Kriyat Habonim Blog

Shavuot is a festival that typically marks when the Jews received the Torah and Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. Apart from this and the custom of eating cheesecake, that was about the extent to the knowledge I had of this chag. As a cultural Jew, at first glance, a...

The Australia Wildfire; How You Contributed and How We Can Help   At-least 28 humans were killed in the wildfire in Australia, earlier this year and late last year, and over one billion animals have also been wiped out along with 17.9 million acres of land...

During this time of confusion and isolation, it is increasingly difficult to find the positives within everyday life. Yom Ha’atzmaut, however, is something that should be celebrated - even if, this year, it’s just within your immediate family. Translated to the day of...

Yom Ha’zikaron, the day of remembrance. One of the saddest days in the Israeli calendar situated directly before Yom Ha’atzmaut. Israel’s Independence Day and one of the happiest days in the Israeli calendar. Why? How can we be so happy such a short time after the...

The Only Jew in the Village Growing up Jewish at a non-Jewish state school “Jewish or Private?” This was one of the first questions my mother was asked a few months before I entered secondary school. “Neither, she’s going to the local mixed comprehensive.” My mum...

Habonim Dror United Kingdom Yom Hashoah Tekkes 2020: Remembering Through Memory On Tuesday 21stApril, Habonim Dror came together with members, alumni and parents to commemorate Yom Hashoah. Our movement members bravely and beautifully shared the memories of their...

We’re approaching pesach - one of the holiest chaggim in the Jewish calendar. We celebrate the emancipation of the Jews from Egyptian rule and think deeply into what it means to be oppressed. Whilst I’m all for delving into my Jewish history and learning about our...

Max with the fax Well...March 2020, probably the most significant and memorable of months for all of us. A lot happened in March: a virus has spread across the world effecting thousands, Harvey Weinstein finally saw justice and the Me Too movement had a big win and...

Purim is a confusing chag. Like many chaggim, it’s when we remember a story from our collective past, and like many other Jewish stories it includes a pretty substantial amount of suffering. But why on Purim, remembering a time when Haman literally wanted “to destroy,...

‘Tit-illation’; Double Standards and the Censorship of the Female Breast I’m sure we’re all familiar with the #FreeTheNipple movement - it’s slogan is often the butt of a joke or the half-baked battle cry of someone trying to mock modern Western feminism’s current...