Movements
Betar
Activities in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland
Betar is a worldwide Zionist Jewish youth movement. Betar Australia has independent Maozim in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, all of which unite for camps each year. In Betar, we strive to create a fun atmosphere for our chanichim, aiding in their social and personal development with high quality role models. We maintain a strong emphasis on core ethical values. Our activities instil a sense of Jewish identity through the unique Jewish community that Betar supports. We affirm all streams of Judaism, catering to all of them at our camps and functions. Furthermore, we teach our chanichim about the importance of Zionism as well as Israeli history, culture and contemporary politics. Betar has a keen focus on hasbarah and is active in Pro-Zionist events on university campuses and information sessions for the Jewish community. Betar runs regular activities across all three states and we would love for you to get involved. Please click here for contact details of your local state representative.
CONTACT:
Ariel Berger
Email: [email protected]
Hineni
Activities in Melbourne and Sydney
Hineni is an Australian-born Jewish youth movement. The movement fosters a warm and dynamic culture of education, individuality and fun. Our movement is ideologically based on Modern-Orthodoxy, Political activism and Zionism. Our approach to learning is a pluralist and open-minded one, whilst being grounded in a traditional, Modern Orthodox atmosphere. Hineni is a place where young people from all backgrounds can come together to strengthen their Jewish identity. In Sydney, the movement is affiliated with The Central Synagogue and this is where we run most of our events and activities. In Melbourne, Hineni is supported by and based at Caulfield Hebrew Congregation. Hineni also has a strong presence in Canberra, where we run events at the Canberra Jewish Community Centre. We invite all Jewish youth to come to Hineni for a uniquely inclusive atmosphere, a critical understanding of the world around them, long lasting friendships and a sense of true self confidence.
CONTACT:
Rebecca Herz
Email: [email protected]
Hashy
Activities in Melbourne
Hashomer Hatzair, also known as Hashy, is a secular humanist Jewish, Zionist and socialist youth movement that provides informal education to young Jewish people aged 8-18 through weekly educational programs, seminars, biannual camps, and community events. Founded in 1913 in Galicia, Austria-Hungary, Hashomer Hatzair came into being as a result of the merger of two groups, Hashomer (“The Guard”) a Zionist scouting group, and Ze’irei Zion (“The Youth of Zion”) which was an ideological circle that studied Zionism, left wing socialism and Jewish history. Hashomer Hatzair is the oldest Zionist youth movement still in existence. In 1953 Hashomer Hatzair was established in Australia as a break away from Habonim Dror. The movement thrived in the Jewish communities of Melbourne and Sydney, however the ken (branch) in Sydney closed due to a lack of members as a result of many of the bogrim (leaders) making aliyah. In Melbourne, the ken is known as Bet Anielewicz, named after Warsaw ghetto uprising fighter and movement member Mordechai Anielewicz.
CONTACT:
Raffy Blay
Email: m[email protected]
Habonim Dror
Activities in Australia in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth | Activities in New Zealand in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Habonim Dror is a Jewish, Socialist-Zionist youth movement that operates throughout Australia and New Zealand, as well as all around the world. We strive to take responsibility for the Jewish People, Israeli society and the world. Through critically analysing the world around us, we strive to empower the youth, providing them with the ability to develop a meaningful Jewish, Zionist 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. Our vision for the Jewish people and for humanity is one in which all people understand the power of personal freedom, the importance of equality of human value (shivyon erech ha’adam), and the value of friendship, culture and community. We want to play our part in creating a world in which all people explore their identity, express their creativity, fight for morality and strive to improve society through critical analysis and communal teamwork. As a Jewish youth movement we believe that our contribution to this world picture should come through educating today’s youth through the lens of the principles of Socialist-Zionism.
