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Community & economic development Education Youth development

Posted by

Michael M.

Executive Director Ha'TZofim Australia Inc.

Our mission

The Australasian Zionist Youth Council's primary goal is to promote Zionist and Jewish youth leadership in Australia and New Zealand by supporting the seven Zionist Youth Movements in those countries. The AZYC promotes youth movement attendance, supports the youth movements structurally, facilitates bonding between Zionist youth leaders irrespective of religious and political affiliation, and represents Zionist youth within the wider Jewish community.

What we do

The AZYC is the roof-body organisation of seven Zionist Youth Movements which operate in Australia and New Zealand: Betar, Bnei Akiva, Habonim Dror, Hashomer Hatzair, HaTzofim, Hineni, and Netzer. The youth movements run weekly activities and bi-annual camps for young Jews aged 8-18 and aim to encourage young people to develop their Jewish and Zionist identities, gain leadership skills and become part of the youth movement community. Each youth movement runs a gap-year program in Israel, and graduates of the gap-year programs then return to be leaders in their youth movements. The movements are run solely by young volunteers. The AZYC supports the movements by providing a space for collaboration and professional development for the leaders, and structurally supports the movements by coordinating insurance and a Safeguarding Children Accreditation, ensuring the youth movements run in a responsible and safe way.

Our Youth Movements:

~Betar Australia~

A Zionist Jewish youth movement that runs activities and camps/seminars for school-aged children across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Each branch runs Summer & Winter camps as well as weekly or monthly activities. As a federal movement, we hold an annual federal camp and run educational seminars throughout the year for our madrichim (leaders). We strive to create a fun and inviting atmosphere for our chanichim (participants), aiding in their social and personal development. Our activities instill a sense of Jewish identity through the unique Jewish community that Betar supports; we provide for all streams of Judaism, catering to all in our camps and functions. We teach our chanichim about the importance of Zionism as well as Israeli history, culture and contemporary politics.

~Bnei Akiva Australia and Bnei Akiva New Zealand~

We are a modern orthodox Jewish youth movement, operating on a volunteer basis. Bnei is open to Jewish children from school years 3-12. We hold local programs and events throughout the year in our branches in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Auckland and Wellington, and run local and national camps during the winter and summer holidays. Through education that is youth led, inclusive and informal, Bnei aims to create a lifelong sense of belonging to Judaism and the Jewish people, and instil a love for Israel in all its participants. Additionally, we aim to encourage and develop meaningful values, a strong sense of self and leadership skills in our members, inspiring them to participate and contribute to the wider Jewish, Australia and New Zealand, and global communities.

~Habonim Dror Australia and Habonim Dror Aotearoa New Zealand~

Habonim Dror is a Jewish, Socialist-Zionist youth movement that operates throughout Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as around the world. Through critically analysing the world around us, we strive to empower the youth, providing them the with 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 and New Zealand.

~Hashomer Hatzair Australia~

Also known as 'Hashy' amongst the Melbourne Jewish community, is a worldwide Jewish youth movement for kids aged 7 to 18. As a Socialist-Zionist, Secular Jewish movement, our aim is to provide each of our chanichim*ot with a strong sense of their own personal Jewish and Zionist identity, and to encourage chanichim*ot to think critically about the world around them.

~HaTzofim Australia~

~Hineni Youth and Welfare Australia~

A Modern Orthodox, Politically & Socially Active and Zionist youth movement that educates within a politically non-partisan framework. Hineni strives to create well-educated, critically thinking, empathetic and worldly youth who possess strong and proud Jewish and Zionist identities. Hineni is an outreach movement welcoming participants of all Jewish backgrounds. Hineni espouses mutual respect for all Jews, nurtures each participant's unique sense of individuality and in doing so, strives to produce the future leaders of the Jewish people and wider community.

~Netzer Australia~

A Progressive Jewish, Reform Zionist youth movement that operates throughout Australia, as well as 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 Zionist youth organisations in Australia.