LESSONS FROM PALESTINE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 61, 2 April 1943, Page 5

LESSONS FROM PALESTINE

•JEWISH COMMUNITY FARMS THE SOCIAL ASPECT 1 CLIFF MoCRACKEN S SECOND LETTER Those who enjoyed reading *-Gnr Cliff McCracken's letter on the farming methods employed 'on the Jewish community farm at Haifa, in North Africa, where he was privileged l to spend a 'bpief holiday, will' welcome "this further description which • deals wholly with! the social •side of life in the community. • It would seem that in l working 1 •out their own problems the -Jews have made considerable progress under a straightout socialistic regime from which the 'world at large could afford to 'borrow many lessons. "The letter reads:—■ As regards the holiday, I had a great time as I told you in my lcttei especially our few days stay at one of the Jewish colonics. Here we were treated and fed like lords on all the best they could grow. The fruit was certainly a treat, and I am sure it did us a lot of good. Tojna 7 toes, apples, pears, plums, grapes, ' together with milk and potatoes formed the greater part of our meals -besides constantly eating fruit pretty well all day long as Ave Avan«* ■ <lcred about having a good look a* all that they were doing. In my last letter I tried to give an idea of what, was going on in 'the way of fanning activities. Now IX will tell you something about the •social aspect. To begin with these colonies are formed by groups of Jews all of the same outlook of life ;and. in this particular colony their consisted of peoples from pretty well off over the globe, Rumanians, Poles, Germans, Americans, South Africans etc. Desire for Sanctuary Instead of being hunted all over 'the world they made up their minds "to group together, return and woWk 'the land somewhere where they would not be molested and whore they could do some good by making available for their children, a home, -and a brighter and more peaceful -outlook for the future. As you know all the efforts of every individual in the community are pooled for the common good so that, all :get exactly the same treatment. Every membdr has an equal say in what is going on and after discussions the committees for the varfa •ous works (pastures, cows, sheep, fowls, etc.) arc left to make the final, arrangements and works programme thus everyone has his own particular job to do and changes in work are often made so that those who have a not so pleasant a job -are not kept at. it too long a period. Everyone Happy Consideration is also given to individual tastes. For example one might be more interested in cows than the orchards so that they are rgiven every encouragement. Everyone seemed, so happy about their •work and: in spite of their being no "individual gain all seemed to be proud of their particular assignments and determined to make it. a , success. An Early Start As it was harvesting time Avhen •we 1 were there the day's work starts -ed ear.ly and they were working <iuite long hours with 2 to 2% hours break in the middle of the day. Sjßy breakfast time many had a In ready done 2% hours work. Each day a fresh lot of girls and women would take over the kitchen duties and the serving and waiting on the tables in the large dining room. This main room was kept for alii over the age of 14 years while the .younger ones had their own dining room and kitchen and lastly those up to about 6 years still had their -meals in their own nursery. Glimpse Into Nursery The nursery was in the hands of trained nurses who every six months take a fortnight's refresher course :.at one of the larger hospitals and •so kept in touch with things. The girl in charge was an Amcrcian and so was able to tell us a lot about its working. Before joining the colony she was a teacher in |i large Kindergarten in the States •and has consequently got the confidence of the mothers of the ren in her charge. From birth the children are looked after by the nurses while the parents are at ■work and then they can take them

