A Wall of Light - Edeet Ravel [1]
Noam
Amnoni
Hagar
Founders
Martin Dubrovsky (“Michael”)
Isaac Milman (“Eli”?/“Rubin”?)
Edna
Amos
Dafna
Lou
Coco
Nina
Israeli-born Contingent Shoshana, Ora, Yael, Emanuel,
Katzi, Tamir, Oded
Thane
Jeremiah Ben-Jacob
Timeline
June 1955 to June 1959
Eldar
June 1959 to December 1960
Canada
January 1961 to June 1962
Eldar
I
Utopia
Utopia. From Gr. not (ού) + place (τόπος), i.e., no-place; an imaginary island, depicted by Sir Thomas More (1516) as a perfect social, legal and political system.
—OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY
Daily Schedule for Kindergarten/ Transitional First Grade Eldar, 1960
Wake-Up (Minder)
dress, wash up, free play
breakfast
directed play with teacher1
(art, stories, singing, holidays, nature, Hikes, literacy, numbers)
mid-morning snack
directed play
lunch
shower (if required)
two-hour nap
Wake-Up (on-duty monitor)
snack
three-hour visit with parents
return to Children’s House
supper
shower, pyjamas
Bedding-Down
Dori
We’ll build our country our country our homeland
Because this country belongs to us
We’ll build our country our country our homeland
Something blood something something generations
In spite of those who set out to destroy us
Fire something freedom something hope
I never can catch all the words.
Our First Year
On a cold day in January 1949, a small group of American Jews from the Young Guard Youth Movement unloaded their beds, straw mattresses, and toothbrushes, planted themselves in a deserted Arab village near the Lebanese border of Israel, and called themselves Kibbutz2 Eldar. The fact was registered in the Zionist press throughout the world, in small or large paragraphs, depending on the source, then probably forgotten, as most news is.3
Dori
I’m on the sofa in my parents’ Room. At night their sofa opens into a bed.
I could sleep on the floor next to them. I wouldn’t mind sleeping on the stone tiles in my clothes. I wouldn’t even need a blanket.
But Daddy says time to go back to the Children’s House sweetie.
Those words fly straight to my stomach. The Children’s House is as far away as the stars in the sky.
Pinocchio
Once upon a time, many centuries ago, there was—
“A king!” my little readers will say immediately.
No, children, you are mistaken. Once upon a time there was a piece of wood.
Dori
Unfortunately children aren’t allowed to sleep in the Rooms. We’re free but not that free.
I could pretend to fall asleep. That way Daddy will have to carry me back. Or I could beg for another page of Pinocchio.
Or I could do both. First beg for another page and then pretend to fall asleep.
Daddy believes that with children you have to say yes. That’s lucky for me. Very lucky. Not all children are so lucky. I beg for another page and he agrees. I told you!
Daddy was away for three months. He wasn’t here when it snowed. I didn’t want to play in the snow because nothing counted until he came back. Besides there was snow in Canada—though I must say I prefer the snow in Eldar. It makes a very loud noise when you walk on it and you can smell it on the earth and on the leaves. The snow in Canada didn’t have a smell.
I waited for Daddy the whole time he was away. I don’t know why he had to stay in Canada but he promised to come back and he did.
Parents aren’t allowed to break a promise.
Snow Boycott
Dori
Mostly I like Pinocchio. I don’t understand some parts. I don’t understand the part with the cricket and I don’t really know what a cricket is. If I was the writer I’d choose a butterfly or a lizard. Lizards sleep on rocks in the sun and if you’re very quiet you can touch their soft skin before they run away.
I don’t understand the part with the non-Jewish wig4 either. What is that all about?
Israelis wear non-Jewish wigs too by the way. Not Pioneers of course. But Israelis in cities for example. I don’t know why it’s called a non-Jewish wig.
I love the fairy with the blue hair. She’s so beautiful!
Daddy says now we really have to go—it’s very late.