by Edeet Ravel
I don’t know which chair I would choose. I think the chair for two to curl up in. Maybe on different days I could sit in different chairs.
The reason we don’t have television here is the same reason we don’t have makeup or made-up hair. Pioneers don’t get fooled so easily.
One time in Canada Mummy took me to a department store and all of a sudden she said can you keep a secret Dori? And I said yes. And she said you have to promise never ever ever to tell anyone. I said I promise. Usually I’m not good at keeping secrets but I decided to keep this one no matter what. She said I’m going to try on that makeup. There were two women dressed like nurses putting makeup on for free. Mummy said I want to see what it feels like to be a real woman. Even I knew that was a silly thing to say.
Mummy sat in a chair and the two women put makeup on her face. I sat next to one of the mannequins and looked at the perfume bottles. Some were blue but most were plain glass. I love little bottles.
When the two women finished Mummy said thank you and we went to the bathroom. She tried to wash everything off but it wasn’t easy. Some of the makeup was stuck on. Mummy said they put on way too much—I look like I’m wearing a mask.
I never told anyone our secret and I never will as long as I live.
Thy Neck with Chains of Gold
ELI knocks on RITA’s door and enters without waiting for a reply. He is preoccupied. He carries a radio and his work assignment board.
ELI
I can’t finish the work assignments in the office.
Everyone comes in and gives me arguments. May I …
RITA
Of course.
ELI
The radio’s for you. It’s your turn this week.
RITA
Are you sure?
ELI
That’s what the Members’ Committee told me.
RITA
Thanks, Eli.
ELI
(manipulating the cards on the board as he speaks)
Deena wants two work days in the laundry. She’ll get
one because Dudi has to tie grape vines. There’ll be
carpentry tomorrow—Shmulik will spray the orchard.
Marina in sanitation—no, I promised her shabat.
Jonah—chickens. Morty will deliver the laundry and
kerosene to the nurseries and then he’ll help in the
garage. Benjamin, store-house. Sammy—sheep. Ricky
will clear rocks from field number 6 along with Tova,
no—she’s sick. The three Danish kids can help him.
What’ll I do with Peretz? Two left hands, three left feet
… let him continue in the library. And Paula mending
and ironing and that’s it.
RITA
You couldn’t let me have a few hours’ help tomorrow,
could you?
ELI
I’m afraid not. We have five extra people on guard
tonight. (Looks at chart, then at her) Well … Paula
doesn’t have to iron all day.
RITA
(hugs him) Thank you, Eli.
ELI
(to MICHAEL) You’d better look at this—you’re not driv-
ing for a couple of days. Marina told me it’s too hard on
her.
MICHAEL
Oh she did, did she?
ELI
I put you down for work on the kibbutz until Effie’s
well.
MICHAEL
This is ridiculous.
ELI
Marina’s falling off her feet. She can’t work properly.
MICHAEL
So you’re concerned with her work, not with the kid.
ELI
The child is the educational committee’s concern. (looks
at RITA)
RITA
Effie would be very happy—if his father were home
sometimes.
ELI
So Moishi will drive.
(RITA turns on the radio)
MICHAEL
But I’m the driver!
ELI
Maybe I’ll take you off the road for good. Some people
think you ought to work on the farm for a change.
MICHAEL
I work more hours than anyone on this kibbutz! Last
week I spent three days chasing around for building
materials which we didn’t have money to buy. I also
finagled all that feed for the sheep. I swiped two broken
army jeeps and Matty fixed them up so they’re good
as new. I’m not only the best driver around here, I also
have initiative, and you know it.
(The radio plays instrumental rock and roll music.)
ELI
Please change the station.
MICHAEL
This music too bourgeois for you?
RITA
Sure, Eli.
MICHAEL
So where did you put me? (Finding his work card on the
board) In the kitchen!
ELI
That’s right. Early shift.
(MICHAEL curses under his breath)
MICHAEL
Let me drive the tractor tomorrow.
RITA
Just like the kids. Anything on wheels.
ELI
Be thankful I didn’t put you on guard duty. The army
found a mine and tracks that led across the border …
MICHAEL
I’ll guard all night.
