MATZUVA MIDSUMMER UPDATE 2008
Without doubt the launching of “Aley Giva”, the Matzuva Newsletter in Hebrew was a source of
satisfaction for all concerned enabling Hebrew speakers associated with Matzuva
to read about daily life on the Kibbutz.
We are particularly pleased that Ulpan graduates will have the
opportunity to refresh their knowledge of Hebrew while reading text about the
kibbutz community.
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Noam Netzer is the auditor and
administrator of Kibbutz Matzuva. Noam,
a resident of the Timrat community village in the
Noam’s Report
Nofey Matzuva [community village]: All the 41 building plots of Stage
A have been marketed and infrastructures are in place including sewage and
approach roads. A tender has been
advertised for the public area between Stage A and Stage B and work will
commence after Rosh Hashana that will also include
further paths, sidewalks, street lighting, electricity, communications,
landscaping, etc. Houses are already
being built at the site. Stage B (66 building plots) is completely sold out
and applications have been submitted to the Israel Land Administration for
building permits and we now await approval in order to commence infrastructure
work in November 2008. Stage C
will contain 119 building plots and will be split into two parts. Planning is expected to begin in about 8
weeks time and marketing will be delayed until the initial detailed planning is
ready – this despite the very brisk demand for plots!
10 plots at the site of the old children’s farm: 8 plots have been marketed with the remainder interest also
being shown in the remaining ones. Seven
of the families have received planning permission and the infrastructure
contractor has already begun to clear the ground and lay infrastructures
(Owners of these plots have undergone an absorption process and are now kibbutz
members).
Noam also reviewed
other infrastructures including ongoing legal and financial efforts to have the Israel Electric Company connect
up to each consumer building on the kibbutz as is the case elsewhere in urban
and rural areas in Israel. Widening of
roads, sidewalks, street lighting, parking areas, water and sewage piping on
the kibbutz are also on the agenda.
The Children’s Playground: is shortly to be rebuilt after receiving a grant from the
regional council.
As reported earlier two kindergartens have been
completely renovated and we hope that the Ministry of Education will build a
new pre-school kindergarten during the coming year in order to meet the
ever-increasing demand within the community and from the area.
The works of replacing asbestos roofing continues in the
residential and farm areas of Matzuva and are being replaced with more
eco-suitable roofing.
The Dining Room
As mentioned before the food processing plant at the
dining room just didn’t get off the ground and to everyone’s delight they’ve
moved out with their equipment. The
damage to the building is considerable and legal proceedings will be initiated.
The building may once again return for the use of the
ever growing community but the renovation costs will be very expensive.
Swimming Pool
An agreement has been signed with an experienced swimming
pool operator and we have now received a license on the proviso that we invest
in the pool during the next few years.
We have hired a swimming pool architect to submit plans and we will try
and find the funding required. The
existing pool should operate for the next 5-10 years with the future swimming
pool to be situated in the vicinity of the Matzuva community village.
****
Pensions
Martin Buber, the renowned philosopher once stated “The
kibbutz is the experiment that has not failed”. The kibbutz credo was more or less based on
a “From the womb to the tomb” ideology in which all the kibbutzniks were taken care of totally by the kibbutz
society. Unfortunately, as is the case
with Matzuva, due to this ideology many kibbutzim did not invest in pension
funds for their members. In times of dire financial straits the kibbutz finds
itself difficult to care for its senior members as it would like to. With “privatization” becoming widespread in
the majority of kibbutzim this error from the past raises its ugly head. Matzuva did make some small investments in
this area but the fear is that it will not suffice to cover the growing number
of young pensioners.
The matter has to be addressed and will surely come up
for discussion.
“Kehillat Matzuva” –
The Matzuva Synagogue
For over 12 years the synagogue has existed for the use
of members of the kibbutz who wish to celebrate religious occasions, rites,
ceremonies, etc. The synagogue is open to
all streams of Judaism be they orthodox, traditional or reform. Most of the children celebrate their bar-mitzva/bat-mitzva at the age of 13/12 years along with
their families and friends at the synagogue.
Prayers and traditions are chosen by the parents according to their
wishes. In order to ensure its
continuance there is now a need to identify and introduce younger members onto
the synagogue committee.
****
The days are long, hot and humid, people are on vacation,
and the sound of building is everywhere and in two weeks time the kids return
to school.
So until next time, Take Care
Baruch