Chag Sameach (= Happy Passover!) from Kibbutz Hatzerim

Before I came to Israel, a number of people told me that I must go visit a kibbutz. I was lucky enough to be invited to a Passover seder with Shiri's Israeli family--many of whom lived (or still live) on Kibbutz Hatzerim near Be'er Sheva in the Negev desert. (Shiri's grandfather was an instrumental figure in founding Kibbutz Hatzerim, and he happily gave us a tour of Hatzerim.)

A kibbutz is a collective community in which residents (hundreds of families) share goods and work together for the benefit of the community. Historically, early kibbutzim were much more socialistic/utopian--there has since been a major move towards modernization and privatization. Kibbutz Hatzerim is centered around the Netafim factory (second picture below), which produces drip irrigation systems. Many of the kibbutz residents work in the factory, which is within walking distance from the many Hatzerim neighborhoods (third picture below). Residents do not pay for their houses--these are assigned one based on family size when newcomers adopt the kibbutz lifestyle. In addition to factory work, Hatzerim also raises cows (fourth picture below) and exports the milk which is not consumed by the kibbutz residents. The kibbutz also contains, among other things, a nursery school, swimming pool and sports facilities, laundry services, a health and dentistry clinic, a dance studio, a barber shop, and even a small zoo. Most of the employees at these institutions are kibbutz residents, making the kibbutz a kind of self-sustaining community. Money is not used on the kibbutz--the above services are provided to kibbutz residents for free in exchange for their contributions to the factory, farm, or other area of kibbutz life.

Kibbutz residents eat every meal together in a central dining room (fifth picture below), though the houses are equipped with modest kitchens. Cars are available to borrow if residents have business off-site. Though Kibbutz Hatzerim is mostly secular, many kibbutzim have strong religious identities.

A major perk of living on the kibbutz is that when a child reaches the age of 16, he is assigned his own room in a sort of dormitory, rather than remaining with his parents. Should the teenager choose to go to college after service in the army, the kibbutz pays for his education in full. Members may freely leave the kibbutz if they no longer accept the kibbutz lifestyle (Shiri's aunt and uncle, who hosted the Passover seder, recently did so).

After our tour, we left the kibbutz and headed for Shiri's aunt and uncle's house to celebrate Passover. Passover is a Jewish high holiday which takes place in the spring. It commemorates the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Passover is traditionally celebrated by a large kosher seder meal in which extended families partake together. A number of special foods (first picture below) are present at the meal--matzo (unleavened bread), bitter herbs, charoset (an nut and apple paste which symbolizes the mortar with which the Israelite slaves erected buildings in Egypt), and a roasted egg and lamb bone. To celebrate properly, a seder attendee must consume four glasses of wine!

The meal itself (fourth picture below) is preceded by the reading of the haggadah (third picture below), an interactive book which tells the story of the Exodus. I was asked to read part of a page, and was actually able to do so (yay, Hebrew skills!). After dinner and dessert, the family celebrates by singing traditional songs (fifth picture below).

The seder meal was absolutely delicious and an amazing cultural experience. I am very grateful to Shiri and her family for allowing me to join them in their celebration of this holiday. Chag sameach!