ELI
It’s not necessary. We need you in the kitchen—at
4:30 a.m.
MICHAEL
Yes, Boss.
ELI
Don’t call me Boss.
MICHAEL
Sorry, Boss.
RITA
I’ll make you some coffee, Eli. You’d better put on
gatkes or you’ll freeze on guard tonight.
MICHAEL
Gatkes! What are we, decrepit?
RITA
It has nothing to do with being decrepit.
ELI
Actually, I think I have a little rheumatism.
MICHAEL
There, what did I tell you?
ELI
(to RITA) You’ve been Michael’s neighbour for years.
How do you tolerate him?
RITA
I’m very good with problem children. (She is about to
give ELI his coffee but MICHAEL takes it out of her hands)
What are you doing?
MICHAEL
He won’t drink this capitalist brew. This coffee was
ground by an international imperialist monopoly.
RITA
(takes cup) Oh, shut up.
MICHAEL
Where have all our principles gone to?
Dori
I tell Daddy about Elan. I lie on the floor of the Room and I put my arms out to show him.
Daddy doesn’t say anything. I don’t understand. If he believes me why doesn’t he do something? And if he doesn’t believe me why doesn’t he believe me?
I did cheat once in War. Daddy knew I was cheating. I gave myself all the good cards. Daddy asked did you take all the good cards for yourself ? and I said no and then a few cards later he asked again and I said no again but he knew I was lying because it’s too much of a coincidence for one person to get all the kings and queens and jacks. But it was only a game.
And he doesn’t know about the time I pinched Sara’s foot.
By the way, it isn’t fun playing War if you give yourself all the good cards. You know you’re going to win and then you win.
Age of Innocence
Dori
I am really in love with Tarzan.
Transcript of Education Committee Meeting May 1961
Chair:
Coco
Present:
Shoshana, Doreet, Edna, Varda, Amos, Martin
Coco:
Since the problem with Muki’s bedwetting solved
itself, Varda would like to bring up the subject of read-
ing to children at bedtime.
Varda:
Yes, thank you. I noticed that some Minders don’t read
to the younger children at all. At every teachers’ con-
ference I’ve been to there’s been a huge emphasis on
reading out loud. And the children absolutely love it.
Amos:
I have “Reading to Children” in my index, if anyone
wants to look up articles.
Coco:
Your wonderful index! Thank you for keeping that
up, Amos.
Varda:
Yes, thank you, Amos. I know when I was a Minder I
used to read to the children at least an hour a day, usu-
ally more. That doesn’t include songs and poetry. And
now that I’m teaching it hasn’t changed. If anything,
I read to them even more. Storytime is the children’s
favourite activity, they always beg for more. We’ve
almost finished Gulliver’s Travels.
Edna:
Don’t forget that parents also read to their children
during Visits.
Varda:
Not all parents have the time, the energy, the inclina-
tion or even the Hebrew reading skills.
Martin:
Yes, Schopenhauer in Hebrew is quite a challenge.
Varda:
What do you think, Doreet?
Doreet:
We just had a shipment of new books for little ones—it
arrived on Sunday. Some lovely treasures there.
Amos:
Yes, though they all dispersed quite fast into the
Diaspora of the Rooms. I think I have a vague notion
of who has what …
Coco:
Let’s bring it to a vote. Should we require all Minders to
read to children, if possible, starting with the toddlers?
Vote:
For = 7 Against = 0
Shoshana:
I would like to bring up the subject of some children
getting tucked in by parents while others are not.
Varda:
We already discussed this and agreed to make excep-
tions in the case of illness or special situations.
Shoshana:
I’m wondering whether parents alone decide on the
special situations or whether the committee decides?
Amos:
We can’t call a meeting every time a child has a fever.
Shoshana:
I’m thinking of the special cases that are ongoing.
Martin:
I’m sure no one here would take advantage. We have
extraordinary moral fibre in this kibbutz.
Coco:
If there is a specific problem, we can discuss it.
Shoshana:
Everyone knows I’m referring to Dori. It’s been five
months now, I’m sure she’s adjusted.
