Page 8 - Issue 11

Harvesting Cultural Judaism

Tnua Yekara,

We here in Kvutzat Aseef are entering our second year as a Kvutza in Israel. We went through a
lot of changes this past summer. Three of our members left, but, lucky for us, Gil Browdy,
former HDNA Mazkir, and Jacki Silbermann, of Rosh Galil fame, chose to join us. We also moved
from our ritzy North Tel Aviv high rise to the working class neighborhoods of Ramat Gan – just
a short walk from the new British-South American Kvutsa, Kvutzat Keshet. After much time
being together and working in the movement, we are beginning to get a better understanding of
what our Kvutzati and Messimati life is all about.
As of now, Jacki is working as a workshop Madricha. Nadav, Gil, and Ruth are recreating the
Boneh Tochnit, focusing on the modern history of the Jewish people in Europe, Israel, and
North America, and on the different ways Jews have attempted to meet the challenge and
opportunity of modernity individually and as a nation. Naomi is teaching Hebrew to
Workshoppers and continuing her studies to become a human rights lawyer. Ilan is organizing
Kaveret, trying to better balance paying bills and keeping the houses together, while teaching
about the connections between Judaism, Zionism, Messima, and a pleasant, clean, delicious home.
Ruth has also recently begun a new messima working with Arab youth in Yafo.
In the past few months, we have picked olives with Palestinians in Qaffin, hosted a Thanksgiving
dinner, had all the Workshoppers over to finish off their History of Hagshama Seminar, and had
Kabalat Shabbat together (and with guests) almost every week.
This is our day-to-day but we try to see what we are doing in the bigger picture: The renewal of
the Jewish people, starting with ourselves and working outward. In a society that pushes
everyone in the same direction, it’s not easy to believe that what you do can truly create an
alternative. But by shaping our own lives and, through mesimot, the lives of others, together
with other kvutzot and other movements as partners, we are really trying to take responsibility
for Israel and the Jewish people – and make them awesome.
We enjoy our Shabbatot together so much that we thought we would share our traditions with
you. Please write back to the iton with how you like to celebrate Shabbat in your kenim/ batim/
machanot at home!
We hope to see you here in Israel soon!
Love,
Kvutzat Aseef (Nadav, Naomi, Ruth, Gil, Jacki, and Ilan)

Kabbalat Shabbat in Kvutzat Aseef

First we sing Lecha Dodi and some other Shabbat songs, then Mi Ha-Ish. Then we go around the
circle and everyone shares something from their week. Then we sit around the table and sing
Hachama Meirosh, and go on to the Brachot. The Brachot over the candles and wine are from
Kibbutz Chatzerim. In the Bracha over the candles, during the line about the field and the
workshop, everyone says a place where they want the light of the Shabbat to accompany them
during the six days of work. The Bracha over the Challah is from Kvutzat Aseef. All of the
blessings convey our appreciation for the labour by means of which our life is sustained.