Kibbutz Alumim

I bade farewell to Hal and the other volunteers in my work group and began the long drive from the far North to Alumim located 3 miles from Gaza. I gave three 20 something volunteers a lift to Afula and Petah Tikva and so had the pleasure of engaging with young people roughly the same age as I was when I spent a year in Israel. I felt very fatherly as I heard about parents, school plans, and prospective career choices. I also loved the enthusiasm, optimism and curiosity of young people who are engaged with their world and have so much life ahead.

My route to Alumim was over several highways and I became concerned as I approached Gaza, hoping not to make any wrong turns. I arrived at Alumim in time for Shabbat and so have had the experience of a full Shabbat in a religious Kibbutz.

Alumim has 75 families who have succeeded in creating a prosperous middle class life for its members. As I walked the grounds of the Kibbutz (my cousin Avraham is responsible for the landscaping) it felt like Palm Springs: warm weather, lawns, and pretty stucco houses. They have a synagogue, library, spacious dining hall, swimming pool, and many of the amenities we consider part of an affluent lifestyle. Kibbutz living is not for everyone; it is more community than most of us would want in our daily life. Nevertheless, going to synagogue on Friday evening and seeing everyone there, then going to the evening and lunch Shabbat meals, with everyone singing and being together was very special. Israelis know how to serve large groups of people buffet style meals and this is particularly true on Kibbutz.

Having lived on Kibbutzim for over a year in the 1970’s, I feel a very close connection. While I determined it was not for me as a permanent choice then as well as now, I do feel something very uniquely Israeli about the Kibbutz lifestyle and appreciate their vision. Today, most kibbutzniks will admit the ardor of socialist ideology has been eclipsed and kibbutz is now just a different form of a community. But being here I recognized how indelible the impression of kibbutz community was formed  in my consciousness. In many ways  I have been attracted to and attempted to form community bonds in the work, synagogue, friendship circles, and even networking groups I have been affiliated with. So while for many kibbutz is a symbol of Israeli social innovation that has passed its utility and influence for the 21 st century, for me it is still alive in my consciousness and affects my thinking and actions.

So what is it like for Israelis to live near Gaza? I learned there are daily reminders that not all is idyllic at Alumim. There is a cat and mouse game that is going on between the Palestinians and Israeli military in this region. The Palestinians lob Qassam rockets into Sderot very close by to Alumim. The Israelis have their military base between Alumim and Gaza and they lob  shells into empty fields in Gaza. They also fly jets at low altitude to create sonic booms. So every few hours or sometimes every few minutes the windows will shake from sonic booms and barrages can be heard. It is part of life here, and a reminder of the totally different world that exists in Gaza just a few miles away.

 In my conversations with people here no one is optimistic anything will change. No good ending is what I  hear. How unfortunate that these people who have made such a commitment to build a productive life and community should face unending hostility. While Gazans used to be employed on the Kibbutz as well as surrounding towns, they have been replaced by Thai or other foreign workers. So the human misery in Gaza increases and Israeli anxiety and fatalism continues unabated. How sad.