Four youth leaders in charge of over 80 British teens presently touring Israel with Habonim-Dror hail from Manchester, and a large percentage of the youngsters they are responsible for also come from northern Jewish communities.

Daniel Filson from Hale, Cheshire studied Communications and New Media at Leeds University and is nowadays the incumbent Habonim-Dror field worker based in London. Daniel’s communications skills are being truly tested aboard the HBD 2 bus making sure the madrich’s mantra of demanding the youngsters when outside keep a hat on their heads and bottle of water on hand as temperatures soar to record breaking heights.

His HBD 2 leadership partner is Deborah Brown of Cambridge, the up and coming mazkira of the movement who will be based in Manchester upon return from Israel Tour.

The second Habonim-Dror teen tour – HBD 1 – is being led by Psychology graduate Daniel Weisberg from Whitefield, who will be returning to Birmingham University to start a PhD in child development whilst at the same time continuing his work with the movement.

Daniel’s leadership partner with HBD 1, Birmingham University geography graduate Aimee Cohen from Cheadle is the present Habonim-Dror camp organizer based in London.

This week all 81 youngsters and madrichim met up on campus at the Givat Haviva Jewish-Arab Center for Peace in Wadi Ara for a day seminar dealing with Israel’s Arab citizens and their connection to and relationship with the Palestinians.

“The seminar at Givat Haviva has been an amazing experience for everybody and the chanichim said it was one of the best things they had done to date,” said Daniel Weisberg in a telephone conversation with Jewish Telegraph Israel correspondent and Givat Haviva International Department staffer Lydia Aisenberg a few days later.

“To actually meet up with people and hear their personal stories was fascinating for us all. The interest of the youngsters was maintained all day as the issues were relevant and they understood so much more than from what is presented in the media,” said Daniel.

“As a madrich, I really think that everybody should have the opportunity to participate in meeting with Jewish and Arab Israelis in the way it is done at Givat Haviva,” concluded Daniel.