A Relaxing Day and a Half at Kibbutz Hanaton

We began our day waking up earlier than usual to get more work in at the garden, because of our planned trip to Kibbutz Hanaton. Before work we set a kavanah (intention) for the next two days: stepping out of your personal comfort zone. Then, the Yahel participants broke into committees to plan either Shabbat at the Kibbutz or the tekes (ceremony). Once some of the local Druze students and other community leaders showed up at the garden, the group got to work!

Everyone broke into their respective groups, whether it was planting, creating the path, painting the mural, or building the tables. The Deputy Mayor of Maghar (second from right) and school principal (first on left) also came by to show their support and enthusiasm for the project.

Everyone put in a solid work effort and a lot of progress was made in the short time we had to work in. At 12:30 we were served a very tasty meal consisting of sh’warma and various toppings. After the meal, we all hopped on the bus, excited to make the journey to the Kibbutz!

Once we arrived to the Kibbutz, we first met Navee, who was a new friend for some and an old friend for others. Then, we all unpacked and relaxed in our new rooms awaiting the oncoming Friday night Shabbat services. At around 4:30, we met as a group and made our way to services. We were impressed by the amount of energy shown by the members of Kibbutz Hanaton as well as their guests.

After services we said the Shabbat blessings and ate dinner. After dinner, the group met in the library for a Tish, which consisted of melodic Hebrew songs, poems, and stories. After the Tish was over, our group bonded through various jokes, cup tricks, conversations and games.

In the morning, group members had the option of attending morning Shabbat services or getting some extra rest. Later after services, we all met for a relaxing tour of Kibbutz Hanaton, which provided the group a basic history of the Kibbutz, the neighboring villages surrounding the Kibbutz, and the land of Israel as a whole.

Afterwards, the group enjoyed a scrumptious lunch consisting of chicken, hummus, fresh vegetables and various other dishes. When lunch was over the group moved to the library for an insightful talk about life on the kibbutz with our newly acquainted friend, Navee. After the talk, the group took a relaxing break. Once break was over, we headed on over to the beit knesset where we met with an Isrsaeli reform rabbi who is married to an Orthodox rabbi. We discussed the meaning of being religious in Israel and pluralism, both on a kibbutz and as it relates to general politics of the nation of Israel. 

We ended Shabbat in the library where we extinguished the Havdalah candle, discussed the "thorns and roses" (what we liked and disliked) of our Shabbat experience on the Kibbutz and finally discussed the kavanah with the group. Shabbat Shalom!

Today's blog was written by Lenny and Andrew Schwartz