Three weeks ago, your teens boarded planes from LA, Toronto, Newark, and beyond—most of them not knowing each other, unsure of what was ahead.
Today, they return as something much more than a group of travelers. They’ve become a national kvutzah—a tight-knit community, built through shared experiences, late-night conversations, deep laughter, and meaningful learning.
We recently celebrated a big milestone: their first chultzah. They This moment wasn’t just about putting on a shirt—it was about recognizing how much they’ve grown and stepped into leadership during this trip. This shirt is important because it symbolizes that they are a part of Habonim Dror and all of the history that copmes with it. The speech they heard reflected just that: that even when plans shifted and the itinerary didn’t go quite as expected, their
commitment to connecting with one another, and to building something real, never wavered.
Over the past few days especially, they’ve been thinking and talking about what it means to be a leader—not just at camp, but in our youth movement, Habonim Dror North America. They’ve explored big questions: What does it mean to take initiative? How do we lead with kindness, with values, with purpose?
They also heard the story of Nachshon ben Aminadav, a figure from Jewish tradition who took a leap into the Sea of Reeds in the Exodus running from the Pharaoh when no one else was brave enough to. It was a reminder to them, and to all of us, that sometimes leadership is about being the first to step in, even when it’s scary. That’s exactly what they’ve done on this trip:
shown up for one another, led with courage, and grown in ways they probably didn’t
expect.
They are now nachshonimot in Habonim Dror North America. Not quite chanichimot
(campers), not quite maapilimot (university aged leaders), but something bold, young, and brave in between.
One of our most powerful moments in came from a quote in Poland by Ante Zuckerman, a Jewish resistance leader, who said:
“You need to know that you are not the last young leader. That others came before you, that you are now, and that you will be followed.”
Your teens are now part of that chain. And they know it.
So as they come home—maybe a little tired, definitely full of stories—know that they’re bringing back more than souvenirs. They’re bringing back a sense of purpose, of belonging, and a deep connection to something bigger than themselves.
Thank you for sharing them with us. We can’t wait to see what they do next.
