Page 19 - C.A.L.L. #22 - Fall 2003

Welcome once again to “Kibbutz Shorts”,

where we discover what’s new on the
Kibbutz in an update from around Israel.

Compiled (from the two Kibbutz weeklies) by Yoel Darom,
Kibbutz Kfar Menachem

What do the Veterans on the Kibbutz do? What they’ve been doing
their whole life - W O R K
A recent survey of hundreds of the older Kibbutz members (after pension age) show that 70% prefer to keep on
working, at least 2-4 hours a day. The reason is not payment: even on Kibbutzim who have introduced some kind
of a "wage system", these few hours are not being paid.

No, it is the old principle that these men and women have been living by since they came to build their Kibbutz 50-
60-70 years ago: to serve the community to the best of their ability. Work also adds better health, a sense of
belonging and the notion that they are still contributing their share.

A special, outstanding case is Moshe Dital who - at 97 the oldest member of Kibbutz Yifat - does not (yet) think of
retiring. He still goes to work at the Kibbutz factory, which produces copper and aluminum wires, every morning at
6 A.M., for his 5-hour shift at the production line. "He is one of the team" say his co-
workers with true admiration.
Kibbutz on the web
The Kibbutz Website becomes richer and more varied every day. Whatever you may
want to learn about Kibbutz – from history to guesthouses to problem-solving you
may find it at: www.kibbutz.org.il. But be warned, most of it, so far, is only in Hebrew.

Creativity Shines Through
In the last few years, the Kibbutzim have encouraged individual initiatives that would
give satisfaction to creative members and serve as a source of income for the Kibbutz.
One of those original artists, Malka, of the religious Kibbutz Tirat Tzi (mother of five),
opened and now runs a workshop in which she produces beautifully colored glass
windows (see picture) - and is now too busy to supply all her customers with these
magnificent vitrages.

Two Kibbutz General Secretaries?
Four years ago, the two major Kibbutz movements united and formed a common
framework. Some of the departments stayed apart, but most show a good joint
activity. Up to now, each of the movements - the United Kibbutz Movement (UKM) and
the Kibbutz Artzi - elected a "secretary" of their own, and now the issue is
raised in an ongoing discussion in the two Kibbutz weeklies: has not the
time come for one single leading personality, which would not only prove
more effective but also symbolize the true union? There are a lot of pros
and cons, and next year’s elections will have to be held after the final
decision.

Majority on Kibbutz!
Many of the Kibbutzim keep moving in the direction of less communalism
and more "privatization", including real wages paid to the members,
according to the job-market valuation of their work. Others stand by the
old Kibbutz principles of full sharing - and receive their budget tailored to
the size of their family. The two Kibbutz General Secretaries

But there are quite a few Kibbutzim who cannot make up their communal mind. The Kibbutz regulations demand a
majority vote of 66% (or in some cases 75 %) of the votes in each case of a major-change operation, and such a
majority is not easy to achieve. This situation creates high tension, uncertainty and even bitterness - and unending
attempts to change the basic regulations and find a loophole that would allow a Kibbutz to make its changes
without having to command such an overwhelming number of aye-voters.

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