Dear readers,

You will be anxious to know how my stint in the high school progressed after leaving me chopping and dicing onions and garlic. Well it didn’t. Not because I wasn’t up to this task or because I was forced to keep my distance from all because of this new-found aroma that I carried on my person. It was in fact because of the need for extra volunteers in harvesting the apricots. Hurrah! 

Rising at 4.15 – yes me – to be on the trailer by 4.30 to be at the orchards for 5 and the picking began. I arose at the allotted time. I admit to a distinct lack of the springiness of step but I was awake, just. The sun was not yet up, perhaps just peeking above the horizon but there was warmth in the air. What we would call a pleasant summer’s day. There was much yawning and stretching of volunteers during the first half of the morning as we climbed ladders and collected the apricots. One draw back was the inevitable hunger pains and we did avail ourselves of one or two of the fruits despite knowing that the hunger pains would be overtaken by indigestion. Perhaps you have guessed, but the apricots were not yet ripe as most were being shipped abroad so, like the bananas, were still at the green stage. 

After a few days of tummy pains most of us decided to put up with the hunger. At 8 o’clock we were taken back to the kibbutz for breakfast. Remember it was vegetarian so no bacon, but it was a glorious feast of vegetables, cheeses, yoghurts….I don’t need to list it all but I must say I’ve never again had such a breakfast. 

With full stomachs we returned to the orchards and picked the fruit until 11 o’clock. By this time the heat of the sun was beginning to burn us and we were glad to get back to the shade of our dormitories to wash then lunch and to the swimming pool. Wonderful.

There came often in these days of apricot picking the realisation that here I was in an orchard in the Holy Land on a day of peace and in the beauty of both the land and the sky. What stories this land had to tell?

Here is a little information about the kibbutzim:
When I lived on the kibbutz in the ‘70’s the idealistic kibbutz movement was in transition. The first kibbutz was established in 1910 and over decades dozens more were formed, about 270 to date but only about 3% of the population, across the territory that would become Israel. The kibbutzim had been formed before the state of Israel to help in the building of an Israeli state. Many were formed by young Jews from Eastern Europe who believed in a Jewish homeland. Others came to escape antisemitism and later, the Holocaust. For them the Kibbutz was like an extended family. They lived by their motto:

“From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” 

As Israeli society evolved from a scrappy generation of land-harvesting pioneers to the hi-tech generation of a nation, kibbutzim had to adjust to a new age of capitalism, gradually having to adapt their socialist ideas to fit into the world markets.

Despite their small numbers, kibbutzim have had much cultural and political influence on Israel for much of its history and many politicians, military leaders, intellectuals and artists coming from Kibbutzim. Politics in kibbutzim are associated with the left-wing and peace solutions.

Enough facts for now but I would like to tell you a bit about the Kibbutz Metzer where I was a volunteer and of my travels in Israel next time.

Marguerite

Dear readers,

You will be anxious to know how my stint in the high school progressed after leaving me chopping and dicing onions and garlic. Well it didn’t. Not because I wasn’t up to this task or because I was forced to keep my distance from all because of this new-found aroma that I carried on my person. It was in fact because of the need for extra volunteers in harvesting the apricots. Hurrah! 

Rising at 4.15 – yes me – to be on the trailer by 4.30 to be at the orchards for 5 and the picking began. I arose at the allotted time. I admit to a distinct lack of the springiness of step but I was awake, just. The sun was not yet up, perhaps just peeking above the horizon but there was warmth in the air. What we would call a pleasant summer’s day. There was much yawning and stretching of volunteers during the first half of the morning as we climbed ladders and collected the apricots. One draw back was the inevitable hunger pains and we did avail ourselves of one or two of the fruits despite knowing that the hunger pains would be overtaken by indigestion. Perhaps you have guessed, but the apricots were not yet ripe as most were being shipped abroad so, like the bananas, were still at the green stage. 

After a few days of tummy pains most of us decided to put up with the hunger. At 8 o’clock we were taken back to the kibbutz for breakfast. Remember it was vegetarian so no bacon, but it was a glorious feast of vegetables, cheeses, yoghurts….I don’t need to list it all but I must say I’ve never again had such a breakfast. 

