The exhibition at Yad Yaari has been in operation since the Center for Research and Documentation opened its gates at Givat Haviva in 1983. It presents the history of HaShomer HaTzair Youth Movement and the institutions that stemmed from it: The Kibbutz Artzi Federation; the Moreshet Holocaust study and research center; Sifriat HaPoalim, the publishing branch, as well as the cultural and political organizations of Meretz, Mapam and the Socialist League. HaShomer HaTzair, the first Zionist youth movement, was founded on the eve of the First World War and became a model for all other Zionist youth movements. During its first decade, HaShomer developed into a pioneering organization whose members made aliya to Palestine and established kibbutzim on its soil. Those kibbutzim united in 1927 to form the Kibbutz Artzi movement of HaShomer HaTzair. Since then there evolved a symbiotic relationship between the Kibbutz Artzi and the youth movement. The youth movement became a Zionist pioneering and radical socialist entity. On the eve of the Second World War, HaShomer numbered above 70,000 youngsters all over the world. In the period of the Holocaust, the Shomrim fought and led the Jewish fighters among the Warsaw Ghetto's ruins, in the streets of Krakow, Bialystok and Vilna, in the forests of Lithuania and Belarus, and took part in rescue operations in France, Belgium and Hungary. The youth movement, whose center was in Eastern Europe, suffered a blow in the Holocaust from which it never recovered. After the war, the movement's focus moved to Israel and Latin America. At this time, many Shomrim from Latin America came to settle kibbutzim. The members of HaShomer were active in the revival of Eastern European Jewry and later, in the illegal mass immigrations of Jews to Palestine. During the War of Independence, members of the Kibbutz Artzi stopped the attacks of the invading armies into the young state's frontiers. In the aftermath of the war, Kibbutz Artzi established dozens of new kibbutzim along the borders. It took part in political activities, and its members participated in the political parties of the Zionist Left. Before the War of Independence, those parties concentrated on two ideas - a bi-national state and support for the Arab minority. After the Sinai War in 1956, the pro-Soviet attitude was dropped forever and Kibbutz Artzi joined a group of socialist independent parties. After the Six Day War it became essential in the fight for a peaceful solution of the Arab Israeli dispute. All these developments are reflected in the exhibition at Yad Yaari. The permanent exhibition is divided into various sections: one section is dedicated to HaShomer HaTzair as a social and cultural phenomenon. It focuses on the inner world of the youth movement, its origins, history and contributions, from its beginnings to the current times. The exhibit shows the activities of the movement, and in addition to youth leadership and political contributions, it examines HaShomer's activities in the areas of scouting, education and its many publications. The ideological world of HaShomer HaTzair is presented in the ideological literature and political posters from various periods since its beginnings. Some of the posters were published in the album Art in the Service of Ideology. As well, we present the Kibbutz Artzi in action, documented from its beginnings onward through photographs, art and memorabilia. The post-war period includes a collection of banners held by the illegal immigrants upon their entrance to Palestine. A section of the museum focuses on Shomrim and their participation during the Holocaust. It presents, among other things, the last message of Mordechai Anielewicz - a Shomer and commander of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising; the first leaflet calling for armed resistance, original counterfeit documents from Hungary, among many other documents and memorabilia from the history of HaShomer HaTzair. A memorial room has been dedicated to the Shomrim who fell during their military service in defending the State of Israel. Additionally we include temporary exhibits which change periodically. These exhibits are dedicated to ongoing or upcoming events, such as the 60th anniversary of the execution of Haviva Reik, First of May posters, and HaShomer in the Diaspora. We look forward to sharing with you our history and how it has led to a still very active present, and we hope you will enjoy your visit to the exhibition.

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