Maura will need to write about Daphna- she did show us a lovely pair of boots she bought - she saw them being made in their factory.
Randall and I partook of the spa at Hagoshrim and had massages. what can I say- I don't think my neck felt so good in ages. Completely relaxed, packed and pictures taken of the common grounds of the hotel, we headed south and west to kibbutz Sasa.
There is a lovely grounds in front of the main building with a sculpture garden:
This sculpture is called Menopause.
Maura's plan was to meet with a director of the gardens at Sasa- Miriam Ziev; Sassa has numerous ventures, the most economically successful is a plant that builds armored vehicles; many of which were sold to the U.S. Army for use in Afghanistan and Iraq- saving many soldiers' lives. the name of the company is Plassan and there is a plant in Grand Rapids Michigan!
Sasa is ecologically conscious, recycling and reusing much of their garbage. First, we needed a snack. we found a place to park and spread out a picnic- jokingly remembering a little picnic the girls and I had outside of Munising some years ago at a high security prison. Randall needed to stop there to visit an inmate. our little spread on truck tailgate in the prison parking lot raised the ire of the prison guards who required us to pack up and wait in the lobby. this little picnic was nothing like that, but, the impression of the quick spread was a funny reminder.
here, we were closely watched by a couple of local dogs who were hoping for a handout.
After our snack, we walked up to what looked like an administrative building and went in. We asked in our broken language fashion for Miriam Ziev's office and were told that she doesn't have an office- she works everywhere. But, the woman called Miriam and soon she met us at the building. If this were a college campus, the building would be the student union or the commons. This building is beautiful. It was designed around an old Arab building and some of the original walls remain. director in the building made us coffees and brought out cookies and we sat and talked with Miriam for more than an hour. Maura conducted her interview and we learned a great deal about Sasa, Plassan, and, of course, how she works on the environment in the community.
This is the first day we have had a downpour- and the rain was constant and strong. Eventually, Miriam asked if we would like to drive and see some of the areas she spoke about, view the community, the surrounding area, and we were pleased. we walked to our car and Miriam gave us a tour.
She showed us the beautiful residences in the kibbutz.
She explained that the fields with orchards covered in white guaze are apple trees. Sasa grows pink ladies and granny smith apples.
Sasa has a sophisticated recycling system in the kibbutz.
They have a plant in another location and are working on growing algae to make omega 3 vitamins. They are also working on an algae plant in Texas.
Sasa was started in 1949, founded by a group of Americans. There are few members- not more than 200. Membership at Sasa is exclusive. many rules guide how one can become a member. They would not want a couple of 60 year olds- we can't contribute to the community like a younger person!
There is a YouTube film about Sasa, the history of the area, the museum at Sasa and a short program about Sasa's work at Plassan:
Miriam's parents moved in 1966 from England to live at Sasa; both were physicians. As the community physicians, they were not Kibbutz members. Her father, was originally Austrian. His parents were killed in the war, but sent him (Tommy Spencer) and his brother on the kinder transport to live in England when he was 11. At first, the family expected to all be together. Correspondence continued for a time, and then, eventually, lessened and stopped. The boys never saw their parents again. Her grandmother was gassed at Auschwitz; his father survived, but was quite ill and died shortly after the war. Miriam's mother was from South Africa, having immigrated from Russia.
In England, the boys were living in a kind of camp with other kinder transport children. There they learned music, art, and had routine studies. He met an artist from Scotland. Her father was a great painter. His art hung throughout her home, she has a book published about Tommy Spencer, with images of his paintings.
Her parents built their home. It is unlike other kibbutz homes. There is a central fireplace, beautiful floors, and a large piano that her parents brought from England. the central room is large message enough for chamber music concerts. Everyone plays an instrument so that they can make music together. She had 3 other siblings and she herself has 4 children. On the anniversary of her father's death, the family gets together and has a music day. A celebration.
Miriam grew up in the children's quarters. In the early days of kibbutzim, the children slept in a children's dormitory. The children and parents spent time together, but, then for sleeping, children slept in the dormitory. The kibbutz couple's typical housing was only 70 meters, with a very tiny kitchen, (most people eat at the center dining hall). When Miriam and her husband began having their children, they worked with the other young families to put an end to this old rule- this was back in the 80s when the children's dorms were eliminated in kibbutzim across the country. While most kibbutzim still maintained other social rules, this rule was considered outmoded. Parents wanted to be with their children. This required that housing be adjusted to accommodate the larger families.
Most of my life, I have felt that I have had the good fortune to know and love and work with people who are - magical- multi-faceted, to whom I feel endeared -almost from the outset of my interaction with them. Whether you call it a "chemistry" or a life experience, meeting Miriam was one of those experiences. The three of us felt that we were enjoying and experiencing a person with whom we felt so good. She was so kind to invite us to her home; to spend her entire afternoon with us; to share some of her stories with us.
She explained that her son, Adam, learned to make gelato after his time in the army in Italy. He brought the skill back to Israel and opened a gelato store in the nearby Arab town called Tarschecha called Bouza- this is the Arab word for ice cream. Adam is a member of the kibbutz- he owns 75% and a friend of his who lives in Tarschecha (and owns a French restaurant named Aloumah) owns 25%. Adam's revenues from the ice cream store come back to the kibbutz. He and his friend are planning more Bouza stores and have already opened at least one more. It is an integrated effort between the communities. And a successful one.
One of the aspects we notice, and have seen before, is that even with all the horrifying news among the groups- many people want and act for peace and in peaceful ways together. This is not the first time we hear of mutual and integrated cooperative ventures. Life here is very complicated.
Miriam recommended that we go to dinner at Aloumah and then to have gelato at Bouza. It is time to go- the rain will follow us all the way back down to Tel Aviv; it is dark here by 5:30.
Off we go, reluctantly, we feel infused with her light. we leave, barely able to talk and unable to stop talking, we are all so charmed.
we wend our way through the hills and find Aloumah for a fabulous dinner; as a special touch, Adam comes into the restaurant and we meet him briefly. We go to Bouza for dessert, and have wonderful gelato. Tired, but, buoyant, we drive home.
The archives building for Sasa.
Photos in Tarschecha: many Israelis live in this village: Druze and Christian Arabs.
The restaurant Aloumah:
In addition to scooped ice cream, they make special little ice cream.
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