Monday-August 26th. Visiting a Kibbutz.

     Today I visited Mahanayim, which is a Kibbutz about 3 hours away from Jerusalem. I went with Suzanne and Naama from Bizchut and Naama from Ono Academic College.

A Kibbutz is a way of life for many people in Israel. It is communal and everyone lives together, spread out over acres of land. It's members are expected to contribute and participate in the communal life, but they also benefit from essentially having one (very large) family.

Info on Mahanayim

     This Kibbutz had most things that you would need to live comfortably; including a school, grocery store, Synagogue and different "workshops" to participate in.
     We met with the "Board of Directors" who's son experiences a disability, and is a member of the Kibbutz. This has shaped what Mahanayim is today. They have a small group of about 12 people with disabilities that live in an apartment building close to the entrance of Mahanayim. They have support staff, but are also seen as important members of the community. Everyone is expected to participate in the community and work, not only to benefit themselves, but everyone. Much of the work is catered to what people's interests are. Among the things I saw today was a wood working shop, where they made pallets to sell to a local business. A large herb greenhouse that is still being built, where people get to learn about, and grow different plants. A miniature zoo complete with chickens, peacocks, rabbits, ducks and donkeys. One gentleman mentioned he also wanted to get a snake. There is also a workshop where they make paper products to sell, including completely handmade wedding invitations.
     As we took a tour, many of these people walked with us. We got to see the beginning of an art exhibit displayed in one of the communal halls. The son of the director paints pictures on doors, and a couple of them are in the exhibit. I was told he loves to paint, and has even given a picture he painted to the president of Israel.
     There is a movement within the Kibbutz to connect the young children with the group we met with. One way they are approaching this, is to have the children join in the different workshops once a week. Again, the goal is to have all members involved and living cohesively.

(The director with a picture his son painted)

(Naama and I at the painted doors)

  The Kibbutz seemed very peaceful, and almost idealistic in a sense. It has the feel of a tiny town where everyone looked after one another, disability or not.

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(View on the drive to Mahanayim)

(Leaving Jerusalem)

 (The apartment building where the people that we met share. It is split into three different sections.)

(Another apartment building on the Kibbutz. This one houses four families.)

(Some of the members of the group we met with. Also, Naama and Suzanne.)

(Some of the animals they take care of.)

(Curious Donkeys)

(Beautiful Peacock and chickens)

(The herb greenhouse)

(Some of our tour guides)

(Naama, me and Naama)

(The wood shop)

(Samples of some of the paper products they make)

The Synagogue)