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Published: September 6th 2009
Arial View
A picture of a picture of Ashdot from above. I was very interested in the theoretical and practical underpinnings of kibbutz culture even before coming to Israel. My favorite high school teacher, Mr. Trodd used to call me "Commi", so maybe my left-ward leanings have cultivated this interest. Yotam and his entire family are
kibbutznikiem (
kibbutznik being a person from a kibbutz, add "iem" for pluralization) so coming here to the Jordan Valley, which hosts many kibbutziem of varying stature and success has been an extremely educational experience.
A kibbutz by traditional definition is a communal settlement. I think they are found only in Israel, and in Jewish communities elsewhere, although it should be stressed that these communities (from what I've seen anyhow) are not intrinsically identifiable by their Jewishness. In fact, in the kibbutziem I've been to, there is a staunch secularism that prevails, sometimes bordering on xenophobia towards "religious people." I think this must find its basis in the Communist ideologies under which they were founded, although I know the creation of these settlements were also guided by Zionist principles, and I am in no way clear on how these ideologies interact. In the modern expression however, these settlements have become less and less communistic for reasons
The GM, Hard at Work
Eliza, my gracious guide that are beyond my understanding and far more complex than I can iterate here. Essentially, the economy of many of the kibbutziem faltered in the 80's, from which few escaped destabilization, with some collapsing completely and other just barely managing to survive. With huge bailouts from the government, the country's kibbutziem avoided extinction, and the relics of those pioneering communities still exist today, in varying forms.
In early August I had the good fortune to be invited for a tour of Kibbutz Ashdot Ya'akov Ichud, the community Yotam and his family are from. Yotam's aunt, Eliza who is also the General Manager of the kibbutz was my guide, and shared her knowledge of the inner and outer workings of the community with me. The kibbutz was initially formed where present day Gesher is located, about 5 km south from where Ashdot is today. In 1924, the kibbutz then moved to it's present day location, on the banks of the Jordan River, thus sharing a border with Jordan. This was problematic until 1967 when peace was achieved between the neighbors, and the vestiges of ill feelings of old exist in Ashdot up until today. There are still areas that are
Water
What makes the world go 'round. fenced to protect people and livestock from mines. Despite these reminders of the harshness of yester-year, Ashdot is one of the few kibbutziem in the Jordan Valley that are surviving and thriving.
Our tour primarily consisted of the agricultural livelihoods of the kibbutz, the crops and the livestock. The largest income earner of the kibbutz, the plastic bottle factory, would have to wait until another day as Sundays (the first day of the week in Israel) is their busy shipment day. Instead we focused on touring the fields surrounding the kibbutz, which in season produce bananas, watermelons, mango, wheat, dates, peppers and others that I am sure I am forgetting now. Given the water crisis in Israel (and in much of the world) the government has introduced incentives for agricultural producers to consume less water. This objective is achieved in a few ways. First, greywater (recycled household water from everything save sewage) is used for agricultural purposes through a large infrastructure I do not pretend to understand. Second, no-brainer methods like watering at dawn and dusk are employed, to reduce evaporation. Third, and most recently "networks" are being installed over crops (essentially large cloth structures built over and around
Working in the Dates
This young man was attaching bags to the date clusters on the palms, to catch those that ripen and fall, as to not waste a date. Also protects from birds and bugs. the crops) to reduce evaporation by another 30%, effectively mimicking a rainforest canopy, so that the moisture from watering remains with the plants and doesn't evaporate into the atmosphere. This last technique was a big eye-opener for me. I figured these large black tarps I saw draped over huge fields was for shading or to keep bugs and birds at bay. You learn something (in this case many things) new every day.
The other focus of that days tour was the turkey barns up in the hills of Menahamiya, in fields owned and cultivated by Ashdot. Although we weren't permitted to enter the barns (to do so, you and your vehicle must be decontaminated, because of the strict sterility of the turkeys environment) we saw them from outside the gates and they looked pretty happy. Of all of the agricultural endeavors, the turkeys are the top earner for the kibbutz and are therefore very, very valuable. Another interesting industry taking place on these hills is a dump; perhaps not so interesting unto itself, but the methane gas that they are capturing, storing and selling from the decomposition process and which is bought and used by Ashdot's plastic bottle factory
Work Well Done
Waiting for the final product. was of interest to me. At every turn, it appeared that people were making the most of the resources available, and living off what they have, serving a modern-day expression of what I had previously imagined kibbutz culture to be like.
Back at the kibbutz my tour with Eliza concluded for the day, and I made my way over to the elementary school where Yotam's mother, Sara, teaches. She was busy preparing for the upcoming school year, but had a moment to show me around a bit. Although I'm sure the school isn't a top earning enterprise for the kibbutz, I believe it stands to make this kibbutz (unlike many others) a lively, happening community, where youthfulness abounds and there is a distinct note of hope for the future. The school has a very good reputation, and is a desirable place for people to send their children. Even from the outside, it is easy to see why. Unlike urban or suburban schools here and in Canada, which are housed in large, intimidating, sometimes industrial looking buildings, the school in Ashdot is a conglomerate of smaller buildings, centered around a courtyard with grass and palm trees. There is a basketball
Old Fort on the Frontier
This is an old guard tower on the edge of the kibbutz, which is on the Jordanian border. court and a soccer field and the children have ready access to fresh air and the outdoors for relief between their studies. It's an attractive set-up, one that might not be suitable for the frigidity of Canadian winters, but a nice concept nonetheless.
After a lovely morning of touring the kibbutz, I retired to Sara's home and we had lunch. I then made my way to the pool for some much deserved cooling, with good feelings and lots to think about from learning and discovering what the modern kibbutziem are all about; a clear vision and a lot of hard work.
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Kerrilee Varischetti
non-member comment
looking for a friend
Hello I was wondering if you could help me . .I am looking for a friend of mine by the name of Uzi Sharon . . He is from Kibbutz Ashdot Yaacov in Jordan Valley . . . He came and stayed with me in Australia about 7 years ago and I would really like to get in contact with him again . . I know his mothers name is Sara and she sang at Eurovision some years ago .. He also has a sister in the united states . . If you could help it would be greatly appreciated . . Thankyou Kerrilee