Page 27 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - September 14
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Time flew and soon we were nearing the Israeli Mevo Hama by this time had become an army
coastline at night, and as Israel was into the third base. The women and children had been
day of the war, the captain explained firstly that evacuated and when we arrived there were very
all the lights in and on the plane had to be few other civilians. We were needed to run the
switched off and that we would not be able to see kitchen, etc. The only food available was
anything from the windows as Israel is under a “manot krav” battle rations, with no fresh food
blackout and all car lights were painted blue, so whatsoever. In those days “Luf” (Bully Beef in a
not to be seen from above. tin) was the name of the game, in many
variations. We all lived in the unprepared
We, the third Kvutzah of Garin Chet to Mevo shelters, which meant that there were no
Hama, finally arrived at Lod airport to be met by mattresses on the metal bed frames. There were
Phil Michaelson who came to escort us back to only public toilets and showers – OK for the
the kibbutz. Eventually we got to Kibbutz boys but what about the girls!
Afikim, where we had to wait, as we needed an
army escort to drive to the Golan. Someone When the families eventually returned, we all
from Afikim had heard that there were two still lived in the shelters, and I was given the
“raftanim” in the group and that they were extra job of putting the kids to bed at night (at
desperate for help, as the cows hadn’t been that time the kids still lived in the children’s
milked for three days due to the war. So while houses). To do that, I had to get rid of the parents
the Kvutzah continued to Mevo Hama I stayed in the evening – and also do “shmira.” Not easy!
behind together with Nick Kates (from my Shnat
group and now with us as a volunteer) to milk, I am very proud to tell you that all 7 of us have
which we did around the clock until the raftanim stayed in Israel all these years. I suppose that is
were released. not surprising, if we managed to get through the
first major hurdle of the Yom Kippur war upon
arrival.
Kvutzat Aliyah, Mevo Hama, 1973
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