With full stomachs we returned to the orchards and picked the fruit until 11 o’clock. By this time the heat of the sun was beginning to burn us and we were glad to get back to the shade of our dormitories to wash then lunch and to the swimming pool. Wonderful.

There came often in these days of apricot picking the realisation that here I was in an orchard in the Holy Land on a day of peace and in the beauty of both the land and the sky. What stories this land had to tell?

Here is a little information about the kibbutzim:
When I lived on the kibbutz in the ‘70’s the idealistic kibbutz movement was in transition. The first kibbutz was established in 1910 and over decades dozens more were formed, about 270 to date but only about 3% of the population, across the territory that would become Israel. The kibbutzim had been formed before the state of Israel to help in the building of an Israeli state. Many were formed by young Jews from Eastern Europe who believed in a Jewish homeland. Others came to escape antisemitism and later, the Holocaust. For them the Kibbutz was like an extended family. They lived by their motto:

“From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” 

As Israeli society evolved from a scrappy generation of land-harvesting pioneers to the hi-tech generation of a nation, kibbutzim had to adjust to a new age of capitalism, gradually having to adapt their socialist ideas to fit into the world markets.

Despite their small numbers, kibbutzim have had much cultural and political influence on Israel for much of its history and many politicians, military leaders, intellectuals and artists coming from Kibbutzim. Politics in kibbutzim are associated with the left-wing and peace solutions.

Enough facts for now but I would like to tell you a bit about the Kibbutz Metzer where I was a volunteer and of my travels in Israel next time.

Marguerite

Dear readers,

You will be anxious to know how my stint in the high school progressed after leaving me chopping and dicing onions and garlic. Well it didn’t. Not because I wasn’t up to this task or because I was forced to keep my distance from all because of this new-found aroma that I carried on my person. It was in fact because of the need for extra volunteers in harvesting the apricots. Hurrah! 

Rising at 4.15 – yes me – to be on the trailer by 4.30 to be at the orchards for 5 and the picking began. I arose at the allotted time. I admit to a distinct lack of the springiness of step but I was awake, just. The sun was not yet up, perhaps just peeking above the horizon but there was warmth in the air. What we would call a pleasant summer’s day. There was much yawning and stretching of volunteers during the first half of the morning as we climbed ladders and collected the apricots. One draw back was the inevitable hunger pains and we did avail ourselves of one or two of the fruits despite knowing that the hunger pains would be overtaken by indigestion. Perhaps you have guessed, but the apricots were not yet ripe as most were being shipped abroad so, like the bananas, were still at the green stage. 

After a few days of tummy pains most of us decided to put up with the hunger. At 8 o’clock we were taken back to the kibbutz for breakfast. Remember it was vegetarian so no bacon, but it was a glorious feast of vegetables, cheeses, yoghurts….I don’t need to list it all but I must say I’ve never again had such a breakfast. 

With full stomachs we returned to the orchards and picked the fruit until 11 o’clock. By this time the heat of the sun was beginning to burn us and we were glad to get back to the shade of our dormitories to wash then lunch and to the swimming pool. Wonderful.

There came often in these days of apricot picking the realisation that here I was in an orchard in the Holy Land on a day of peace and in the beauty of both the land and the sky. What stories this land had to tell?

Here is a little information about the kibbutzim:
When I lived on the kibbutz in the ‘70’s the idealistic kibbutz movement was in transition. The first kibbutz was established in 1910 and over decades dozens more were formed, about 270 to date but only about 3% of the population, across the territory that would become Israel. The kibbutzim had been formed before the state of Israel to help in the building of an Israeli state. Many were formed by young Jews from Eastern Europe who believed in a Jewish homeland. Others came to escape antisemitism and later, the Holocaust. For them the Kibbutz was like an extended family. They lived by their motto:

“From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” 

As Israeli society evolved from a scrappy generation of land-harvesting pioneers to the hi-tech generation of a nation, kibbutzim had to adjust to a new age of capitalism, gradually having to adapt their socialist ideas to fit into the world markets.

Despite their small numbers, kibbutzim have had much cultural and political influence on Israel for much of its history and many politicians, military leaders, intellectuals and artists coming from Kibbutzim. Politics in kibbutzim are associated with the left-wing and peace solutions.

Enough facts for now but I would like to tell you a bit about the Kibbutz Metzer where I was a volunteer and of my travels in Israel next time.

