|
|
Jan. 10, 2014
Shaliach played significant role
Amram Nevo was the first Israeli emissary to Habonim Dror’s Camp Miriam on Gabriola.
SARAH EHRMANN
He may have only been at Camp Miriam for one summer, but Amram Nevo, who passed away last year, had a strong, positive and lasting impact on many Vancouverites.
Amram was the first Israeli shaliach (emissary) to the Habonim Zionist movement, Habonim Dror, in Toronto and Vancouver, from 1949-1951. During the year he was shaliach in Vancouver, Habonim was a new and inexperienced youth movement. He taught us – our group ranged in age from 10 to 17 years old – about Israel, people who were instrumental in the creation of the state of Israel, about the chalutizim (pioneers), kibbutzim, moshavim, etc. In his one summer camp session at Camp Miriam on Gabriola Island, he also introduced us to Israeli songs and dances, we celebrated Kabbalot Shabbat in white shirts at the point on the island, and engaged in many activities led by Amram. While in the city, we had hikes up Grouse Mountain, using nylon bags as sleds.
During Amram’s year in Vancouver, he played an integral part in helping me obtain a scholarship to be the first participant in the first Habonim workshop in Israel, which took place in 1951-52. Amram returned to Israel a little before the workshop began, but Vancouver Habonim continues to this day to send members yearly to the workshop in Israel. Many Vancouverites have settled in Israel, and the connection remains. As but one example, my grandson, Tomer (from Israel) has spent two summers at Camp Miriam.
Amram’s family was from the Third Aliyah (1919-1923). They were farmers in Afula. Amram was born in 1926. He was active in the Israeli youth group called Noar Haoved, and also was active in the Haganah. He trained in agriculture on a kibbutz, and later served in the Pal Yam unit of the navy.
When Amram returned to Israel, he married Sarah and, years later, they settled in Omer, near Beersheva, where he farmed, planting pistachio and pecan trees. This was his main and biggest undertaking and interest in life. He spent time in Iran (1962), South Africa, Texas, China and California, learning all about the pistachio nut.
A few years ago, because of poor health, the Nevos’ orchard was sold, but Sarah and Amram remained in their home. Sadly, he passed away this past summer – he was buried in Kfar Yehoshua on Aug. 2, 2013. He is survived by Sarah, their two children, Tali and Doron, grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Sarah Ehrmann, née Shirley Gurevich, was one of the original members of Vancouver Habonim. She became a madrichah (counselor), active in all fields of Habonim life. She participated in the first Habonim workshop in Israel, in 1951-52. Upon her return, she continued her activities with Habonim while preparing for aliyah in 1954, with the first group of Garin Gimel, which was sent to kibbutz Mayan Tzvi, near Zichron Yaakov. She remained a member for 37 years, raising her three children there. She then left the kibbutz and moved to Ganei Omer, which is a village for retired people. She is active there, recruiting lecturers in English for the non-Hebrew speaking residents, as well as preparing a monthly get-together.
MEESA MOOSE ...
Amram (Milner) Nevo was indeed the first Israeli shaliach to Camp Miriam and Habonim, in 1950. He was the one who was responsible for the phrase “Meesa Moose,” which was thereafter applied to a structure (or at least an area) known as the Meesa Moose Corral.
The term arose during a meeting that was held at Ray Goodman’s (z”l) house in the basement. Amram noticed the head of a horned animal on the wall and asked what it was. Ray replied that it was a moose. Amram then stated, “Well, it’s a very Meesa [Yiddish] moose!” The rest is history.
When Amram first returned to Israel he joined a settlement in the Galil called Yodfat, not to be confused with Yotfata in the Arava. Yodfat was an unconventional settlement for the time, encouraging intersocial activities with the Arab neighbors and promoting a vegetarian and ecologically aware lifestyle.
In retrospect, with all of his many talents (macramé, first aid, animal and plant identification) and his personal attractiveness, he was the personification of “the Sabra” and I equated him with Ari Ben Canaan of Exodus fame when the movie was shown a few years after his return to Israel.
– Frank Segal
^TOP
|
|