out whenever, they have .finished their jobs. When a child is first born the mother wh6 might for argument's sake may have been working in the orchard. Now however she will be given every consideration and may spend her day doing odd jobs about the settlement such as carrying meal's to the sick ones or helping in the llower gardens or grading eggs just something where she can be handy so that she can visit her child whenever .the feels inclined and yet be on a job where tlie surroundings are pleasant and keep lier bright.. Then at .various times during the day she can take her bab} r for a walk or play with it on their lawns. Care of the Toddlers Infants Avho arc able! to get around on their own that is from two upwards to six are looked after during the day by some of the younger girls who take them for Avalks in the orchards etc. and start them off learning by teaching them simpler things in ordinary day life and a.lis'o teach tliem tidiness by getting them to gatlier wind-Jail apples- etc. and performing other such simple jobs. Then they may still (under supervision) play in their sand pits AA'hile some of the older ones of this group may be Avatcring their own garden and learning to discriminate Aveeds from iilants. So they are brought up right from the start to undcr4 stand nature and are encouraged to take an interest in the growth of j plants. Pleasure in Work Thus tiiis Avork to them is a pleasure and. Avlien we Avere there though Ave could not understand their Hebrew language they would take us by the lingers and slioav us the plants that they Avere growing or all the apples they had collected. Inside this children's nursery each one had his or her own bed) ar4d little dressing table and. responsible for its tidiness. Then in the next room- was the playroom with all manner of toys and the result of their draAving efforts of i which they Avere so proud. Their kitchen contained, a A r ery loav sink where eacli one Avashcd his or her oavii dishes before going into the j steriliser. In the bathroom each had j their own hook for their tooth brush and toilet gear similar to the hooks for their bibs and aprons just outside their dining room. Serious Education A)t the age of six they started learning in earnest and already they had had quite a good start knowing at deast Avhat their own name looked, like in Avriting and this girl told us that, they picked up things very quickly. From six omvards they started to do more outdoor work ranging from about an hour in the middle of the morning until those about 12 to 14 Avere doing half a day's work 4 hours andi tflien spending four hours in the afternoon studying besides a extra period in the evening. ' Matriculation Standard Their education is practically the | same as our standard for matriculation and. Avhen this is attained u:>lu-.< ally at the age of 16 years, the children are then able to choose for themselves whether they leaA r e the colony and go and work in the cities and so far only 2 per cent of all the colonists haA'c left, due mainly I guess to the upbringing and pleasant surroundings made for them. It is not an easy life from Avhat I could see. There are many advantages for the children compared with our country -life in that they have many of their OAvn age to play with and practically individual teaching. The Family Influence What seemed to impress me most of all was the fact that their pari ents, in spite of all one hears, were so eager to be Avith them when their day's AA'ork was over. At five thirty Avhen the parents were finished the children Avould all be dressed neatly and bright just bursting over with news to tell their parents who they would play with them until it was their bedtime. There Avas no hurrying off of thjes youngsters because the mother had not had them about her all day long and it Avas the usual sight to see mother and father Avandering off with their youngsters until /it Avas their bedtime at 7.30. While this was going on the older children could be heard A'ery plainly having their games on the recreational area and the physique and health of them all impressed us both. In fact all (Continued In next column)

the children were bonny specimens and seemed most happy. Homes for Married Couples/ Each married couple had their own little two-roomed house, lawn and garden, while the unmarried boys and girls had their own dor-t Hiitorics each divuded into two classes 8-13 years and 13 onwards. This colony described themselves as the 'right wing' of the. Socialist movement so it was not surprising to find that the members were lowed so much each of the prolits to buythoir own clothes and. dress as they pleased and not Avear uniform clothes as some do. Compulsory Holiday Eiich year every member is compelled to take a fortnight's holiday off the farm and draws the sum of £5 for same which 1 am told was quite a bit before the war but which would not. go far to-day. With religion they are. free to worship as they please and the baker told us that though many adhere strictly to their odd customs and peculiarities the younger ones have a more modern religion amongst them. In fact the whole thing im* pressed me quite a bit and with their lectures and social evenings where singing and music was enjoyed I am sure it lias done more to encourage these, young people to stay on the land than a lot of our back block farms; have to-day. Every person has one day off a week a'njd can please himself or herself whether they go to town and to the piotures or any other entertainment that may be on for they arc appaif ently allowed so much pocket money each to do what they please with. Desire for Freedom As they say, it was; the necessity for making a living and the desire to be left alone, for a peaceful life that made them start these farms and each one realising that without the efforts and co-operation of the rest the . whole system would break down so it is doubtful Avhether it could be worked as well in other countries when we have had so much freedom and individual enterprise but these people had nothing and arc to-day happy with a home and have plenty to feed and clothe: their families on besides making full use of the land that was only .a few years ago protruding next to nothr ing. Well, tlrat will give you a slight idea of the workings of this place and I am sure that you will have to agree with me that even if it. is Socialism these, people are doing a good job of work. , What is: more they seem so happy and contented with the life that they are now able to live*