Page 21 - C.A.L.L. #36 - Summer 2013

KIBBUTZ SHORTS

Between Honey and Sting – Joel Dorkam’s Autobiography

Joel Dorkam's name is probably well known to all readers of C.A.L.L.: Ever since its first
appearance 18 years ago, there has not been a single issue that has not included a
contribution from him, always a most interesting combination of communal news and
philosophy. Now, at quite advanced age, Joel has written and published (in Hebrew and very
soon in German, and I hope that we don’t have to wait too long for the English version!) his
own, fascinating and tear-jerking autobiography, which bears the poetic title "Between
Honey and Sting". It begins in pre-Nazi Germany, continues in France, fleeing to Spain and at
last arriving in the new-born State of Israel, where the family finally settle down. Joel
decides to join a new kibbutz near Jerusalem, and his achievements, tasks, the leadership
positions he holds, and all the challenges that these entail, make up the main part of the
book. If you read Hebrew – buy it now, if not, you’ll need to wait impatiently for its
translation.

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Physicians for Human Rights

Shulamit Melman (51), has been working for years as a Physiotherapist in her kibbutz, Ein
Shemer, amongst other places. She is now a volunteer in the ‘Physicians for Human Rights’
organization. "It all started”, she says, “when a friend of mine said: Most of our parents – of
the founding generation of Kibbutzim - did a lot of voluntary work, so it's about time we
followed their example. Without any hesitation I joined the P.H.R. who mostly work, Jews
and Arabs together, in the occupied territories. For me, the very fact that we act together
in the most needy parts of the Palestinian population, is in and of itself a political act against
the occupation, and we feel that this expression of solidarity with Palestinians - not through
slogans but through health care – may also go some way towards creating a more healthy
political climate.

Every Shabbat (Saturday) a whole group of us go to one of the distant villages – Jewish and
Arab doctors and nurses together, to take care of those who don't usually get sufficient
medical attention.

Again and again I learn how alike we all are, and wish that other activities like this would
exist - not just to shape the present, but also for the sake of a better future!”

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Does Communal Life Contradict Human Nature?

This philosophical question has been asked in relation to kibbutz life from its very first day,
but Eli Goren (Kibbutz Geva) says that it is a ridiculous question. Is capitalism the true
expression of human nature? Are hundreds of thousands of community volunteers – either
within or outside of the Kibbutz – being untrue to human nature?

Eli also rejects the modern outlook that man's natural position is individualistic. Does a
person being part of a community stand in opposition to nature? Even the changes that many
kibbutzim have undertaken in the last few decades do not stand in opposition to the fact
that communality is part of human nature, and not it’s opposite.

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