I want to try to relay a bit of what is happening with me right now, but its not something that is easily relayed.
Kibbutz Metzer is about 5 km east of the city of Hadera and sits almost on top of the Green Line in Israel. The Green line is the boarder between Israel proper and the West Bank of Israel or what will hopefully SOON be Palestine. Metzer sits in a side of a hill in small valley and has about 500 people living in the commune. It's a farming kibbutz but also has a plastics factory. On the other side of the valley (walking distance- under a mile) is an Arab village named Meizer. Meizer and Metzer have lived harmoniously since before the creation of the state of Israel. About 80% of the people who live in Meizer work on Kibbutz Metzer. The two peoples are true friends. They know each other like family and treat each other like so as well. Metzer/Meizer are true examples of how life in this part of the world COULD be.
The Kibbutz movement in Israel is an ideological movement. There are religious kibbutz's and secular kibbutz's (Metzer being secular). The kibbutz movement originates from European Jews who fled pogroms and nazi's. They were socialists in Europe and believed in the viability of the systems. And to this day, as much as the kibbutz's are hurting and closing down one by one, the lifestyle is one that is embraced by many and has proven that it is possible to not live under the constrictions of consumerism. The Kibbutz movement is a leftist movement as a whole and many of them are inhabited by both Jews and Arabs.
Life on a kibbutz is not easy. Children live with their parents on the weekends, but during the week they stay in group homes. They study together, they eat together, they work together. They grow...together. With 500 people living on the kibbutz, were talking about a group of around 10 kids the same age per year. These earthy teens are very well educated and all serve in a unit of the army called 'Nachal.' Known for being some of the best soldiers in the Israeli Army, the 'Nachal' unit consist of people in all area of the army (paratroopers, infantry, air force) but they serve part of their time working on kibbutz's and part of their time fighting. So when all the kids hit the age of Army, they serve with each other. They fight next to their 'brothers and sisters.'
The bond that is developed between these kids is unparalleled. These Kibbutznics are connected. They return from the army find their place on the kibbutz (farmer, engineer, teacher, cook, mechanic- there is something for everybody) have families and the cycle continues.
My memories from the kibbutz are from later in my life when I returned to the kibbutz to visit and to live. There are bomb shelters all across the kibbutz, there is a petting zoo on the kibbutz that is run by Penina, this eccentric hippie. The lead Chef has one eye- battle wound. There are animals cruising around freely in the lush green fields where Avocados, bananas and mangos grow with ease. Its a common sight to find groups of people sitting around after work drinking coffee in community spaces. Singing. Dancing. Laughing. Kibbutz life is tough but good life. A pure life.
Well, last night a group of terrorist infiltrated from beyond the Green line, NOT FROM MEIZER, killed 5 people and injured 6. A woman and her two kids (ages 4 and 2) who was a new arrival to the kibbutz, the head of security who was responding to the gunshots (my father was four years younger than this man and knew him quite well) and another couple (the woman in this couple, who had just gotten engaged, held me while I was circumcised on that very kibbutz). These people are family.
My fathers best friend in the world was interviewed on the radio last night. As I sat there in my comfy room in front of my mac listening to his voice he unfolded the events of the evening for me. He was the first responder to the scene after the head of security. He was on duty as a guard (every one on the kibbutz takes turns- women included). The woman that was killed was his ex-wife.
I sit here in sunny Los Angeles today, a victim of terror. How does one react to this? Getting mad or sad even is counter-productive. People here don't understand the amount of damage each and every day brings in Israel- on both sides of this war. Each day brings more and more bloodshed to a land that has seen too much bloodshed already. No one is unaffected. No one.
------
Listening- The Weakerthans and Yumi Bitzu
Feeling- Sick to my tummy and hot as hell (this weather is freaking me out)
Days without smoking- 25
Some shit you didn't know- When I lived on the kibbutz a few years back (short time), my job was looking after chickens... that shit is nasty.
