| Hineni Youth and Welfare | |
|---|---|
Hineni Australia Semel(emblem) |
|
| Summary | |
| Motto: | Hineni |
| Meaning: | "I am here" |
| Founded: | Sydney-1975 Melbourne-1996 |
| Ideology: | Pluralist Zionist Modern Orthodox Politically active |
| Website: | http://www.hineni.org.au/ |
Hineni Youth and Welfare or Hineni is a Modern Orthodox, politically active, Zionist youth movement. Founded in Sydney, Australia, with centres currently in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.
In Sydney, Hineni is the official youth movement of the Central Synagogue. In Melbourne, Hineni is affiliated with and supported by Caulfield Hebrew Congregation, where weekly meetings take place. In Canberra, Hineni is based at the Canberra Jewish Community Centre.
Hineni runs weekly educational meetings for Jewish youth from years 3–12, as well as biannual camps, Israel year programs, seminars and other communal events. As an outreach movement, Hineni welcomes participants of all Jewish backgrounds.
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•Hineni provides informal Jewish education to complement that received in school and the home. It provides a relaxed environment, where chanichim (program participants) forge a solid Jewish identity as well as an Australian one.
•The last senior summer camp, "Camp Essence", attracted approximately 120 members.
Hineni is a young and dynamic youth movement, albeit with a rich and proud history. Since its establishment as a synagogue youth group in 1974 it has dramatically developed into one of Australia's largest youth movements, defined in its world view and vibrant in its activity:
• The movement has grown out of Sydney, branching out into Canberra and later to Melbourne.
• The ideology has developed to its current form with three pillars of Modern Orthodoxy, politically active and pluralist Zionism.
• Their acceptance into the Australian Zionist Youth Council has demonstrated the much-deserved recognition of Hineni's important role within the community.
• Membership has increased, with ever-growing attendance at weekly meetings and biannual camps.
• Large groups of high-school graduates have consistently departed to Israel for the year-long 'Shnat' program.
• Shlichim have been sent to the movement from Israel, serving as an inspiration to chanichim and madrichim alike.
Hineni is a politically informed and active youth movement. As a movement, Hineni does not advocate for any political party, nor does it represent a specific political stance. Individuals within Hineni are encouraged to engage with politics and reach their own personal political opinion.
Hineni’s educational philosophy adopts a politically non-partisan approach concerning Israeli, Australian and world politics. Madrichim have the responsibility to educate objectively on the complete spectrum of ideological views, however they are still encouraged to discuss their own personal beliefs. Through this balanced and unbiased approach, Hineni empowers both Madrichim and Chanichim to develop their own personal political ideology, which they can share both within and outside the movement.
Hineni understands Zionism as a ‘dynamic ideology,’ which continues to evolve throughout history. As Diaspora Jews living in the 21st century we believe that ‘modern’ Zionism is an entity that encompasses active support and love of Israel. Our youth movement endeavours to express this through:
• Aliya Nimshechet (continuous Aliya)- emigration to the state of Israel, and, upon making Aliya, continuing to uphold Hineni’s ideology and seek to act always towards the betterment of the state of Israel.
• Promoting a balanced, unbiased, Zionist education of Israeli politics encouraging chanichim to reach an informed political opinion.
• Promoting and supporting the Hineni Israel year programmes as an integral part of progression in the movement.
• Supporting charitable Zionist organisations.
• Affiliating with the AZYC, ZYC of NSW and ZYC of Victoria, ACT Jewish community, the Central and Caulfield Synagogues; and to assume rights and obligations resulting therefrom.
• Continued self-education of Israeli current affairs by the madrichim Moreover, Hineni acknowledges an adaptation of the 2004 Jerusalem Zionist Council’s (35th Zionist Congress) ‘principles of Zionism,’ as relevant and important in understanding and educating about Zionism as it exists post-1948.
According these principles, Zionism is founded on:
The Modern Orthodox Movement is unequivocally committed to the truth, validity and eternal applicability of the Orthodox Halachic system, while responding to, and fully engaging with the modern, secular world. As a result, Modern Orthodoxy is characterized by the challenges and tensions involved in preserving traditional Jewish belief and practice while, at the same time, bringing the Torah into contact with the modern world.
The Modern Orthodox Jew allows the principles of Halachic Judaism to be absorbed into his/her life in the secular world, in line with Rav S.R. Hirsch’s principle of “Torah im Derech Eretz” (Torah with the way of the land). In fact, Modern Orthodoxy sees engagement with modern culture as beneficial to Judaism and the Jewish people. However, as the Modern Orthodox Jew immerses him or herself in modern culture, she or he does not compromise his or her observance of halacha in order to do so.
Modern Orthodoxy believes in the concept of “Torah min HaShamayim” – that the words of the Torah are directly from G-d – and in the authority of the Oral Law. Modern Orthodoxy also recognizes the dynamism and flexibility of the Halachic system and is thus open to Halachically-grounded innovation. In fact, Modern Orthodoxy largely sees this kind of innovation as necessary in the face of new issues that have arisen as a result of Judaism’s contact with modernity.
Modern Orthodoxy emphasizes the concept of Ahavat Yisrael – the love of all Jews – and the belief that despite significant differences of opinion with many of our fellow Jews, we all remain part of Am Yisrael. Modern Orthodox Judaism also believes in the centrality of Eretz Yisrael to the Jewish people and the significance of the modern Ssate of Israel.
Hineni adopts this philosophy and endorses it within a non-coercive framework. Hineni attempts to use the notion of ‘Halichally Grounded Innovation’ to ensure all Jewish services and practices are as egalitarian as possible – where Halacha, not tradition, permits.
At all Hineni functions, events and seminars Madrichim will encourage this ideal and the concept should influence and guide their behavior especially when acting a dugma ishit.
Hineni encourages its members to participate in a year long "shnat" program, after completing year 12. For the duration of the program the members reside all around Israel and truly experience Israeli life and culture, while fulfilling the role of a Zionist Jew.
| Original Text | Translation to English |
|---|---|
| לחזק ישראל, על פי הנבואה
של צדק ושלום, זו תנועה דתית מימין לשמאל, כל עיקרון נחשב כאילו הוא נכון, זו תנועה שויונית הנני בא לקים הלכה ללמד, להדריך, ולתת גם דוגמה הנני זה נוער ישר ועניו הנני זה נוער ציוני והנני זו התנועה שלי הנני זו התנועה שלי מצפון גולן, ובדרום מתחת כל ענן ישראל, המולדת שלי וביום קרוב בעתיד, נהיה צברים בארצנו לתמיד, אנו תנועה ציונית הנני בא לקים ללמד, להדריך, ולתת גם דוגמה הנני זה נוער ישר ועניו הנני זה נוער ציוני והנני זו התנועה שלי הנני זו התנועה שלי |
To strengthen Israel according to the prophetic vision of justice and peace, this is a religious movement. From right to left, each principle considered as if it's correct, this is a movement of equality.
Hineni comes to keep Halacha, to teach, to lead, and to set an example. Hineni are youth, honest and humble; Hineni are Zionist youth. Hineni is my youth movement. From Golan, in the north, and in the south, beneath each cloud of Israel, my homeland. And on a day in the near future, we will be sabras in our land forever, we're a Zionist movement. |