Page 11 - C.A.L.L. #36 - Summer 2013

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

When I first started this column, about 20 years ago, I made a
solemn decision to avoid referring either to politics (pfui, a rotten
game) or to my own Kibbutz, Palmach-Tsuba in the Judean Hills
(one of the best, undoubtedly). On the whole, I believe I have kept
my word, which I figure now grants me the privilege of performing
a glaring exception to the rules, considering the sadly regrettable fact that this might quite
possibly be my last contribution for our beloved C.A.L.L., for reasons beyond my control,
thank you very much for asking. Which reminds me of our ‘adopted’ son Chris from one of
several American fundamental Christian groups we took in for the fruit-picking season. They
were strictly forbidden to drink alcohol, to smoke even tobacco, to have sex or to gamble. One
weekend he disappeared for several days and upon his return it was evident how he had spent
it. We asked him cautiously “Chris, what about the rules?” and he replied with that wily
smile of his: “Well, the rules are flexible!”
First the good news: despite the rumours circulating of late, the kibbutz in general and mine
in particular seems to have recovered, on the whole, from the recent crisis, and the shrinking
demographic trend has been reversed (see the article on Page 8). Part of the proof is that most
communities have growing waiting lists of both singles and families applying to join. Tsuba
alone boasts a waiting list of about 40 families-on-hold, remarkably almost half of them
kibbutz kids who have tried living outside and have realized that they would prefer to return
home. Trouble is, there is no housing available just now, and some of the would-be new
members will have to wait a couple of years…. or maybe set up tents or caravans!

Why a World That Wants and Needs Community Doesn't Get It

By Tim Miller
Published in issue #151 of Communities magazine. It is an edited version of a paper presented at the
annual meeting of the Communal Studies Association, New Harmony, Indiana, October 2, 2010.

I believe that people the world over long Communal Aspirations
for community. While that assertion is just
about impossible to test, a number of One bit of evidence for the desire for
indicators point in that direction. Social community can be seen in the classified
alienation seems to me widespread, with advertising section, called “Reach,” in
large numbers of people dissatisfied with Communities magazine. In every issue
the prevailing way the world is organized. there are ads seeking members for
They may have radically different visions established communities, but also quite a
of an ideal world, but a fair number, it is few ads for new communities, typically
reasonable to guess, see lack of community ones that have not yet been actually
as a cause of much of the restlessness and launched, but concrete visions of
anomie we see all around us. The kinds of community, at least, in the minds of would-
community that can bring meaning into life be founders and members. In the Fall 2010
are many, but it is another fair guess that issue of the magazine, for example, people
more than a few of those longing for were invited to help start an ecovillage and
community see intentional community as retreat center in Kansas, a desert
something that could put meaning and community in Arizona, a cohousing
fulfillment into their lives.

11