Photo courtesy of the Modi’in Scouts Club
1997
In a city as layered as Jerusalem, the spaces where young people gather take on particular significance. Beyond the classroom and the home, youth movements offer a setting in which independence is practiced, friendships are formed, and a sense of responsibility begins to take shape. Across generations, the Scouts have provided such a framework, creating communities that accompany young people through some of their most formative years and becoming enduring anchors in the life of the city.
The Modi’in Scouts Tribe in Jerusalem is part of this proud tradition. Established in the early decades of the state, the tribe has accompanied generations of young Jerusalemites as they grew from children into engaged members of society. Over the years, the tribe moved between different locations, adapting to the evolving urban landscape, until it found a permanent home at the eastern edge of the Valley of the Cross (Emek Hamatzleva). There, alongside other youth movement buildings, it became part of a vibrant cluster of educational and social activity set within one of Jerusalem’s most open and green public spaces.
From its earliest days, the Modi’in tribe has reflected the spirit of the Scouts movement in Israel. It provides a framework in which young people learn through experience, combining weekly meetings, field trips, and outdoor activities with values-based education. Emphasis is placed on teamwork, mutual responsibility, leadership, and a deep connection to the land. Older participants take on leadership roles, guiding younger members and shaping the culture of the group. In this way, the tribe functions not only as a place of activity, but as a community in which each generation leaves its imprint on the next.
Within this history, the story of Yonatan Barnea holds a special place. A devoted scout and leader, Yoni embodied the values that the movement seeks to instill. In 1996, he was killed in a terrorist bus bombing in Jerusalem, a loss that was deeply felt by his fellow scouts and the wider community. His memory remains closely tied to the life of the tribe and the values he represented.
In his memory, the Jerusalem Foundation, with support from the Barnea Family, renovated a floor of the Modi’in Scouts building in 1997, creating the Yoni Barnea Hall. The space serves not only as a tribute, but as an active part of the tribe’s daily life. The Foundation has also supported an annual seminar held in his memory, bringing together scouts to reflect on leadership, responsibility, and community. In this way, remembrance is integrated into the ongoing life of the tribe, connecting past and present through shared values and experience.
Today, the Modi’in Scouts Tribe continues to meet weekly at its home in Emek Hamatzleva. The grounds are filled with activity as groups gather, plan, and prepare. Younger scouts develop practical skills and form their first connections to the movement, while older members take on responsibility for leading activities, mentoring younger participants, and organizing initiatives. Outdoor excursions, group projects, and community engagement remain central, reinforcing both independence and a strong sense of belonging.
The Modi’in Scouts Club stands as more than a physical space. It is a living framework through which generations of young people grow, lead, and remain connected to one another and to their city. The memory of Yoni Barnea continues to guide this work, carried forward in the actions of those who gather there each week. In Jerusalem, where generations of young people have grown into adulthood, such places play a quiet but lasting role in shaping the fabric of the community.
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