What/who is "Habonim"?

[WeRSauron]

In doing a search, I find many references to Habonim-Dror (maybe some sort of camp for youth?). I know there are a number of Ezra Habonim synagogues in the Chicagoland area (one in Northbrook, one in Chicago, maybe more?).

What does Habonim mean? Or is this after a person (a certain Ezra Habonim)? If the latter, who was he and why is he memorialized so?

WRS

[hajario]

From the Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habonim

Habonim is a Zionist-Socialist youth organization founded in London in 1929. It was modeled after the Wondervogel movements in Germany. Its aim was to found and populate Kibbutzim in Palestine, later Israel. The idea soon spread to other English speaking countries and finally throughout the Jewish world. The movement was responsible for founding, amongst others, Kfar Blum, Kfar Hanassi, Bet Haemek, Mevo Hama, Tuvla and Gesher Haziv. The ideals of Habonim were promoted through weekly activities and summer camps. As the kibbutz movement ideals find themselves in decline Habonim has sought to redefine its aims. In the 1980s it amalgameted with a similar group and is now known as Habonim-Dror. Famous graduates include, Mike Leigh, Mordechai Richler and Ali G (Sasha Baron Cohen).

Habonim-Dror is aligned with the Israeli Labour Party. It both cooperates and competes with the more left wing Hashomer Hatzair in many countries

[hajario]

I believe that Habonim is the Hebrew word for "builders."

Haj

[Nametag]

Habonim means "builders," I believe. Habonim Dror means "Builders - Freedom," and is the name of the Progressive Labor Zionist Youth Movement in Israel, a socialist Jewish organization. Ezra Habonim is the name of a number of synagogues, and means "Ezra the builder" (?plural?) -- Ezra led/chronicled the second return from exile, after the building of the second temple. Some organizations called Habonim Ezra are affiliated with Habonim Dror, and others are not.

[Alessan]

Minor nitpick - Habonim means The Builders. Boneh - builder, bonim - builders. Boneh, incidentally, also means "beaver".