׳Hashomer Hatzair׳
Hashomer Hatzair was founded in 1913, in Galicia and Vienna. This movement operated among Jewish youth as a scout’s movement, but with an ideology based on three principles: social equality, national independence and cultural revival. The movement spread throughout Europe and established chapters overseas as well. Hashomer Hatzair members were educated toward making cooperative life in a kibbutz in Eretz Israel their reality. The movement had a Marxist ideology and identified with the struggle of the workers’ movements around the world. Hashomer Hatzair was particularly devoted to educational activities and developed innovative educational methods. The guiding points were: Judaism is not only a religion, but also a nationality; a Jewish youth has social responsibility; and the movement’s ideology is best expressed in the kibbutz life. Each chapter was known as a nest. Movement members were divided into age groups and each group had a work plan that included Jewish history, literature, knowledge of Eretz Israel, Zionist history and selected chapters in the history of the working class.
In Hungary, Hashomer Hatzair was founded in 1927, by Dr. Havas, who came to Budapest from Transylvania. The first nest had eight members. In 1930 an initial group of six members made Aliya as part of Kibbutz Maabarot. By 1932 Hashomer Hatzair had 1,000 members in Hungary and 15 Hachshara programs. In 1931 a second group organized, to found Kibbutz Ramat Hashofet. During its existence in Hungary, Hashomer Hatzair had thousands of members in dozens of nests and Hachshara groups throughout the country. Hundreds of members made Aliyah, established new kibbutzim and joined existing kibbutzim. During WWII Hashomer Hatzair was involved in a variety of rescue and self-defense activities. With the fall of the Communist regime in Hungary in 1989, Hashomer Hatzair reestablished itself in Hungary, and operates there to this day.
׳The Gordon Circle׳
The Gordon Circle was a group of adults that was ideologically connected to Hashomer Hatzair. This group existed only in Hungary and was active before and during WWII. Its activities focused on social gatherings and promoting Zionism. The group was named after A.D. Gordon, a proponent of the Zionist Labor Movement who lived as an agricultural laborer on Kibbutz Deganya. He was born in Russia, in 1856. The group members represented Hashomer Hatzair to the Zionist institutions, and its prominent figures included Fodor Lajos, Szilagyi Cvi Erno, Kolb Jeno, Moshe Rosenberg and Weiner Zoltan.
׳The Borochov Circle׳
A group of young Jews aged 30-35, ideologically connected to Hashomer Hatzair. The group existed only in Hungary and was officially founded after WWII, effectively replacing the Gordon Circle. This group was named after the Marxist-Zionist ideologist Dov Ber Borochov (1881-1919), a native of Ukraine and one of the founders of Poalei Zion. The group held lectures, seminars, debate evenings and cultural activities and its members represented Hashomer Hatzair to the Zionist institutions. The prominent figures in the Borochov Circle were Dr. István Kulcsár and Dr. Frigyes Nógrádi.
