Page 12 - C.A.L.L. #35 - Fall 2012

KALEIDOSCOPE
The Communitarian Scene from all Over and Under
Compiled (and partly translated) by Joel Dorkam

The German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (a rather
pessimistic fellow) once compared human beings to hedgehogs,
whose tactics during the freezing cold winter period consist of
keeping near enough to one another so as to get enough warmth to
stay alive, without getting too close to get pricked by their spines. I
haven't been able to check the degree of success in the animal world, but obviously amongst
humans there is little to be proud of.

*

The debate about the optimal size of a kibbutz has by now been going on for nearly 100 years,
and it is far from reaching any kind of agreement. The debate apparently relates to both the
economic aspect - monster settlements with 1000-1500 inhabitants are supposed to be more
cost-efficient as opposed to smaller ones; and the social aspect - where people meet frequently
in their day-to-day for meals, cultural events or parties. Obviously in smaller communities
there is much more likelihood of closeness and intimacy.

*

Kim Scheidt from Red Earth Farms reread "Fascinating Womanhood" by Helen B. Andelin,
and discovered what she calls "nuggets of wisdom". Here is one which I cannot help but
share with you. Of utmost priority: Acceptance:

Complete acceptance of others is one quality that is often touted but seldom
followed. How many times have we heard the adage that you can’t go into a
relationship with the idea of changing the other person? But so many people still try,

usually with frustrating results. If we cultivate the attitude of complete acceptance
of others it can be very freeing. Recognize that we are all human beings who are part
virtue and part fault. Honestly accept the total person, including all imperfections,
and don’t try to change them. Being less concerned with the other’s faults allows you
to concentrate on all the good qualities they exhibit. And probably the best way to
help someone else’s self-growth is by recognition and belief in their better side.
(From Communities #151, Summer 2011)

*

So much for the individual. Now let us try to apply these ideas to the collective community,
assuming that it has more power as a group than the sum of each member's strengths.
However, there is one prominent difficulty, in the form of the need for group decision-
making. The alternative is to turn to some powerful, charismatic leader, well-liked and
respected, such as Jud Presmont of the late Kerista commune, or Traudl Wallbrecher of the
K.I.G. or even Yitzchak Tabenkin of the Israeli "Kibbbutz Meuchad".

What I strongly suspect, but cannot prove for lack of research facilities, is that these kind of
leaders tend to prefer small, compact, intimate communities where they can easily keep track
of their flock and screen newcomers at their convenience, so as to hitch them to their

12