Is Rael good to be here, Israel, Kibbutz, Travel, Volunteer

Chappy Chanukah; From Where it All Began

December 19, 2014 | by Bruce Burnett | 0 Comments |

0 Likes

One last comment on the Kanesetakwe/Bedouin Paradigm – They both sell Camels – cheap.

While we have been here a mere 4 days, the sense is that our kibbutz life has been going on for months. Welcomed by the members and embraced by our neighbours, a true belonging and appreciation of those around us is prevalent.

Lori and I have very different work schedules and agendas. In the morning she heads off to work with a group of autistic adults. There is a small learning center here and they are brought in from the surrounding areas. By and large, the members are very low performing, showing minimal if any verbal skills. Any step taken is a baby step. But in the overall scheme of things, given the level of dysfuntion – a baby step is a giant leap. Afternoons consist of her working with Mevra, setting up small parks and landscapes on the kibbutz. Lori’s work entails everything from carrying stripped trees to be used as welcome posts to making bricks from mud and straw, the original recipe for which came from just down across the Suez, aboout 3,000 years back. Haroset will be taking on a new flavour at this year’s seder. Caveat emptor.

My karma offset this year, as has been the case in year’s past, consists of working in the agricultural zones.I have sentenced myself to a week of hard labour. But let me tell you this about that – participating in a process that allows one to witness the conversion of what had been non-productive land since time immemorial into fields of true dreams is a remarkable experience to be a part of. Work starts at 6:30 and runs from 2:30 to 5:00, depentding on what has to be done on any given day. I have the good fortune to work with a great team.

My Team

They range in age from late 20’s to early 60’s and possess a level of dedication that is unique to kibbutz culture. While the nature of the kibbutz has undergone dramatic evolution since the 1920’s, the spirit remains the same. Salaries, off site work, profits, and a broader spectrum of political beliefs characterize today’s institution. What hasn’t changed is the self-assuredness and inner strength. Discussing the recent events in Australia, the perception is not one of sorrow for the victims, but one of disdain for the resuers. To a man, the feeling was were it Israeli commandos leading the rescue mission, there would have been only one death – and that would have been the gunman.

Welding main water feed. No CSST

Newly installed irrigation lines.

Water where it’s never before flowed. (Note. Individual on right not a member of ISIS. This is how ‘Thailandim’ protect themselves from the sun. It’s a caste thing).

Back home, when asked to identify our origins, people will respond “I’m Italian”, I’m African-American”, I’m Chinese”,etc. When asked of my origin, if I say Canadian, that’s never good enough. “yes, but what are you?” Until I reveal myself as Jewish, any other type of answer is considered unsatisfactory. Nobody else is expected to say “I’m Roman-Catholic”, “I’m Muslim”, I’m Buddhist”, “I’m Zoroastrian” (especially not Zoroastrian). Only Jews are identified by religion. Not here. Israel is the only country where Jews can be seen as Israelis. Judaism is not a guiding or identifying force, except for the ultra-orthodox, many of whom do not even consider themselves Israeli. Perhaps there is an uderlying security and safety net existing here that allows a de facto representation of being Jewish withoout having to be an expressed element of one’s being. An inherent safety net exists and visiting this country allows one to realize that whetever happens anywhere, a second safe house is intrinsically available to all of us who have to wear our religious affiliation as a form of identity.

Back to the kibbutz. Several of them in the area have united to farm large tracts of land and they all benefit from the communal proceeds of the sale of their produce. The neighbouring populace (Bedouins have vilages within 20 meters of the land, the West Bank half a kilometer from where I sit) look at the evolution from desert to arable land (arable land?!? – talk about a bizarre word within its own context !!) creates a further level of animosity and distrust, adding another element to a situation already difficult to resolve.

Some Bedouins have continued movement toward finding their place in the 21st century. Many have recognized that financial stability is the key toward societal improvement. A number work regularly on kibbutz. One of my team, Sammi, is Beouin. For the first several days, I assumed that he was just another Israeli. There is zero sense of animosity or distinction between him and the rest of the crew. Most of his family work within Israel proper and as a family they have been able to provide education, better housing, access to medical needs, etc. The sentiment that I have picked up from others on kibbutz is a desire and a hope that more families will stop sitting at home wallowing in misery and frustration and accept the new realities and opprotunities offered by the state. While the Muslim population does not receive the same level of social benefits as the Jews, there is a feeling that were the Bedouins, etc. prepared to engage in their part of the social contract (military service, state taxes, etc.), they would have a much stronger argument for full integration.

Let’s go back to Chanukah. Not a night has passed whereby Lori and I have not been invited to light candles. The most interesting evening was night #2. Mevra, with whom Lori works afternoon lives with Lily. Both women have two children, Mevra’s live with her, Lily’s are in the army. We were invited to go to the farm of Shye, the father of Mevra’s children. Mevra and Lily are lesbians; Shye and his partner Ron, are homosexual.