Bidspirit auction | Manuscript Notebook of the Maccabi

Manuscript Notebook of the Maccabi Hatzair ”Shivtei HaBonim” Gar'in Bulletin – Kvutzat Shiller. February 1944 - Nevatim – Bulletin of the Maccabi Hatzair Shivtei HaBonim Gar'in, Kvutzat Shiller. A handwritten preparatory notebook for the publication of the first issue of Nevatim, Shevat 5704 (February 1944). ״Internal״ publication. Contains handwritten texts and illustrations in pencil and ink on lined notebook paper. Rare. The bulletin presents the ideological views of the members of the gar'in, discussions concerning communal life, an appeal to graduates to join the group, and impressions from the agricultural work at Kvutzat Shiller. The opening pages are illustrated with drawings of plowing, sowing, and pioneer folk dancing. They are followed by an explanation of the title ”Nevatim” (”Seedlings”) and the movement's objectives; an article on ”The Jewish Question, ” stating: ”The solution to the Jewish Question (antisemitism) can be achieved only through the concentration of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel”; ”The Character of the Gar'in at Neve Eitan, ” describing the consolidation of the members in the Beit She'an Valley, the hardships of establishing the settlement, and the movement's vision; an article on the gar'in at ”Sharashim”; excerpts from the gar'in diary at Neve Eitan; diary entries by members at Kvutzat Shiller; personal reflections by members; and an enthusiastic statement regarding the publication of the bulletin: ”Our bulletin has been published under difficult conditions, yet despite this we hope to continue issuing journals that will also express the thoughts and spirit of the members in the various branches... We hereby send the greetings of the members of the gar'in to all members of the movement: Be strong and of good courage!” The Maccabi Hatzair movement was originally established as a scouting, athletic, and non-partisan youth movement (with a certain affinity to the General Zionists). During its early years, it did not embrace collective settlement or kibbutz pioneering as a central ideal, in contrast to labor movements such as Hashomer Hatzair and Hanoar HaOved. However, in the early 1940s, a group of young, idealistic, and pioneering members emerged within the movement, advocating full pioneering fulfillment, that is, the establishment of their own kibbutz and direct participation in the building of the Land of Israel. This group formed the movement's Gar'in Aleph (First Gar'in). In order to acquire agricultural training and prepare themselves for communal life, the members of the gar'in spent training periods at established agricultural settlements. Their first year (5703 / 1942–1943) was spent at Kibbutz Neve Eitan in the Beit She'an Valley. In Tishrei 5704 (late 1943), they moved to the second stage of their training at Kvutzat Shiller (Gan Shlomo). At this stage, the gar'in consisted of a select group of approximately fifteen young men and women, joined by several graduates of the Habonim movement, whose name was later incorporated into that of the gar'in as ”Shivtei HaBonim.” The designation represented the senior age groups within the movement that had committed themselves to pioneering settlement. During their intensive period at Kvutzat Shiller, balancing agricultural labor with night guard duty, the members of the gar'in resolved to strengthen ties with the movement's urban branches, in Rishon LeZion, Ness Ziona, Gedera, Tel Aviv, and Haifa, in order to attract additional graduates to the pioneering path. To that end, they established their own internal newspaper and bulletin. In an official letter sent by the members of the gar'in at Kvutzat Shiller to the movement's headquarters in January 1944 (18 Tevet 5704), they wrote: ”We are also about to publish a newspaper for the movement. We have already begun the work, and its continuation depends upon you... Friends! We are waiting for you... We are planning a gathering of the movement's graduates on Tu BiShvat here at Kvutzat Shiller.” The bulletin Nevatim is, in fact, the very publication referred to in that letter. Its title - meaning ”Seedlings”—was chosen as a symbol of the germination of the movement's new kibbutz-pioneering ideal within Maccabi Hatzair. The activities of this gar'in at Kvutzat Shiller sparked a transformation within the movement. Inspired by its example, the movement's next group, Gar'in Bet, enlisted directly into the Palmach in the autumn of 1944, joining the Ramat David Training Unit. Upon completing their training and military service, the members of Gar'in Aleph and Gar'in Bet united to establish a temporary labor company in Ra'anana known as ”HaSolelim” (”The Builders”). In 1949, they settled permanently and founded Kibbutz Solelim in the Lower Galilee. [18] written pages. One leaf detached. Good condition.