What is Habo?

Habonim Dror is a nonprofit Jewish youth movement that operates throughout Australia, as well as all around the world. Our aim is to enrich the Jewish identities and create an engagement with Israel for the youth in our community. Through critically analysing the world around us, we strive to empower the youth, providing them with the ability to develop a meaningful Jewish identity that exists in all spheres of life, which is to be used to improve oneself, the Jewish people and the wider world. The unique atmosphere created in the movement has ensured we are one of the largest Jewish youth organisations in Australia.

KSO

Ken Ha’Shemesh Ha’Olah (KSO) began 5 years ago and spent its first few years running Jewish, informal activities on zoom for young children across Australia, who otherwise did not have access to a Jewish education or community.

In 2023, we began sending our madrichim (leaders) to these communities to run in-person sleepovers and activities for these kids who we had forged connections with, as well as many new additions.

Currently, we have strong connections with a number of communities around the country, and have run our outreaches in Byron Bay, the Sunshine Coast, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, Newcastle, and later this year, we will have visited Bellingen and Geelong. Across our 13 outreaches, we have reached over 140 young, Jewish children, who have engaged with our Habo community. Not only have we seen these children become passionate, young, Jewish leaders in their community, but we have personally seen the impact that Habo has had on their Jewish identities and sense of belonging.

Each year, KSO receives its budget from the Federal movement of Habonim Dror Australia. This entails the Sydney, Melbourne and the Perth kenim (branches) providing us with enough funds to execute these rural outreaches, all the while, funding their own branch operations. Due to the financial situation of our federal movement this year, KSO’s budget is enough to fund just over half of the outreaches we have planned for 2024.

Our aim for 2024 is to remain present in these communities and to continue providing skills and Jewish education to our chanichim (children), as well as to visit many new communities. To achieve these goals, we are seeking a total funding amount of $5000. This funding will be used to cover our madrichim’s transportation to these communities, which is what the majority of our budget goes towards.

We believe that KSO has the potential to make a significant impact on the smaller Jewish communities of Australia, as well as the Jewish upbringings of these young children. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

Yael Meltzer and Becky Nebenzahl

Mazkira (chairperson) and Gizbarit (treasurer) of Habonim Dror’s rural outreach branch (Ken Ha’Shemesh Ha’Olah).

Find out more about KSO by clicking Here.