saad, Tirat Tzvi, Lakeview and Kfar Tzion. Chaverim from Chicago traditionally attend Camp Moshava, Wild Rose, WI, in the summers, and that Moshava is most associated with Galil Chicago. It is part of the Midwest Region.Cleveland
Bnei Akiva Cleveland currently has more than 100 members, counting chanichim and madrichim. The city hosts a number of annual activities, including a Purim Carnival and Sukkot Festival, as well as a number of community programs such as Musicians Towers. The current shlichim in Cleveland are Yosef and Efrat Cashdan, with two additional Bnot Sherut. Members of Bnei Akiva Cleveland typically attend Camp Stone in the summer, and that camp's headquarters is located in Cleveland. Galil Cleveland is part of the Midwest Region.Detroit
Bnei Akiva has been operating in Detroit since 1950. Bnei Akiva has three snifim that meet every Shabbat: at the Young Israel of Oak Park, at the Young Israel of Southfield and at Ohel Moed of Shomrey Emunah in West Bloomfield. Many members of Bnei Akiva of Detroit have moved to Israel, and one former shaliach, Otniel Schneller, previously served in the Knesset. The current shaliach is Yonatan Edrei, who lives in Oak Park, MI. Galil Detroit is in the Midwest Region, and campers primarily attend Camp Stone.Hamilton
Bnei Akiva of Hamilton is currently run by Mazkir Galil Ethan Terazadeh. Contrary to popular belief, Bnei Akiva of Hamilton is not the actual name for this Snif, rather called Bnei Akiva of Narnia.Los Angeles
Bnei Akiva Los Angeles, founded in 1946, is one of the oldest and most active Glilim in North America. BALA has four snifim spread throughout Los Angeles, each named after a prominent religious kibbutz: Snif Lavi, Snif Tirat Tzvi, Snif Sa'ad, and Snif Shluchot. Each snif holds weekly programming on Shabbatot for chanichim ranging from 2nd through 5th grade. In addition to its four snifim, BALA holds frequent events and programming for Vazach and Chevraya Bet. BALA also runs a Manhigut program for ninth graders, in which budding Bnei Akiva leaders learn valuable leadership skills in preparation for joining the hadracha staff the following year. After a period of stagnation and low participation in the 2000s, BALA has undergone a significant revival in recent years, thanks in large part to the efforts of beloved former shlichim Eyal Fridman and Toby Tabak, who began their tenure in 2013 and were replaced in 2017 by Hagai and Adina Keisar. BALA will continue its growth in the coming year under the leadership of Mazkirei Galil Eytan Merkin and Naomi Weberman.Montreal
Bnei Akiva of Montreal is based in Hebrew Academy, where they have their one branch. It also runs annual programs such as Purim celebrations and Shabbatonim It is led primarily by the students of Hebrew Academy and other schools as well. The current shlichim in Montreal are Eli and Sivan Veresh. Bnei Akiva Montreal runs weekly and monthly activities, educational training and Inter-city Shabbatonim.Northeast
Bnei Akiva of Northeast, the oldest galil in North America, has hundreds of members in 10 chapters across the region. In 1954, Rabbi Meir Kahane, became the mazkir of Greater New York's sixteen chapters. BANE has branches in New Jersey and New York. BANE also runs Shabbatonim and special events throughout the year for youth who are connected to Camp Moshava in Indian Orchard, Pennsylvania. Additional programs are run for college students, and largely focus on a commitment to live in the Land of Israel.Philadelphia
Bnei Akiva of Philadelphia maintains three snifim: Northeast Philadelphia, Lower Merion and Cherry Hill, NJ. Galil Philadelphia prides itself on its dedicated and spirited core of madrichim. It is part of the Mid-Atlantic Region, and hosts a range of exciting activities and Shabbatonim each year while receiving guidance from college-aged bogrim. While the Northeast branch has been in existence for decades, Snif Lower Merion began weekly Shabbat programming in September 2003 under the leadership of Chava Forman. In September 2012, Galil Philadelphia added a third snif in Cherry Hill, NJ.Pittsburgh
An active galil existed in Pittsburgh through the 1960s, when it became dormant. Activities resumed in 2005. Currently, Bnei Akiva of Pittsburgh operates a weekly snif out of the Shaare Torah synagogue. In addition, Bnei Akiva sponsors monthly social activities such as scavenger hunts, matza baking and trips to the movies. There is a special leadership program for 9th graders called Manhigut, which helps prepare them to be madrichim. It is a member of the Bnei Akiva Midwest region.Silver Spring
Bnei Akiva of Silver Spring is part of the Mid-Atlantic Region and is the only galil in Maryland. Bnei Akiva of Silver Spring, also known as BASS, runs biweekly Shabbat programming at Kemp Mill Synagogue for grades 3rd-6th as well as special ZA"CH activities for grades 7th-8th. As the only chapter of Bnei Akiva in the area, BASS is responsible for the annual Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut Tekes for the Greater Washington area at the Berman Hebrew Academy as well as other community youth activities. The current Roshei Snif are Aliza Mintz and Noa Ferziger and the current Roshei ZA"CH and Ariella Wolf and Zachary Goldberg.St. Louis
Bnei Akiva St. Louis was founded in 2008. It has one snif that meets weekly.Toronto
Bnei Akiva of Toronto was started in 1935 and maintains a strong presence in the city. Bnei Akiva of Toronto is known for being the biggest galil in the world outside of Israel. There are four snifim, with more than 100 children attending on Shabbat afternoon, as well as programming for grades 2-12 and university students throughout the year. There is also the Bnei Akiva-run camp Moshava Ennismore just outside Toronto, along with a day camp, Moshava Ba'ir Toronto, run in the city. Toronto houses the only Bnei Akiva yeshiva outside Israel, Yeshivat Or Chaim with Ulpanat Orot, forms Bnei Akiva Schools of Toronto. Currently, Eliav Saban and Yakira Gasner are the Mazkirim of Bnei Akiva of Toronto. Bnei Akiva Toronto is a member of the Midwest Region.Other Glilim
Additional cities with active Bnei Akiva chapters include Atlanta, Baltimore, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Hollywood, FL, Houston, Minneapolis, Potomac, Silver Spring, and Washington. In the past, there have been several other chapters, including Boca Raton, Memphis, Miami, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle.Gap Year Programming
Historically, Bnei Akiva operated several Gap Year programs. Until the 1980s, members of Bnei Akiva of the US and Canada participated in Hachshara. Since 1982, Bnei Akiva has offered a program called Tochnit Nissan for members studying in Israel during the month of Nissan. Traditionally, this program took place on a kibbutz, though other options are now offered. In the early 1990s, a program called Midrash Uma'aseh existed and drew many of the most involved members of Bnei Akiva.For the 2014-2015 year, BAUS&C launched a seminary and a yeshiva program in the Katamon neighborhood of Jerusalem called Midreshet Torah V'Avodah and Yeshivat Torah V'Avodah. It offers several months of focused in-depth Torah study in an Israeli yeshiva or midrasha setting, along with targeted internships, intense volunteering and service learning, some of it living and working on a Kibbutz. Gap year students affiliated with Bnei Akiva may also attend a range of other yeshivot and seminaries affiliated with Bnei Akiva ideology.