Page 37 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - September 14

ARYEH WOLFIN
Born – London 1934; NW London Peleg; Machon – 1953-54; Rosh
Peleg Leeds – 1954-56; Rosh Peleg Liverpool 1954-56; Aliyah –
1958; resident at Kfar Hanassi since 1958; Shlichut South Africa –
1970-72; Head of the Kibbutz Desk, London – 1981-83; Teacher at
the Huleh Valley Area High School, Upper Galilee – 1974-99;
presently lecturing at Tel Hai College

T complain. The kibbutz framework was definitely
he kibbutz idea accompanied us
more congenial for families with children, where
throughout our Movement career. At the
age of 14, at a Habonim meeting in the
a burden. Having said that, tarbut consisted of
Kinloss Gardens Shul succah, I was exposed for restricted mobility and limited social life was not
the first time to this wonderful idea called kibbutz. evening programs and festivals, where all were
Wonderful, because my Madrich said it was. expected to attend, not to mention asephot
When I came home and my parents interrogated (general meetings) which were a must, otherwise
me regarding what we did at the meeting, I told that terrible spectre, public opinion, would judge
them with great enthusiasm about this idea called one mercilessly.
kibbutz. My middle class bourgeois father's As time went by, I too joined the throngs of
reaction was: "when you grow up you'll married couples with children and began to
understand what it's really all about. Go study and experience the real kibbutz life, which enabled us
make yourself a career." Hearing those words, I to be deeply involved in work and intensive
entered into a fighting mood. “But Dad,” I said, chevrah activities, while the children were being
“I don't want to be like you, who as a Jew in the looked after by members of the kibbutz who
Golah just thinks of money all the time, I want to worked as metaplot.
live in complete equality with other people and do “From each according to his ability, to each
physical work in the fields, and as a Jew become according to his needs,” was the guiding principle
a normal human being. For that I don't need to of the kibbutz. Full equality was the name of the
study.” Ten years later, at the ripe age of 24, after game and each chaver received according to his or
having left school at 17 for Hachsharat Noar, her needs, as conceived by the kibbutz.
followed by Hachshara, the Machon and four Accordingly, the number of children was the
years movement work, I made Aliyah to kibbutz
controlling factor governing receipt of goods and
I came to Kfar Hanassi as a youngster fifty five services. The human factor was not considered an
years ago. I shared a wooden hut with two others obstacle, but there were chaverim who did not pull
and spent most of my days working long hours in their weight through lack of incentive, as ideology
the fields, as well as carrying out various ceased to be a force with them. In the same vein
toranuyot, such as unloading trucks and working many families pressed for the kibbutz to decide
in the dining room. I was too tired to have a that children sleep at home.
social life and in any case there were very few During the period of hyperinflation in Israel in the
young people of the opposite sex around to add 1980s, the kibbutz hit hard times economically
spice to one’s existence. Life therefore consisted and became deeply in debt to the banks. In order
of work, eat and sleep. Physical work was the to drastically cut down expenditure, the kibbutz
order of the day, and you were judged by your was forced to change. Thus started the very long
work standards and if I found life dreary and dull I process of privatization and a new kibbutz concept
dared not admit it for fear of being in denial. A evolved which prevented it from sinking into
good chalutz, who is a socialist Zionist, does not
oblivion. Now the new guiding principle became,

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