The
Alumni Archives a.k.a. "Shoshana Archives" is named in
memory of Shoshana Orenstein, a chalutza and a Habonim chavera.
Shonnie grew up in a Labor-Zionist home in Weirton, West Virginia.
Her parents, Morton and Anna Bendovid, were active members of Tzierei
Zion, one of the organizations from which Habonim sprung.
She spent her summers at a Habonim and was active in the Movement
the rest of the year. As she grew up, Shonnie spent time on Hachshara
in Colton, CA, on camp staff in Southern California and in 1951
made Aliyah with Garin Bet. At Kibbutz Urim she met Shimon Orenstein,
who had made Aliyah through the Milwaukee Habonim Ken. Shonnie and
Shimon married and in 1960 moved to Los Angeles.
Shonnie’s life and passion were all things
Jewish and Israeli, especially music. She worked with Habonim camp
for years, never missing an opportunity to recreate the kibbutz
experience by attending a camp work weekend or kumzitz.
Shonnie sang in makelot (choirs) large and small,
teaming with Judy Shorr, Snira Lubovsky and Israeli songwriter Avshalom
Cohen (“Agala v’ Susa”). She organized and led
casual folk singing events and compiled the Habonim 50th Anniversary
Songbook, still used in Los Angeles wherever Habonim alumni gather
for a kumzitz.
Constantly active, optimistic and encouraging,
Shonnie succumbed to breast cancer in 1986 at the age of 56. Thankfully,
her love of music and passion for life was contagious and lives
on in all of us who knew her.
To learn more about the Shoshana Archives, please contact Ron
Orenstein.
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