Kibbutz life is what you make it

Press, 25 July 1986, Page 18

Kibbutz life is what you make it

From

SUE LANCASTER

on Kibbutz Sasa in

Northern Israel.

Thirty young travellers laugh, dance, and sing together in a bomb shelter 4km from Israel’s border with Lebanon. In the crowded room an Israeli soldier, fresh from guard duty, chats with a student from Christchurch, New Zealand. He pauses a moment to adjust the Ml 6 which hangs from his shoulder and takes another swig of beer. The underground bomb shelter, converted into a bar, is the social centre for the volunteer labour on one of Israel’s numerous commune-style kibbutzim. Since the late 19605, thousands of volunteer workers from New Zealand, Australia, Britain, Europe, the United States, Canada, South America, and South Africa have sampled kibbutz life.

Most of these nationalities are still welcome on kibbutzim, having proved themselves reliable and hardworking. However, bad behaviour throughout the years by some English volunteers has made it difficult for their compatriots to find places. Some kibbutzim refuse to accept English volunteers and others demand character references.

Although the treatment of foreign labour varies from kibbutz to kibbutz, the volunteers’ enjoyment often depends on their attitude. Clean beds, hot showers, and healthy food are bliss to a traveller after six months in Asia or Europe. The swimming pool, tennis court, weight room, bar, and gymnasium are added bonuses. The opportunity to learn about kibbutz life and meet new people, makes six days a week of menial work tolerable. But for those volunteers who travel c directly to Israel expecting a summer holiday camp with live nightly entertainment, the work is boring, the “natives” unfriendly, and the lifestyle is a drag. Recent changes have made it even harder for this type of recruit. Economic problems forced Kibbutzim earlier this year to extend the volunteers’ work time from six to eight hours a day. Some Israelis contend the increase deters potential volunteers. Others argue that the hours serve to attract only those genuinely interested in kibbutz life.

Regardless of this change, fewer volunteers — and tourists —- are arriving in Israel. Middle East tension and terrorism are thought to be the main causes of a shortfall of up to 1800 volunteers throughout the country.

This drastic shortage has forced some kibbutzim to solicit for workers at Ben Gurion Airport, in Tel Aviv, and to meet the boats from Greece and Turkey — a practice frowned upon by the kibbutz head offices which traditionally screen prospective volunteers.

Incorrect rumours that positions on kibbutzim must be prearranged before reaching Israel are also worrying kibbutz leaders, as is the mistaken belief that many kibbutzim no longer accept volunteers. Kibbutzim are looking carefully at the cost and the consequences of foreign labour, which was initially introduced to supplement the work force. Volunteers were also expected to return home as "ambassadors” for Israel.

In March, several kibbutzim suspended the use of foreign volunteers. Their drunken and sometimes wild behaviour, and the inevitable volunteer-kibbutzik relationships which formed, had been of concern for years. Opinions vary about the volunteers’ influence on young

Israelis. Kibbutzim continue to debate the issue, although most members reluctantly admit their reliance on volunteer labour. Cutbacks are inevitable, but it is unlikely moves to discontinue the volunteer system will be widespread.

For the 30 volunteers on Kibbutz Sasa, the working hours might be longer and the new arrivals scarce, but most take home the memories of an unforgettable experience. In a place where rooms, food, clothing, and toothpaste are shared with strangers,, friendships become lifelong.

From one comer of the crowded bomb shelter a healthy argument emanates about the merits of Australian Rules Football. Nearby, an Argentinian exchanges opinions on the Falklands with an English woman, and a South African-Icelandic political discussion develops.

As the New Zealander turns to discuss nuclear ship bans with an American, the young Israeli, soldier puts his empty bottle into a crate and walks to the door. His problems are closer to home, f