Marguerite

Dear readers,

You will be anxious to know how my stint in the high school progressed after leaving me chopping and dicing onions and garlic. Well it didn’t. Not because I wasn’t up to this task or because I was forced to keep my distance from all because of this new-found aroma that I carried on my person. It was in fact because of the need for extra volunteers in harvesting the apricots. Hurrah! 

Rising at 4.15 – yes me – to be on the trailer by 4.30 to be at the orchards for 5 and the picking began. I arose at the allotted time. I admit to a distinct lack of the springiness of step but I was awake, just. The sun was not yet up, perhaps just peeking above the horizon but there was warmth in the air. What we would call a pleasant summer’s day. There was much yawning and stretching of volunteers during the first half of the morning as we climbed ladders and collected the apricots. One draw back was the inevitable hunger pains and we did avail ourselves of one or two of the fruits despite knowing that the hunger pains would be overtaken by indigestion. Perhaps you have guessed, but the apricots were not yet ripe as most were being shipped abroad so, like the bananas, were still at the green stage. 

After a few days of tummy pains most of us decided to put up with the hunger. At 8 o’clock we were taken back to the kibbutz for breakfast. Remember it was vegetarian so no bacon, but it was a glorious feast of vegetables, cheeses, yoghurts….I don’t need to list it all but I must say I’ve never again had such a breakfast. 

With full stomachs we returned to the orchards and picked the fruit until 11 o’clock. By this time the heat of the sun was beginning to burn us and we were glad to get back to the shade of our dormitories to wash then lunch and to the swimming pool. Wonderful.

There came often in these days of apricot picking the realisation that here I was in an orchard in the Holy Land on a day of peace and in the beauty of both the land and the sky. What stories this land had to tell?

Here is a little information about the kibbutzim:
When I lived on the kibbutz in the ‘70’s the idealistic kibbutz movement was in transition. The first kibbutz was established in 1910 and over decades dozens more were formed, about 270 to date but only about 3% of the population, across the territory that would become Israel. The kibbutzim had been formed before the state of Israel to help in the building of an Israeli state. Many were formed by young Jews from Eastern Europe who believed in a Jewish homeland. Others came to escape antisemitism and later, the Holocaust. For them the Kibbutz was like an extended family. They lived by their motto:

“From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” 

As Israeli society evolved from a scrappy generation of land-harvesting pioneers to the hi-tech generation of a nation, kibbutzim had to adjust to a new age of capitalism, gradually having to adapt their socialist ideas to fit into the world markets.

Despite their small numbers, kibbutzim have had much cultural and political influence on Israel for much of its history and many politicians, military leaders, intellectuals and artists coming from Kibbutzim. Politics in kibbutzim are associated with the left-wing and peace solutions.

Enough facts for now but I would like to tell you a bit about the Kibbutz Metzer where I was a volunteer and of my travels in Israel next time.

Marguerite

Dear readers,

You will be anxious to know how my stint in the high school progressed after leaving me chopping and dicing onions and garlic. Well it didn’t. Not because I wasn’t up to this task or because I was forced to keep my distance from all because of this new-found aroma that I carried on my person. It was in fact because of the need for extra volunteers in harvesting the apricots. Hurrah! 

Rising at 4.15 – yes me – to be on the trailer by 4.30 to be at the orchards for 5 and the picking began. I arose at the allotted time. I admit to a distinct lack of the springiness of step but I was awake, just. The sun was not yet up, perhaps just peeking above the horizon but there was warmth in the air. What we would call a pleasant summer’s day. There was much yawning and stretching of volunteers during the first half of the morning as we climbed ladders and collected the apricots. One draw back was the inevitable hunger pains and we did avail ourselves of one or two of the fruits despite knowing that the hunger pains would be overtaken by indigestion. Perhaps you have guessed, but the apricots were not yet ripe as most were being shipped abroad so, like the bananas, were still at the green stage. 

After a few days of tummy pains most of us decided to put up with the hunger. At 8 o’clock we were taken back to the kibbutz for breakfast. Remember it was vegetarian so no bacon, but it was a glorious feast of vegetables, cheeses, yoghurts….I don’t need to list it all but I must say I’ve never again had such a breakfast. 

