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Oh to be 16 again, and at Habonim!

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As my car pulled onto the gravel road towards the Habonim machaneh campsite, I had a sense of residual excitement, a memory from days gone by, of the impending fun that had always been at the end of that road.

The words, “Everywhere we go, the people want to know, who we are, and so we tell them. We are Habonim, the mighty, mighty Habonim,” came to mind. These were words I hadn’t sung in many decades.

I was on my way to machaneh, 36 years after last being there as a madricha. This time, I was going as a mom and a journalist not a channie or maddie. I had a good sense of what I would find because the site is still on the same prime piece of real estate on the Western Cape coast.

But more importantly, I had it on good authority that the same fun I used to have so many years ago was still happening every single December. Much has changed, but so much has stayed the same. Machaneh was, as I recall, the best way for young Jewish kids and teens to have good, clean fun at the end of the year without adult interference.

Driving under the Habonim Dror entrance arch, I felt a sense of homecoming, and déjà vu. If you had asked me about what the entrance looked like, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you before, but being there, it was all so familiar. As was the drive down to the kikar through the campsite.

The first thing that struck me as I got out the car were the many happy faces I saw and the joyful sounds emanating from them.

I had come to visit my son, who was having the best time, but also to revisit the place I spent the best holidays of my youth and a place where I learnt that it was acceptable to question the things many people take for granted. It was while there so many years ago that I understood what it meant to be a socially-conscious Jewish person.

Habonim machaneh peulot had a huge impact on my growth as a thinking person, and it enabled me to find likeminded people within our community. The singing and made-up songs and chants still stick in my head. I could see that lifelong friendships were being built all around me. I could feel the sense of camaraderie and that exciting feeling of people who may not have known each other long connecting on a deep level.

I could also see, on visiting the different shichvot’s sites, messy tents with washing hanging on lines around them. I could see youngsters laughing, chatting, and “chillaxing” between peulot.

I heard about the heated but deep discussions regarding the situation in Israel post-7 October. I love the fact that teens discussed, argued, discussed some more, thought deeper about it, and then talked some more.

Did they reach solutions? Not necessarily, but they engaged with the issues, how they arose, and what could potentially be done about them. That epitomises what Habonim offers.

On another level, walking into the hadar ochel (eating space) for one of the shichvot and witnessing the loud singing, “Close the doors, they’re coming through the windows, close the windows, they’re coming through the doors. Oh my gosh, they’re coming through the floors …” Anyone who has ever been to Habonim machaneh knows that is the age-old Habo grace before meals. I got tears in my eyes because it made me feel like no time had passed since I sang that for my supper.

Going onto the kikar, where so many gatherings are held, I saw the migdal, which looks so much like I remember it, but I have it on good authority that it was recently rebuilt to ensure it was safe. This migdal had a yellow ribbon on it as a reminder of the 101 Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza.

In fact, there are many posters, painted signs saying, “Bring them home now”, and artwork reminding about the war and situation in Israel all over the campsite.

My son showed me where they had had an exciting night time peulah (activity), with a haunted house and scary stories. He also showed me a hidden view of the beach from one of the shichvot’s sites.

I couldn’t help noticing that there were no comfy chairs, beds, or any luxuries really. That wouldn’t be camp. Even the new – or newer than me – cabins for the youngest shichvot are rudimentary and simple. The point is that Habonim camp isn’t fancy or swish, it’s good fun and real camping.

Walking from the campsite straight onto the most pristine beaches brought back such beautiful memories. I couldn’t help but notice that the security within and surrounding the campsite is helluva better than days gone by.

I had spaghetti bolognaise for lunch in “Docsville” with the few adults staying at the site. The food was a whole lot better than the food I remember from machaneh in my days. And there was a vegetarian/vegan option.

After an exciting trip down memory lane, seeing young people having the time of their lives irrespective of the dust and lack of creature comforts, I felt a twinge of envy at not being able to be 16, and enjoy machaneh for three whole weeks of fun and learning.

I still can think of no better holiday for young Jewish kids than machaneh.

  • Peta Krost is the editor of the SA Jewish Report.
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