Page 9 - C.A.L.L. #46 - Summer 2020

This is normally closed from 8pm thru to 6am, but with this crisis it is closed 24/7. Members

working in essential industry or services off the kibbutz continue to do so in a limited
manner.

The community has organized to supply the needs of those homebound – the isolated, self-
isolated and the elderly. The dining room (in these days of privatization run by an outside
contractor) provides take-away meals.
A newsletter of two or three pages is distributed digitally every few days – we are up to
number 21 as I write. This contains updates on regulations, advise, humour etc. There is also
a digital community notice board updating constantly on issues concerning the public,
including discussions, timetables etc.

The Kibbutz Facebook page is brimming with items including quizzes, information, nostalgia,
and a collection of humorous items circulating the social media.

Both the local area council and the kibbutz itself has organized a series of activities through
ZOOM which include pilates, lectures and discussions. We even had a ZOOM “Member’s
Meeting” followed by, for the first time, an electronic voting procedure to vote from home.

Our local convenience store has not closed its doors (open from 6.30am thru 8.0pm) –
shoppers wear masks and gloves!

The cultural committee organizes troubadours singing “happy birthday” outside homes where

relevant.

A few years ago we discovered that the average age of our members was 62 years old – not
very encouraging for the future, so we embarked on an aggressive demographic programme,
which is today successfully bringing young families to join us. This is accompanied by the
development of a new neighbourhood attached to the kibbutz. Newcomers joining us are
voted in as members and commit to building their home at Amiad.

This new infusion of “young” blood has been decisive in ensuring our ability to look forward to
the continuing development of the community, and in particular standing stalwart in the face

of this present crisis.

The delicate demographic tapestry of the community is made up of the seniors who founded
the community in 1946 who were members of a unit of the then striking force of the pre-
state underground Jewish Defense Forces (Palmach), through to generations of pioneering
youth movement groups from both Israel and abroad who have joined throughout the years.
Added to this are those born on the kibbutz and remained to join the community and raise
their families here and those many families from both Israel and abroad who simply sought a
“different” lifestyle. This demographic variety, whilst undoubtedly contributing to the
overall good, also gives rise to tensions, the consideration and debate of which becomes the
very essence of our democratic Jewish lifestyle.

Barry Coleman. Kibbutz Amiad. April 2020

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