Page 10 - Issue 5

as Emma, makes a big, positive difference to our dynamics, which are now much better
balanced.

2) Native Sabras: All six Yovelnikim were olim, and we now also include five native sabra Israelis.
Again, perhaps Gil and Kinneret don't count in terms of their age, and we are still a majority of
olim, but this is not just a matter of numbers. We now live our kvutsa lives in Hebrew, including
erev kvutsa, kvutsa mealtimes, birthdays and chaggim, etc. It's not only the language though
– our kvutsa culture in general is now far more 'kibbutznik', since Lotem is originally from Kibbutz
Rosh Hanikra, Inbal from Kibbutz Bet Ha'Emek, and Talia from Kibbutz Be'eri. Yovel is no longer
Anglo.

3) Family life: Yovel was previously primarily singles. There are now three members with girlfriends /
boyfriends in other kvutsot, as well as two married couples within Yovel. Not only do we have
two married couples in the kvutsa, but also two little girls. Adapting to family life has affected
many basic aspects of kvutsa life, including our communal timetable, use of space, and
prioritisation in general. This week our kvutsa celebrated Gil's first birthday, as well as one year
of parenthood for Lotem and Inbal. Kinneret is already over one and a half years old. In the
past, many people in the movement around the world have asked us about the viability of
kvutsa life when we have families with children. In the past we were only able to answer
theoretically, whereas now we can also answer from some experience. Having families with
children takes up a lot of time and energy, just like it does in the 'normal' capitalist world. In our
kibbutz of kvutsot, which includes fourteen children already (with more on the way), it is a
major communal priority, rather than only an individual or parental responsibility, which makes
it much more manageable.

4) Movement: To use a Harry Potter analogy, Yovel was previously a 'pureblood' Habonim Dror
kvutsa, whereas now we are 'mudbloods'. Inbal, Lotem and Talia all grew up in Hanoar
Ha'Oved Va'Lomed (Habonim's historical sister movement in Israel), but their section – Kvutsot
Ha'Bechira – split off and is now part of Machanot Ha'Olim (Dror's historical sister movement in
Israel). Kvutsat Yovel recently decided to take full membership within our Israeli kibbutz of
kvutsot, which effectively makes us members of the Tnuat Bogrim of Machanot Ha'Olim. This is
both a massive breakthrough in our klita, and also a confusing and difficult reality for us. Many
movement olim experience having dual nationality, and Yovelnikim have experienced being
Israelis who also hold British, American, Canadian and Australian passports. We are used to
having such 'dual citizenship', but the deeper level to that legal reality is our somewhat
schizophrenic cultural reality – we will each always be partially Israelis and partially Anglos.
Personally, I will probably always feel like an Englishman in Israel, and like an Israeli in England.
Being members of two Tnuot Bogrim is an even bigger challenge, and some people even say
it will prove impossible for us. As with our aliyah, it results in differences of identity, culture and
language, but it also demands a complicated juggling act of priorities, commitments and
responsibilities. Kvutsat Yovel has decided to take on this groundbreaking challenge, and we
believe that it will also prove to be a pioneering step for future Habonim Dror kvutsot, who will
also build their socialist Zionist lives together with our Israeli partner movements, rather than
remaining within a bubble of Habonim Dror olim.

These transformative topics (gender balance; sabra – olim dynamics; families and children; and klita
into an Israeli partner movement) could each stimulate a doctoral thesis, and I have only given a
brief introduction to them here. For Kvutsat Yovel, these are some of the current developments and
dilemmas in our ongoing attempts to build our lives, and our society in Israel, according to the values
and visions of Habonim Dror.