KABBALAT SHABBAT AT KIBBUTZ HATZERIM

KABBALAT SHABBAT AT KIBBUTZ HATZERIM

I’ve visited Kibbutz Hatzerim twice in the past 40 years.  Yesterday, was the 2^nd time.  Saralee Kassel and I were roommates on Young Judea Year Course 1967-68.  Saralee is a very special human being with a remarkable spirit.  I am so glad we are friends.  

 

 Saralee stands by a Jacaranda Tree.  Children swing from the roots above that eventually find their way into the earth, below.

Saralee and her husband Iri invited me to visit Kibbutz Hatzarim on Friday.  Although the Kibbutz is near the capital of the Negev, Beer Sheva, it’s light years away from this busy, growing city.

                                   Iri, Saralee and I visited Sde Boker, Ben Gurion's home Kibbutz.

Iri was the Director of the Reform Movement in Israel for many years.  Although Iri is not a Rabbi, he was the central organizing force for Israel’s growing Reform Movement.  He designed Kibbutz Hatzerim’s Kabbalat Shabbat.  Iri and Saralee asked if I would play guitar and sing at the service.  Of course!  Saralee has been the nurse on the Kibbutz for many years.  There was a guitar in the Mir’pa’ah, the clinic.

Surely you know, religion is the opiate of the masses.  What place can the communal observance of Shabbat have at Kibbutz? 

Iri designed a 30 minute Kabbalat Shabbat service.  Singing is central.  They begin singing the same beloved (well-known) settings for the introductory psalms (tehilim).  The candles are lit and blessed.  More singing.  Iri offers an insight into the weekly Torah portion (parashat hashavu’a).  This week’s Torah portion was Pinchas.  He reflected on three aspects of the portion.  His approach is concise and provocative.  He concluded with a question about equality and justice.

As we sang Tzvika Pik (z’l)’s Adon Olam, wine was distributed to all.  Two blessings were read.  Iri read the traditional blessing for Kiddush.  The second blessing is the Kibbutz Kiddush:  blessing the fruit of the vine and the earth for its abundance.  Both were good and meaningful.

Finally, pieces of challah were distributed by two children.  The children placed their hands on the two complete challot (just like at CVS), and together we said the blessing.  We sang Shalom Aleichem and concluded the service at 7:30 p.m. precisely. 

I loved sharing this experience with them.  We are all on a journey to discovery connections within ourselves, touching the Creative Source that links us together in holiness and hope.

On Shabbat, we set out for Sde Boker, Ben Gurion’s home. 

This is Ben Gurion's tzrif, small home:  two small bedrooms, a salon for guests.  Five thousand books line the shelves.  He read each book in the its original language.  When given a copy of Don Quixote, he learned Spanish so he could read it in the language it was written!

  

                                                                                               

 Will write more soon.

Love from Jerusalem,

Hasha