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The National Youth Movement
The National Youth Movement was
founded in Tel-Aviv in 1949 by the National Labor Federation that was founded in
1934 by the Revisionist Movement. Its goal was to protect the labor rights of
its members. The National Youth Movement's goal is to realize the doctrine of
Ze'ev Jabotinsky regarding a liberal economy with adequate social rights. These
ideas were put forth in an article entitled "The Five M's" in which he argues
that it is the duty of the state to provide every citizen with five basic
provisions: food, shelter, clothes, education and healthcare (all of which start
with an M in Hebrew.) This doctrine also incorporates the belief that equal
opportunity must be practiced while still allowing for the advancement of
talented individuals of the society. It also calls for the development of a free
market. Jabotinsky's belief that the youth holds the key to curing social
injustices formed the basis for the foundation of the movement. The National
Youth Movement provides a literal manifestation of the principle of "Youth
Teaching Youth." The movement's anthem is the national Israeli anthem
"Ha'tikvah" (The Hope) and its flag is the national Israeli flag. The official
song is "Had-Nes" (One Flag). And the official movement day is on the Jewish
date of the 20th of Tamuz, which is the date in which Binyamin Ze'ev Herzl, the
father of the Zionist Movement, passed away. In its first years the movement
operated as part of the National Labor Federation's Youth Division, but as years
went by the movement grew and became independent of the Youth Division. Former
members of the movement have founded pioneer youth settlements that later became
Ganim, Kadim, and Homesh. The National Youth Movement believes in Democracy as a
principle and implements it by having elected bodies in all its branches that
are elected by each branch's members. The positions to which one may be elected
range from membership in different committees to the head of the branch. Every
head of branch may be elected to the Young Leadership Board. The Young
Leadership Board is composed of young members who represent all the branches of
the movement, and who are elected democratically. They are the ones who head the
movement. One of the key components of the movement's ideology is social
involvement and volunteer work for the community. During the year the movement
carries out many activities for the benefit of the community. In the early 90's
the movement opened branches for the purpose of immigrant absorption. The
movement also focuses its attention on aiding troubled youth and youth at risk.
These activities have been highly esteemed. The National Youth Movement has
thousands of members who are scattered among dozens of branches from Kiryat
Shmona in the north to Be'er Sheva in the south.
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