Coco:
Varda, any comments?
Varda:
Dori spent a year and a half in Canada. She’s still hav-
ing a hard time separating in the evenings.
Amos:
We have to consider how it makes the other children
feel. What message it sends out.
Coco:
I don’t want to rush things, but the yawns in this room
are starting to remind me of “The Lotus Eaters.”
Martin:
“There is sweet music here …”
Varda:
“That softer falls than petals …”
Coco:
Sorry to move from the sublime to the mundane,
but let’s vote: Should Varda be allowed to give Dori a
goodnight kiss?
Vote:
For = 1 Against = 2 Abstentions = 4
Dori
It’s Independence Day. We join a big parade of everyone in Eldar. We hold little Israeli flags that we made and we sit in a gigantic circle and sing songs. Hundreds of songs.
The older children play hide-and-go-seek. I hide behind the barn but no one finds me and when I come back the game is over. Did I win because no one found me or did I lose because I didn’t run back without being caught?
The older children go to the clubhouse to dance. We run after them. There’s a record of Let’s Twist Again Like We Did Last Summer39 and everyone dances the twist. My brother David is very good at twisting. I love that song. They play it a hundred times. The bigger children don’t like the little children getting in the way but we don’t care. They keep complaining and we keep getting in their way. They’re happy when it’s time for us to go back to the Children’s House.
I can’t wait to be bigger.
Our First Year
14 February 1949. Thirty of us have arrived from the interim kibbutz. It’s a cold, rainy, misty drive around the Kinneret, through Safed; the poppies are beautiful, but it was a lousy trip. One has to be in a certain heroic mood to appreciate the transient, vagrant beauties of this country from the back of a truck, in the rain, with inadequate clothing on one’s back.
Five of us are housed in a high-ceilinged, stone wall, unplastered room; it leaks, it’s damp and oppressive; no windows; a dim lantern provides meagre light; and it’s so crowded we’ll have to demand that one person move out; there are also a few mice in my corner, but otherwise it’s quite comfortable.
In the evening two young Arabs from Jish dropped by and wanted to discuss the political program of the United Workers Party with us. Just like that. They look like intelligent chaps, but it’s been very difficult for us to be genuinely interested in politics these past few days.
Dori
My brother David is teaching me how to embroider. The cloth is in a metal circle with a picture in light blue that you follow. Mine is a bird.
David showed me how to do three different stitches. He’s very good at embroidering.
In Camp Bilu’im I went to the arts and crafts room every day. The counsellor in that room was very nice. She gave me popsicle sticks and glue and paint and pieces of coloured paper and scissors.
Most scissors don’t cut very well it seems. Some don’t cut at all. My grandfather in Canada had scissors that were very good at cutting. Why doesn’t everyone get that kind?
My grandfather also had a glue bottle with a red rubber top and a crack for the glue to come out. If you squeeze the crack it looks like a mouth opening.
I liked that glue bottle so much that Daddy brought it with him from Canada. Or maybe he found one like it in the city.
At Camp Bilu’im at first I ate with everyone else in the Dining Hall. But then my mother said we had to eat in the kitchen because the campers didn’t want little children around.
I didn’t want to eat in the kitchen with Sara in her high chair. There wasn’t even a table for me. Only a stool and a counter covered with pots and dirty dishes.
I got into a bad mood. I could hear all the campers singing a song about two sisters she won’t do it but her sister will and having fun. They never even noticed me when I ate with them and if they noticed me they were very nice. I think Mummy made up that story but I don’t know why.
Marsha from Arts and Crafts
Dori
By the way I never talked once in that kindergarten Mummy forced me to go to in Canada and I never did anything. I just stood in the corner or sat on a chair and ignored everyone.
The only time I joined in was when they gave us see-through paper to glue behind shapes that you cut out of a black piece of paper. Then on the back it looks messy but in front all you see is the see-through paper shining inside the shapes. That see-through paper was really and truly beautiful. Especially if you held it up to the window. It came in red and blue and yellow and green. I wish we
had some here on Eldar.
Wait—there was one other thing. The gold and silver crowns on Purim. I couldn’t resist those either.