Having recently returned from a "Heritage Trip" to Haarlem in Holland and Liverpool in England along with Irene and our two granddaughters (Mai after the IDF draft and the Adi due for the draft in December) returning to Matzuva and the tranquility of a rural community is like a breath of fresh air even if it is already 75 years old. The is now home to a younger generation who are active in all facets of life with the emphasis on progress.

"Savion House" The facility for our senior members that housed up to 15 senior citizens and functioned for about 15 years has been closed for a number of years being too small to be financially viable. To be rentable it would have to cater for up to 30 residents and on that basis it was closed (requiring building a further floor or extension to the building). The building was originally a children's house but with a low birthrate on the kibbutz towards the end quarter of the last century it was decided to use the building to cater for senior members who were infirm and needed to be cared for with a medical staff round the clock. Now the building has gone a complete circle and is today being renovated to once again become a children's house to facilitate the blessed growth in the number of children at Matzuva. After the completion of the renovation Savion House will serve the needs of Matzuva's children!!

On a sunny and humid afternoon in September most of the Matzuva kibbutz attended the funeral of another of our senior members Sarah Gershon R.I.P. at the age of 93 after a long illness. Sarah was born in Berlin in 1922 to parents who originally came from Czechoslovakia. Her father established a coal business and the family enjoyed a comfortable life. With the rise of Nazism in Germany the family moved back to Czechoslovakia but a few years later the Germans invaded the country and with it initiated "the final solution" for the Jews of Europe. In 1940 Sarah joined the Youth Aliya Scheme and sailed for Mandatory Palestine. Of her large family who were interned in concentration camps only her grandmother survived the war. Sarah came with a group of ideologist youngsters and after a 2 year spent at Kibbutz Degania she

decided to join Kibbutz Matzuva. The conditions were frugal and far from easy but she was proud to ז"ל Sarah Gershon 26.7.1922–24.9.2015 be a part of this pioneering community At Matzuva she met up with Avri Gershon and 4 years later their eldest daughter, Hanna was born six months before the establishment of the State of . In those early years the children at Matzuva were cared for in children's houses and only in the mid-1980's things changed and children lived at home from birth. Her younger children, Amitai and Ruti were also born at Matzuva. Sarah worked in the chicken houses, the textile plant and later was responsible for clothing repairs in the clothing store. Later in life she worked in the kibbutz library binding books and her expertise in this work brought in work from schools in the area. Sarah served on committees and would send food parcels to kibbutz members serving in the IDF. Her son Amitai is married and now lives in the USA and she with Avri visited that country a number of times as well as heritage tours in Europe. Saraleh was a lady in her nineties but she had a youthful outlook on life with all her family around her and caring for her until she passed away. May her dear soul rest in everlasting peace.

Visit of Sandy & Steve Selby It's always nice to welcome back former Ulpan students and Volunteer guests at Matzuva. Sandy and Steve were ulpan students in the 1970's and Steve went on to become a member of the kibbutz and also served in the IDF. The couple left quite a few friends at Matzuva and we were happy to see them once more. Sandy and Steve live in New York with their family. Besides visiting four kibbutz families I also took them along to the new Squash Court at Matzuva. The facility is first-class thanks to the outstanding work by kibbutz member Ohad Fliderman who planned and completed the only squash court north of Haifa. At the entrance to the court there is a plaque on the wall of donors who made Ohad's dream become a reality. Among the donors appear the names of Sandy and Steve Selby. The same evening the four families and the Selby's enjoyed an evening meal at a well-known restaurant in north Nahariya with our photographer Max Nathans taking a picture at this meeting of old friends. **Should any alumni wishing to visit Matzuva while in Israel contact me in advance by mail to [email protected]

Visit of Sandy and Steve Selby: Evening with old friends in Nahariya From Left to Right: Irene Kadmon, Baruch Kadmon, Max Nathans, Ziva Erlich, Steve Selby, Phillip Erlich, Sandy Selby, Jacqueline Meirkewitz, Andrea Fredericks Photo: Max Nathans

