Page 3 - C.A.L.L. #27 - Summer 2006

F
From the Secretaryrom the Secretary’’s Desks Desk
From the SecretaryFrom the Secretary’’s Desks Desk

Dear Reader,

These lines are being written after an inspiring but too-short annual ConferConfer--
ConferConfer--
ence/Getnce/Get--together of the Israeli Circle of Communal Groups.together of the Israeli Circle of Communal Groups. Some 140
e
ence/Getence/Get--together of the Israeli Circle of Communal Groups.together of the Israeli Circle of Communal Groups.
members of a variety of communes and urban & educational kibbutzim - and
40 kids - participated in the discussions and cultural and socializing activities.
(There will be a report in the next issue). It was most heart-warming to this
participant, more than twice the average age. With all Israel's social/educational problems, the envi-
ronment hasn't been much on the communal agenda, but here it made a welcome appearance … The
Circle has expanded its activities and some time back held a very successful Arts Fair (See p 26), show-
ing the varied artistic achievements of many of its members.

NiederkaufungenNiederkaufungen
A notable event has come to our notice, the opening by NiederkaufungenNiederkaufungen of a day centre for elderly
sufferers of dementia. This most ambitious humanitarian project is a worthy addition to their other ac-
tivities. See http://www.kommune-niederkaufungen.de/kommune/eindex.htm .

Much to our delight we've had quite a wave of communal visitorscommunal visitors since the last issue of CALL. These
communal visitorscommunal visitors
included co-housing expert Graham Meltzer (Australia, now en route to settle in Findhorn), Brian
Freund (ex-kibbutznik, ex-Twin Oaker) and several German youngsters, Jens Herrmann and Susanne
Friedel, and Jan Schevitz. Also very interesting were Bruderhof members, Chaim, Miriam and Anna
Ben-Eliezer from Bellvale USA. And of course, members of the German Katholische Integrierte Ge-
meinde continue to come to Israel and have contact with various kibbutzim…. If you too are planning
to come here, please write to me. I have plenty of worthwhile contacts in Israel for you.

Of special note was the visit to Israel of 4 Hutterite communHutterite communards from Canadaards from Canada: Minister John Hofer,
Hutterite communHutterite communards from Canadaards from Canada
Sara & Ken Gross and Johny Hofer, accompanied by Professor John Lehr. They featured prominently at
the annual Conference for Research on Kibbutz and Communes, speaking of the continuity of the cen-
turies-old traditions, together with slight changes with the times. Another distinguished guest was IC
expert Prof. Tim Miller of the US, former president of ICSA (International Communal Studies Associa-
tion).

ICSA Conference of academicsICSA Conference of academics and IC members and IC members
Preparations are well underway for the ICSA Conference of academicsICSA Conference of academics and IC members and IC members to be held next
summer at the Damanhur Federation of Communes, Italy. A call for papers has already been issued.
(See p. 5) The ICSA Bulletin is now available at www.ic.org/icsa/.... If you are coming from outside
Europe, maybe you want to travel a little further and visit "Communal Israel" immediately after the
Conference. If youyou are interested, do let me know…. Damanhur has accepted my suggestion to hold,
youyou
ICM (International Communities Meeting)ICM (International Communities Meeting)
immediately afterwards, an ICM (International Communities Meeting)ICM (International Communities Meeting), as was done following the 2001
ICSA Conference at ZEGG. This less formal gathering brought together communards from Finland to
New Zealand, from Brazil to Siberia. No details of the 2007 ICM are available as yet.

Community is very much "in" these days.ommunity is very much "in" these days. We can't note all references to IC’s in the press, but recently
C
Community is very much "in" these days.Community is very much "in" these days.
New York Magazine featured Ganas under the title Big Love on Staten Island. Very flattering!... Two
more modest German journals, Kontraste and KursKontakte, have featured articles on kibbutz and
other communities - and our very own Communes Desk!

a Hebrew version of CALLa Hebrew version of CALL
In Israel, a first issue of a Hebrew version of CALLa Hebrew version of CALL has appeared. Temporarily called KOL (= "Voice" in
Hebrew), it so far appears only on the web at www.communa.org.il/kol.pdf . KOL2, with urban com-
munard Asaf Chertkoff as its permanent editor, is now underway.

And finally, a big thank you to Dina Bookman from Kibbutz Yizre'el, who translated 2 items in this is-
sue. Welcome to CALL, Dina.

Looking forward to hearing from youyou,
youyou
Sol Etzioni, Kibbutz Tzora, DN Shimshon, Israel 99803 or solrene@tzora.co.il

PS. If you haven't already done so, do take a look at our website www.communa.org.il .

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