“By Rovering, I don't mean aimless wandering. I mean finding your way by pleasant paths with a definite object in view, and having an idea of the difficulties and dangers you are likely to meet by the way.” (Baden-Powell)
“My belief is that we are put in this world of wonders and beauty with a special ability to appreciate them, in some cases to have the fun of taking a hand in developing them, and also in being able to help other people instead of overreaching them and, through it all to enjoy life - that is, to be happy.” (Baden-Powell)
Rovers Commitment Lapel Pin
“Jewish Scouts“ is written in the Scout national language,
in Yiddish (a reminder of the Jewish Scouts in almost all Jewish communities in Europe before the Shoah)
and in Hebrew (the language of Israel).
Key concepts
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The Rover Scout section helps young adults develop their own path in life and actively plan their future to achieve their social and economic integration.
- Rover Scouting is the learning environment that Scouting offers to those who follow the last part of the “path” leading to the adult life. It is the final stage of Scouting’s “educational offer”.
- The purpose of the Rover Scout section is to help the transition from adolescence to adulthood and support young adults, young women and men, in the final phase of their integration in adult society.
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The aims of the Rover Scout section are to provide young adults with opportunities to undertake their personal development through the seven areas of growth, which Scouting recognizes: physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual and character development.
- The Rover Scout section is the final stage of the Jewish scout educational curriculum where young adults (starting 18 years old). They build and live projects with the different generations that preceded them, called the Sowers.
The Jewish Rover Route
The Jewish Rover Route offer to young adults to belong to an international network to act, to serve, to study, to look beyond action, to support each other and to progress. Together, Jewish Rovers put special focus on active travelling and multicultural experiences, Limmud (Jewish studies), adventures in the wilderness, community service, social and economic integration, creativity, music, songs and dances.
In her book "Got Religion," Noami Schaefer Riley writes about the shifting landscape of religion and spirituality as millennials take the reins of religious life, spirituality and community. She writes: “Young adults want community. They want a neighborhood. They want a critical mass of people their age. But they want to see older and younger people in their religious institutions too. They want to serve …, they want a message that resonates and helps them tackle practical challenges.”
Adult support and the relationship between Rovers and their leaders is an important part of Scouting. Adults in the Jewish Rover section are facilitators or advisors.
The Jewish Rover section works in a particular way within the Tsofim Yehudim. The Rovers organize themselves in networks according to the projects or the actions to be carried out at the local, national and international level.
The Jewish Rover Trail leads each young adult, step by step, to take charge and become autonomous. May be becoming a Sower.
The Jewish Rovers commit, individually and collectively, to behave in a manner that is a credit to the Scout Movement.
Focusing on young people who do not intend to take position in Shevet or those who have finished, the Jewish Rover Trail is open to any motivated person, eager to get involved in the realization of social projects, humanitarian, militant, and to give the scout movement the benefit of its experience and know-how.
In the service of the Scout Movement and Jewish communities, all Rovers wear a similar dark red neckerchief (symbolic color of the rover section) with their national colors ribbon sewn on top of the border.
The Jewish Rover Scout Commitment Ceremony
The first year with all his/her brother and sister Rovers scouts gathered, the Rovers Scout publicly commits him/herself while saying the Jewish Rules of Life Commitment (inspired by a quote from Chief Fleg from France):
“May the youthful creativity of the Eternal pervade my every moment, … Never in my religious practice, nor in relations with my family or friends, nor in the accomplishment of my duties as citizens or (wo)men, nor in my most humble work, nor in my most humble pleasure, may the cold mechanisms of habit extinguish in me the creative spark which was lit by the reflection of the divine.”
The Commitment Lapel Pin
Then his/her Godfather pinned him the Commitment Lapel Pin on the flap of the left pocket of his/her chultsa.
This is the Tsofim Yehudim emblem within a red circle (the red color is the symbolic color of Rovers chosen by Baden-Powell).
The Seven Steps on the Rover Trail
The Rover Trail offers seven steps that are as many opportunities to discover, learn, meet and share:
- Scouts of the World Award*
- Interreligious Dialogue Badge*
- El Hama’ayan Award* (for Senior Scouts & Rovers)
- The Great Hike
- Shabbat Limmud*
- Rover’s Farewell (pour rejoindre la route solidaire des Aînés)
- Unleash Your Creativity (how to remove the various blockages that cut us off from our inner artist)
* It is possible to set up a solidarity project with a community or an association and to implement it within the framework of the European Voluntary Service.
The Jewish Rover Network
While developing their specific projects, Jewish Rovers serve the Scout Movement and Jewish communities according to their know how, training and experiences.
Tsofim Yehudim, L’Dor VaDor
Jewish Scouts, from generation to generation