CONTACT:
Josh New – Australia
Email: [email protected]
Olivia J Pepere- New Zealand
Email: [email protected]
Bnei Akiva
Activities in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Auckland and Wellington
Bnei Akiva is the largest Zionist Youth Movement in the world. Running activities for over 45,000 young Jews in 34 different countries, it provides a unique framework for the young Religious Zionist community, imbuing the ideals of Torah V’Avodah. This ideology combines an unwavering commitment to full Torah observance, coupled with the recognition that we have an obligation to actively involve ourselves in society. The maxim “Am Yisrael b’Eretz Yisrael al pi Torat Yisrael” – “The Jewish Nation living in the Land of Israel according to the Torah of Israel”, pithily sums up the movement’s ideals. Only through Aliyah, the highest form of Zionist expression, can the Torah be fully kept.
For more information about Bnei Akiva Australia and its activities, please visit their website: www.bneiakiva.com.au
For more information about Bnei Akiva New Zealand and its activities, please visit their website: www.bneiakiva.org.nz
CONTACT:
Tammy Lazarus – Australia
Email: [email protected]
Noa Grinberg – New Zealand
Email: [email protected]
Netzer
Activities in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth
Netzer Australia is a Progressive Jewish and Reform Zionist Youth Movement. Founded in Melbourne in 1979, Netzer Olami today has 18 sniffim internationally and is an affiliate of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Netzer facilitates immersive, informal education for chanichim/ot with a focus on our ideology and values in Tikkun Olam and social justice, intentionality and informed decision making. Netzer Australia is run by skilled volunteer youth leaders (Madrichim) of university age who have completed intensive leadership training and education on Shnat Netzer and Tzmicha (a year 13 program). Netzer Australia has programming in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth who meet regularly as well as leaders in Canberra and Adelaide. HaShoresh, Our Roots, is a Netzer House based in Melbourne in which federal seminars, monthly kabbalat shabbat services and regular community events take place.
CONTACT:
Avishai Conyer
Email: [email protected]
Hatzofim
Activities in Melbourne, Sydney, and small Israeli communities in Australia and New Zealand.
HaTzofim Australia is a branch of the Israeli Scouts youth movement. HaTzofim youth movement involves thousands of teenagers in Israel and around the world. Its programme gives the opportunity for every child and teenager to gain leadership skills and to integrate and take a meaningful part in Israeli society and the Jewish communities around the world. HaTzofim Australia have been active since 2013, with two operating branches “Shvatim”; Melbourne’s Shevet Onnot, and Sydney’s Shevet Shahar with a new Shevet opening in the Eastern Suburbs in 2023. We also run activities for the Israeli communities across Australia. We meet every Sunday and run activities in Hebrew which are centred around Israel and Israeli culture, leadership, Zionism, environment, friendship, current events and community values. We also experience scouting, hiking, camps and community events. Our activities start from year 3 to year 12. During year 8 and year 9 the youth participate in our Hadracha and Leadership Course and later becoming ‘Shachbag’, Madrichim.
CONTACT:
Michael Manhaim
Email: [email protected]/ [email protected]
CatZ
Activities in Canberra
The AYZC collaborate with its participating movements to create a presence within the Canberra Jewish community through Canberra’s Jewish Pluralist Zionist Youth Movement, CATZ, Based out of the ACT Jewish Community Centre.
CONTACT:
Charlotte Freedman and Mia Kline
Email: [email protected]
JAZY
Activities in Adelaide
JAZY is Adelaide’s only Jewish youth movement that exists to enable every Jewish child in Adelaide the opportunity to attend a completely pluralist movement. JAZY has three main values;
1. Educating our chanich about all streams of Judaism and Zionism so that they can have a better understanding of their Jewish world as well as allowing them to develop the means to communicate with everybody in the Jewish community. We also value educating our chanich about Israel and Tikkun Olam as well as political and world issues to equip them with the knowledge and abilities they need to be global citizens.
2. Connecting the small group of Adelaide’s Jewish youth with one another, and with the greater Jewish youth movement community. Providing our chanich with these opportunities to connect and relate to one another’s experiences and more importantly, to form lifelong friendships is very important.
3. Equipping our chanich with the tools and supports they need to form their own Jewish identities.
CONTACT:
Mya Katz & Ruby Sierp
Email: [email protected]