Page 88 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - Winter 20
P. 88
MEMORIES OF SHNAT well as for two other religious chaverim from
North-West London in the group, Michael
HACHSHARA 1977-78 Horesh and Shlomo (Alan) Bendahan. There
was a precedent. Two years previously, three
THE DATI FACTION
chaverot on Hachshara had been to the
BARUCH PINNICK Machon and then to the dati Kibbutz Sa’ad. I
grasped the situation and, reluctantly, agreed
to… Machon.
The day came, and off we went to Beit
HaEmek. Over 50 chaverim, the largest
Hachshara to date. Food-wise, I would
manage the first Shabbat on the kibbutz (the
Machon commenced a few days later), and I
wanted to be with the group at the very
I ’d been looking forward to it for a couple beginning.
of years, ever since I decided that I was
The kibbutz had a surprise for the boys.
going on Shnat Hachshara. A year on
Kibbutz Beit HaEmek. No Machon There’d been a disease in a chicken coop,
which was now empty but covered in an inch
l’Madrichim learning for me: my A-levels of semi-solid avian diarrhoea. 25 highly
were more than enough. I’d had the argument motivated teenage boys were a godsend. We
with my parents about taking a year off: “No, wore nothing but shorts as we plunged into
it’s not a holiday.” I even made a wall the foul fowl-smelling lul, which seemed to
calendar, counting down to that day in extend for a mile. I can still remember the feel
September 1977, when we’d leave. of the liquid filth squeezing through my toes
I’d joined Birmingham Ken five years as I stepped in. The floor was treacherously
previously, and from then on, my social life slippery, and landing bum-first in the muck
was totally defined by The Movement. became the norm. After a while, we gave up
Hachshara was a step in a logical trying to keep clean and actually started to
progression. enjoy it, filling bin after plastic bin with the
stuff and sliding them to the door for
In August, the bombshell dropped. I was by
then trying to keep kasher and Shabbat, and disposal. At one stage, a “faeces fight” even
I’d been told by my madrichim, months broke out, which was quickly stopped by the
before, that the kibbutz could accommodate unamused kibbutznik in charge. Almost the
my needs. But the Mazkir was now making it only activity on the kibbutz in which I took
clear that, even though I wouldn’t have to part, and it still brings back fond memories.
work in a Shabbat giyus, strict kashrut was So, HaMachon l’Madrichei Chutz La’Aretz.
not an option – I’d been misinformed. I was Our home for those first five months was to
advised to switch to the Machon, and a be Kiryat Moriah in Jerusalem. We were a
religious kibbutz would be found for me, as
88
