11/27/14 Thursday Kibbutz Yagur

November 27, 2014

I have internet for 1 hour and thought I would try and make the best of it and try and make a post here!!! In any other time in any other place this lack of Internet would make me absolutely angry but I guess I already knew that is going to be an issue number 1 and number 2 I think it’s just kind of sweet in a lot of ways.

As I sit in the dining room alone now, as Michael is off taking his final Hebrew exam, I will try to describe for you what it’s like here on the kibbutz. It is especially poignant as I sit under a row of photographs that are of this kibbutz in its absoute hay day. As I moved in to my dorm room, I expected it’s stark emptiness. Truthfully as all who know me, I’m not much for housekeeping etc. But I suddenly see myself completely differently and much more positively! The building I’m in is very old and very poorly maintained including major and minor cleaning. Michael made sure my quarters were clean and quite adequate so I don’t want to frighten anyone who is reading this! But everything is old and run down and unkempt and unmaintained. Most everyone I know would find it wholly inadequate..even for free. But on the other hand I should say that there is an attitude of sufficiency, especially in kibbutz life, something that can be refreshing like: “If you have what you need. ..It is enough”. In its heyday, I believe this was the motivation of the kibbutz community and kibbutz life. And I know many still believe and hope to continue this way of life. But human nature and Western culture with luxury and perks set in and some feel they don’t want to carry the load for others who cannot or will not and so kibbutz life can become less than optimal in some areas. The flora and fauna are well maintained near peoples homes and by the Ulpan programs (the immersion Hebrew and life experience program Michael is in), for example, nearly no maintenance and upkeep is performed at all. The residence buildings are maintained to the most minimum of standards. It is very sad that people do not see or realize that this puts down the entire look and feel of the area. For example the duct tape across the doors across the hall from my room that I took a picture of earlier is how they chose to “repair” the non-working bathroom. The students have designed ways around other issues concerning drainage in the showers etc. So there is still much learning going on!

This is however a dream vacation and trip in spite of and because of much of this. In reality it’s NOT unlivable so “it is enough”! It’s sort of like what we may have experienced at a summer camp or camp grounds. Not entirely filthy and broken down, but not clean and maintained either!

You learn and you feel life so much more when you vacation and live in this way. You learn the differences between you and other cultures, but you also learn how incredibly similar we all are.

The children lunch in the dining hall. They pour in from the schools nearby. They light up the place as they would anywhere. The schools are broken down to about two years per small building beginning with the babies. Depending on their job on the kibbutz parents can lunch with their child if they like.

The kibbutz has a petting zoo and they also farm cows and chickens. The land connects to the beautiful Carmel mountains. Despite the cheesiness of how this sounds, I do always feel closer to God and to myself in Israel. I’m sure everyone feels this way about somewhere (at least I hope everyone does), and I know many want to and/or do feel that way with or because of another human being. For me, it is Israel.

Walking outside of the kibbutz to catch the bus to Lev Hemifratz!

Across the street from Lev Hemifratz Train Station and Mall is the bus station. We walked from the kibbutz, past the Stop Market to the bus stop and caught the bus to Lev Hemifratz which is where the Black Burger Restaurant is in the mall!