"My Heart is here..73 years I've lived here!" Hava Doron a founder member of Matzuva" (interviewed by Edna Nathans before moving to a care home for senior citizens prior to her leaving the kibbutz). "It's very hard for me there's an ongoing battle within me - my heart on the one hand and my head with the reasoning of my children on the other. They have a point that I should not live far from them and try out a home for seniors at Kfar Saba in the Sharon in the centre of Israel. Hitler wiped out my entire family – my children have never known their grandparents, uncles and aunts. Today I have 4 children and many grandchildren and at the end of the month there will be a great-grandchild. All of them live in central Israel. My children convinced me to make a move to be near to them. I need to try and live near them at a care home. We decided to have a Hava Doron month's trial–whatever may happen it's going to be hard for Musician me. The family helps a lot and supports but is nevertheless difficult for me The family helps a lot and supports but is nevertheless difficult for me. I have had a full life here at Matzuva and I hope everything turns out OK. I won't give up on my music and the family has brought the piano over also during the trial period. I won't give up on my reading and I still cook meals for myself and do other things. It's important for me to be as independent as possible. I am really attached to Matzuva with all my heart but unfortunately my friends have passed away and the younger population I don't know and sometimes I feel like a stranger in my own home. I really love the view from my salon window – I wept when my possessions were taken by my daughter with her daughter and my granddaughter to my new home ". We wish you Hava good health and enjoyment with your loving family with many years of happiness in your new environment /Edna

50+ Committee This relatively new committee has been formed to cater for the 50–80 year age group at Matzuva. Tamar Reuven, Shosh Segal, Mirale Levi, Shlomo Cohen, Andrea Frederick and Ingrid Ben-Shabbat. Ori Samushi sits on the committee as an observer from the Municipal Committee. The committee organizes activities that include talks, field trips, get-togethers and looks after the welfare of the 80+ senior members at Matzuva. A very interesting talk on "Inheritance and Wills" was given by Attorney Narkis Lavi, a resident of the community neighborhood at Matzuva. The next talk will be on the subject of "Senior-Citizen Rights"

Five Years of a crazy sensitivity with a stubborn will to dream and achieve…all against any chance to act and against all odds (or nearly all). I would meet Ohad on the path and exchanged a word or two with him, what progress was afoot with his project. Even at the end of a difficult day he was always willing to report on the progress of his idea

I needed to report to the kibbutz newsletter on the project and his enthusiasm and determination along with a lot of tiredness and sometimes despair didn't prevent him from declaring the project will become a reality. This time I wasn't looking for a report but rather looking forward to interviewing him. I wanted to hear a little about him directly from the horses mouth! (Edna Nathans).

Ohad: "I'm originally from Jerusalem and I came to northern Israel to study computer science. During this time I met my wife-to-be, Neta, and we continued to live in Haifa. I began to work in the industrial park called Tefen in Western and we looked for a community village in the area. We arrived eventually at Matzuva through the good offices of Yifat Goldstein who was my boss and had built her home in the neighborhood section of Matzuva. We liked the idea of living in a kibbutz and we moved into our new home in the former Children's Farm section. I worked in hi-tech and especially enjoyed the social standing, comfort and prestige but I felt I wasn't in the right place I wanted to be in. My desire to work professionally and also other considerations I wanted to do. I had never before actively been engaged in education but the idea to move over to this profession gathered pace. I left hi-tech and worked for 2 years at the "Manof" children's village for children-at-risk and a further year as a mathematics teacher at the Manor school in Kabri. I was very happy with the turnaround as well as the change of profession. I really love Matzuva despite all the difficulties as well as the gulf between what I thought it was in comparison with reality. I love sport but at that time I hadn't yet discovered squash and I had never participated in competitive sport. My first introduction to squash was as a student at Haifa University. They have good courts and I gradually discovered that after hard work I was on the road to becoming a good player. My first aim was to become a member of the university team and afterwards to compete and eventual become a coach. I took private lessons and I worked hard and also had the urge to win. I would play 5-6 games a week and also trained alone. The dream of having squash at Matzuva has always been to have a squash court here on the kibbutz. One day I got a phone call that the court at Ra'anana in the Sharon was being dismantled – I knew that this was a one-time opportunity! They knew me as a coach living in the north and believed I could turn my dream into a reality. We help to dismantle their court and received a little financial assistance from Matzuva to bring the parts home. However, I knew this wasn't going to be enough! Finding donors is not easy but with the help of others we succeeded to raise the required money. This was a head start and thus the period of planning and building could begin. It was a long journey lasting 2 years to finally see the fruits of our work in place". (Translation of Part 1 of the interview by Edna Nathans in Hebrew with Ohad). Never a dull moment down on the farm !! Shalom, Baruch Please read on….

Nitzan Reuven, firstborn at Matzuva, celebrates his 75th Birthday this month and a special evening will be held at the moadon with a movie about the life so far of this great character who is always willing to help others!

