The History of the Zionist Youth Movements in Australia
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From Zionism to Diaspora-Zionism: The History of the Zionist Youth Movements in Australia By Jonathan Ari Lander A Thesis submitted to the University of New South Wales in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Philosophy in History 2012 Jonathan Ari Lander, 2012 Abstract This thesis examines the history of four Zionist youth movements in Australia: Bnei Akiva, Betar, Habonim and Hashomer Hatzair. All four movements were established in Australia in the 1940s and 1950s by European Jews who wanted to re-create the organisations they had grown up with in Europe. The movements were, originally, activist political organisations dedicated to educating Jewish youth towards immigrating to Palestine/Eretz Israel (making aliyah) in order to help build the Jewish state. While all four movements shared the same basic aim of aliyah they also possessed distinct political ideologies. The movements were inspired by a kaleidoscope of European intellectual thought, but in particular they were influenced by the German youth movement and the British scouts as well as nationalism, socialism, romanticism and fascism. Historians of Zionism and European Jewish history have written a great deal about the origins of the movements and their important role in the history of Jewish nationalism. While scholars have examined the importance of the movements in Europe, Palestine and elsewhere, current academic research is largely silent on the history of the movements since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. The historiography on the youth movements in Australia is even sparser. In this thesis I examine what the success of the movements in Australia may tell us about Jewish identity. I explore the ideological developments within the movements in Australia, their successes in convincing members to make aliyah, as well as their attempts to adapt their ideologies to suit a rapidly changing world. Originally the movements were dedicated to aliyah, but it is clear that an ideological shift has begun to take place with their embrace of a Diaspora-Zionism. This ideological development represents the most dramatic change in the ideology of the movements since their original establishment. The idea of an ideologically based Diaspora- Zionist identity raises important questions about the nature of Jewish identity in the Diaspora and the connection between Diaspora Jewry and the State of Israel. By charting the history of the movements in Australia I suggest how this complex and fascinating story highlights the uncertainty of Jewish identity in the modern world. ii Jonathan Ari Lander, 2012 Contents Abstract..................................................................................................................................ii Contents ............................................................................................................................... iii List of illustrations ................................................................................................................. iv Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................. vi Note on Transliteration ........................................................................................................ viii Introduction New ways of thinking and being Jewish ............................................................. 1 Chapter One: Revolt and Revolution: Europe and the Creation of Zionist Youth ............... 34 Chapter Two: Birth Pangs: The Establishment of Zionist Youth Movements in Australia, 1939-1955 ........................................................................................................... 72 Chapter Three: Chalutziut and the Ideal of Labour ........................................................... 152 Chapter Four: Decline, Stagnation and Transformation .................................................... 200 Chapter Five: The Question of Judaism: Zionism in a Post-Rabbinic World ..................... 252 Conclusion: “Diasporising Zionism”? ................................................................................. 328 Bibliography ...................................................................................................................... 335 List of Interviews ............................................................................................................... 351 Glossary of Hebrew and Technical Terms ......................................................................... 365 iii Jonathan Ari Lander, 2012 List of illustrations Figure 1 Hashomer Hatzair’s emblem ................................................................................. 39 Figure 2: Betar Australia, Tiron Booklet 1965. (JA, Leon Kempler.) ..................................... 55 Figure 3 Bnei Akiva’s emblem. ............................................................................................ 65 Figure 4: Habonim Semel July 1944. AJHS C47. .............................................................. 103 Figure 5: Summer Camp Leaders: Sam Gold, Yosef Steiner, Shimshon Kamil dressed in the European military style Betar uniforms which were later made less militaristic. Woori Yallock, Victoria, 1948. (Photo Yosef Steiner. http://www.162smilingfaces.com/The%20Past%201948.htm ) November 2011. .............. 113 Figure 6: Front Cover of Haderech a Betar Magazine printed in Melbourne, 1951. AJHS C49. ........................................................................................................................ 118 Figure 7: Hashomer Haztair Hachsharah Camp, Toolamba, Victoria, 1964. The chicken coop (lool) on the hachsharah farm. (Photo courtesy of Fran Pearl) .................... 166 Figure 8: Hashomer Hatzair Hachsharah Camp, Toolamba, Victoria, 1961. Johnny Wyne driving the hachsharah tractor. (Photo courtesy of Fran Pearl) ............................... 168 Figure 9: Summer Camp, Healesville, Victoria, 1961. Members of Hashomer Hatzair construct the kitchen that will be used during camp. (Photo courtesy of Fran Pearl) ........ 193 Figure 10: Summer Camp, Healesville, Victoria, 1961. Members of Hashomer Hatzair stand upon the camp migdal (watch tower) which they have built. (Photo courtesy of Fran Pearl) ........................................................................................................................ 194 Figure 11: Rifle practice: Michael (Moshe) Bush and Shimshon Feder. (Photo Shimshon Feder. Woori Yallock, Victoria, 1948. (Photo Yosef Steiner. http://www.162smilingfaces.com/The%20Past%201948.htm ) November 2011. .............. 239 Figure 12: "Stick defense"- Henry Kranz, Adam Fleigelman, 1952 (Photo Shimshon Feder. Courtesy of http://www.162smilingfaces.com/The%20Past%201954.htm) November 2011. ............................................................................................................... 239 Figure 13: Celebrating the 30th anniversary since the establishment of Betar in 1923. The picture captures the the formality of the Betar uniforms. Melbourne, 1953. (Photo Shimshon Feder. http://www.162smilingfaces.com/The%20Past%201954.htm) November 2011. ............................................................................................................... 241 Figure 14: Summer Camp Moe, Victoria, 1962. Members of Hashomer Hatzair are gathered in formation for mizdar. (Photo courtesy of Fran Pearl) ..................................... 243 iv Jonathan Ari Lander, 2012 Figure 15: Summer Powelltown Camp, Victoria, 1958. Members of Hashomer Hatzair stand ready to have their tents inspected. (Photo courtesy of Fran Pearl) ........................ 243 Figure 16: Sydney Habonim Camp Pre-Union. Bronte Beach, Sydney, 2003. Members of Habonim Sydney gather in a mizdar formation in 2003. (Photo Courtesy of Ben Tassie) .............................................................................................................................. 244 Figure 17: An image form a Betar Magazine showing how members the correct way to wear their uniform. Date unknown. (JAL Betar Folder. Sourced from Betar Maon, Melbourne) ........................................................................................................................ 246 Figure 18: The emblem of Betar Australia was altered to include a kangaroo and reflects the emergence of a distinctly Australian Betar (Photo Yosef Steiner http://www.162smilingfaces.com/The%20Past%201950.htm) November 2011. ................ 248 Figure 19: Habonim Oneg Shabbat, Sydney 1960s. Note the traditional Friday night candles and that the men have covered their heads with kippot. (Photo courtesy of Toby Hammerman) ........................................................................................................... 261 Figure 20: Habonim Third Seder. Habonim Sydney, 1960s. Date uncertain. (Photo courtesy of Toby Hammerman.) ............................................................................ 270 Figure 21: Habonim Rikudei Am (Israeli dancing) Habonim Sydney 1960s. Date uncertain. (Photo courtesy of Toby Hammerman.) ........................................................... 273 Figure 22: Front cover from Betar Summer Camp 1970-71 booklet with a sketch of Joseph Trumpeldor on the front cover. (Leon Kempler JAL) ............................................. 289 Figure 23: Image from the front cover of Haor: The Light: Official Betar Youth Journal. Summer camp issue printed in 1958/59, Melbourne. (JAL Betar Folder. Sourced from Betar Maon, Melbourne)