MATZUVA “Yom HaYeled” 2008

After a few barren years following the demise of “Arigei Matzuva”, the Matzuva weaving factory and subsequent knock-on effect on the kibbutz itself, the traditional “Yom HaYeled” (Children’s Day) has now returned as a regular ‘must’ in the Matzuva calendar. The day entirely devoted to the kibbutz kids has been an important feature in the life of the kibbutz stretching back decades. I remember organizing the event way back in the seventies on a tight budget employing more home-made attractions than those of today.

This year the day began on Friday with a joint festive meal for 150+ Matzuva children in the moadon (clubhouse). The theme at the amusement park was water games with a lot of activity sports. This was appropriate as the temperature in the shade on the day was in the mid-30’s. The fair on Saturday was open to throngs of kibbutz and visiting children (mainly invited guests with personal connections to Matzuva). There were also food stalls at the event held on the lawns to the west and the north of the moadon (see Max’s pictorial).

The “Jewel in the crown” as always was the locally produced dramatic performance in the hall next to the swimming pool. This year the performance presented was Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” directed and staged by Hava Cohen and produced by Joanne Samoshi (an Ulpan graduate member of Matzuva). The hall was realistically decorated as a tropical jungle with appropriate props and décor. The performance was an all-ticket show with two performances with over a thousand people enjoying the theatrical offering with its professional digital sound and lighting effects. Besides the cast, made up exclusively of members and future residents of the Neve Matzuva community village, the show was supplemented by wardrobe, design, choreography, make-up, stage hands and music scores personnel all of whom also live at Matzuva.

The elder of the cast was none other than Max (representing the septuagenarians) and the youngest was Adam Cohen (4 year old toddler son of director Hava Cohen).

The 90 minute show was enjoyed by all and received well-earned encores. It was a great show that could easily have gone successfully on tour!! It was another demonstration of our vibrant community – Our congratulations to all that made the event an outstanding success.

Until the next time – take care and enjoy Baruch