Everyone here knows Nitzan, veteran members and newcomers, adults and kids – on a tractor or a battery-driven buggy. He smiles and is down to earth telling a story connected to the kibbutz. To kindergarten toddlers he always asks "Do you want that I work with you in the kindergarten? – that's Nitzan! During the last few months he runs around with a new sparkle in his eyes! He has a dream of a new project on the way – he tells of it and enlists anyone who is able and willing to assist in it's realization!

** Once again we would like to draw your attention to the new project named "Aliya to Matzuva" and our appeal for support to turn this idea into reality for all to enjoy.

New Project at Matzuva – We still need your help!! "A MiniatureMatzuva" …but not exactly Madurodam!

This new project called "Aliya to Matzuva" is the brainchild of Nitzan Reuven. The location is the little hillock to the north of the new circle immediately past the main gate into the kibbutz. The target date is the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of Matzuva in 1940. The project has been designed by architect Itzik Ben-David, a resident of Matzuva, along with the input of kibbutznik Ezra Segali and the Matzuva Trustee Noam Netzer.

The idea is to include replica items such as the security wall around the new settlement, a watch tower, the first bell tents and hut of the fledgling kibbutz including basic agricultural implements of that period. We will publish a more detailed map of the project in the coming updates.

"ALIYA TO MATZUVA" PROJECT

North ↑ To Shlomi

PROJECT

PERIMETER ← SITE

FENCE →

MAIN ROAD INTO KIBBUTZ MATZUVA MAIN GATE *to the south → of the road the community neighborhood NEW ↑TRAFFIC CIRCLE

Background: Way back in February 1940 the first settlers left the "Tower and Stockade" Camp at Lower and crossed the northern border road and began to climb up a hill on the southern side of the northern road and in doing so established Kibbutz Matzuva. This was at that particular time a daring and significant step that determined that the area north of Akko would become in 1948 an integral part of the fledgling State of Israel. This became the Western Galilee region right up to the border with Lebanonratified by the Rhodes Armistice Pact of 1949. The Matzuva land had been purchased from wealthy Arabs in Beirut and was one of the few Jewish communities north of Akko in the Biblical area of the Tribe of Asher (one of the 12 tribes of Israel).

Conditions were frugal and tough with no water within reach and these young adult pioneers lived in tents with a single shack that served as a dining room and communal center. The initial diet was made up of carobs and olives with water being brought by road from Nahariya. In this sparse environment the first child of Matzuva was born. He was named Nitzan and was the pride of his parents the Reuven Family and the small community. Sadly, Nitzan's father was killed near Akko while on a mission for the Hagana resistance in 1943. At this time Palestine was then under the British Mandate while across the border nearby was the French mandate over Lebanon that during the WW2 was under Vichy control.

Today, Nitzan is in his mid 70's but still working as a motor mechanic for Matzuva Agriculture. He is married to Tamar who is also a daughter of founder members. I spoke with Nitzan recently (who is a neighbor of ours) about his aspirations as a proud grandfather. He told me of his dream to ensure that the early days of Matzuva be somehow remembered not solely in words but also in a tangible way for present and future persons of the wider Matzuva Family. I asked Nitzan what idea he had in mind!

He said that we would love to establish a "Miniature Matzuva" depicting physically how Matzuva became a reality in 1940. He subsequently spoke with Noam Netzer the kibbutz trustee who embraced the idea. Nitzan identified a little hillock not far from the main entrance to Matzuva with the kibbutz to the north and the community neighborhoods to the south. At this site a retro of Kibbutz Matzuva 1940 is to be erected as a visitor's center attracting visitors to the Western Galilee as well as the hundreds and hundreds of volunteer guests and Ulpan alumni who we hope will make a nostalgic visit to Matzuva and Israel to meet residents and take a walk down Memory Lane.

We need your assistance and generosity to turn Nitzan's dream into a reality that will bring back in most cases pleasant memories of younger days including the kibbutz experience of work, study and camaraderie bringing together young adults from numerous countries and backgrounds.

The project has been recognized and approved by the Mateh Asher Regional Council and the plans have now been submitted for approval. The cost of the project is not finalized at this stage but we will keep you informed when known.

Once again I recommend readers to visit Max's Photo Album on this website for a pictorial view of life at Matzuva through his excellent and original quality photos and videos. Enjoy! Baruch

MATZUVAAGRICULTURE Growing with Love

Until the next update – keep well and be in contact.

Best wishes to all our readers Baruch –

Matzuva, November 6, 2015 MATZUVA’S 75th YEAR 105 YEARS OF THE