With full stomachs we returned to the orchards and picked the fruit until 11 o’clock. By this time the heat of the sun was beginning to burn us and we were glad to get back to the shade of our dormitories to wash then lunch and to the swimming pool. Wonderful.

There came often in these days of apricot picking the realisation that here I was in an orchard in the Holy Land on a day of peace and in the beauty of both the land and the sky. What stories this land had to tell?

Here is a little information about the kibbutzim:
When I lived on the kibbutz in the ‘70’s the idealistic kibbutz movement was in transition. The first kibbutz was established in 1910 and over decades dozens more were formed, about 270 to date but only about 3% of the population, across the territory that would become Israel. The kibbutzim had been formed before the state of Israel to help in the building of an Israeli state. Many were formed by young Jews from Eastern Europe who believed in a Jewish homeland. Others came to escape antisemitism and later, the Holocaust. For them the Kibbutz was like an extended family. They lived by their motto:

“From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” 

As Israeli society evolved from a scrappy generation of land-harvesting pioneers to the hi-tech generation of a nation, kibbutzim had to adjust to a new age of capitalism, gradually having to adapt their socialist ideas to fit into the world markets.

Despite their small numbers, kibbutzim have had much cultural and political influence on Israel for much of its history and many politicians, military leaders, intellectuals and artists coming from Kibbutzim. Politics in kibbutzim are associated with the left-wing and peace solutions.

Enough facts for now but I would like to tell you a bit about the Kibbutz Metzer where I was a volunteer and of my travels in Israel next time.

Marguerite

Dear readers,

You will be anxious to know how my stint in the high school progressed after leaving me chopping and dicing onions and garlic. Well it didn’t. Not because I wasn’t up to this task or because I was forced to keep my distance from all because of this new-found aroma that I carried on my person. It was in fact because of the need for extra volunteers in harvesting the apricots. Hurrah! 

Rising at 4.15 – yes me – to be on the trailer by 4.30 to be at the orchards for 5 and the picking began. I arose at the allotted time. I admit to a distinct lack of the springiness of step but I was awake, just. The sun was not yet up, perhaps just peeking above the horizon but there was warmth in the air. What we would call a pleasant summer’s day. There was much yawning and stretching of volunteers during the first half of the morning as we climbed ladders and collected the apricots. One draw back was the inevitable hunger pains and we did avail ourselves of one or two of the fruits despite knowing that the hunger pains would be overtaken by indigestion. Perhaps you have guessed, but the apricots were not yet ripe as most were being shipped abroad so, like the bananas, were still at the green stage. 

After a few days of tummy pains most of us decided to put up with the hunger. At 8 o’clock we were taken back to the kibbutz for breakfast. Remember it was vegetarian so no bacon, but it was a glorious feast of vegetables, cheeses, yoghurts….I don’t need to list it all but I must say I’ve never again had such a breakfast. 

With full stomachs we returned to the orchards and picked the fruit until 11 o’clock. By this time the heat of the sun was beginning to burn us and we were glad to get back to the shade of our dormitories to wash then lunch and to the swimming pool. Wonderful.

There came often in these days of apricot picking the realisation that here I was in an orchard in the Holy Land on a day of peace and in the beauty of both the land and the sky. What stories this land had to tell?

Here is a little information about the kibbutzim:
When I lived on the kibbutz in the ‘70’s the idealistic kibbutz movement was in transition. The first kibbutz was established in 1910 and over decades dozens more were formed, about 270 to date but only about 3% of the population, across the territory that would become Israel. The kibbutzim had been formed before the state of Israel to help in the building of an Israeli state. Many were formed by young Jews from Eastern Europe who believed in a Jewish homeland. Others came to escape antisemitism and later, the Holocaust. For them the Kibbutz was like an extended family. They lived by their motto:

“From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” 

As Israeli society evolved from a scrappy generation of land-harvesting pioneers to the hi-tech generation of a nation, kibbutzim had to adjust to a new age of capitalism, gradually having to adapt their socialist ideas to fit into the world markets.

Despite their small numbers, kibbutzim have had much cultural and political influence on Israel for much of its history and many politicians, military leaders, intellectuals and artists coming from Kibbutzim. Politics in kibbutzim are associated with the left-wing and peace solutions.

Enough facts for now but I would like to tell you a bit about the Kibbutz Metzer where I was a volunteer and of my travels in Israel next time.

Marguerite