Kibbutz Metzer is about 5 km east of the city of Hadera and sits almost on top of the Green Line in Israel. The Green line is the boarder between Israel proper and the West Bank of Israel or what will hopefully SOON be Palestine. Metzer sits in a side of a hill in small valley and has about 500 people living in the commune. It's a farming kibbutz but also has a plastics factory. On the other side of the valley (walking distance- under a mile) is an Arab village named Meizer. Meizer and Metzer have lived harmoniously since before the creation of the state of Israel. About 80% of the people who live in Meizer work on Kibbutz Metzer. The two peoples are true friends. They know each other like family and treat each other like so as well. Metzer/Meizer are true examples of how life in this part of the world COULD be.
The Kibbutz movement in Israel is an ideological movement. There are religious kibbutz's and secular kibbutz's (Metzer being secular). The kibbutz movement originates from European Jews who fled pogroms and nazi's. They were socialists in Europe and believed in the viability of the systems. And to this day, as much as the kibbutz's are hurting and closing down one by one, the lifestyle is one that is embraced by many and has proven that it is possible to not live under the constrictions of consumerism. The Kibbutz movement is a leftist movement as a whole and many of them are inhabited by both Jews and Arabs.
Life on a kibbutz is not easy. Children live with their parents on the weekends, but during the week they stay in group homes. They study together, they eat together, they work together. They grow...together. With 500 people living on the kibbutz, were talking about a group of around 10 kids the same age per year. These earthy teens are very well educated and all serve in a unit of the army called 'Nachal.' Known for being some of the best soldiers in the Israeli Army, the 'Nachal' unit consist of people in all area of the army (paratroopers, infantry, air force) but they serve part of their time working on kibbutz's and part of their time fighting. So when all the kids hit the age of Army, they serve with each other. They fight next to their 'brothers and sisters.'
The bond that is developed between these kids is unparalleled. These Kibbutznics are connected. They return from the army find their place on the kibbutz (farmer, engineer, teacher, cook, mechanic- there is something for everybody) have families and the cycle continues.
My memories from the kibbutz are from later in my life when I returned to the kibbutz to visit and to live. There are bomb shelters all across the kibbutz, there is a petting zoo on the kibbutz that is run by Penina, this eccentric hippie. The lead Chef has one eye- battle wound. There are animals cruising around freely in the lush green fields where Avocados, bananas and mangos grow with ease. Its a common sight to find groups of people sitting around after work drinking coffee in community spaces. Singing. Dancing. Laughing. Kibbutz life is tough but good life. A pure life.
Well, last night a group of terrorist infiltrated from beyond the Green line, NOT FROM MEIZER, killed 5 people and injured 6. A woman and her two kids (ages 4 and 2) who was a new arrival to the kibbutz, the head of security who was responding to the gunshots (my father was four years younger than this man and knew him quite well) and another couple (the woman in this couple, who had just gotten engaged, held me while I was circumcised on that very kibbutz). These people are family.
My fathers best friend in the world was interviewed on the radio last night. As I sat there in my comfy room in front of my mac listening to his voice he unfolded the events of the evening for me. He was the first responder to the scene after the head of security. He was on duty as a guard (every one on the kibbutz takes turns- women included). The woman that was killed was his ex-wife.
I sit here in sunny Los Angeles today, a victim of terror. How does one react to this? Getting mad or sad even is counter-productive. People here don't understand the amount of damage each and every day brings in Israel- on both sides of this war. Each day brings more and more bloodshed to a land that has seen too much bloodshed already. No one is unaffected. No one.
------
Listening- The Weakerthans and Yumi Bitzu
Feeling- Sick to my tummy and hot as hell (this weather is freaking me out)
Days without smoking- 25
Some shit you didn't know- When I lived on the kibbutz a few years back (short time), my job was looking after chickens... that shit is nasty.
VIEW 18 of 18 COMMENTS
Feel free to be "up my face" as much as you want (um.... I just hope I have properly understood what this funny saying meant... have I? uh?)