The Lavi Hotel that we first stayed at in is a very special place. The hotel has very nice accommodations, the food was amazing and the service wonderful. This hotel is part of Kibbutz Lavi on which it is located. Kibbutz Lavi began in 1949 with Jews from Britain. Some of the 1st members were children who had been on the Kindertransport and saved from the Holocaust.
As with all kibbutzim, when the 1st members came they found lots and lots of rocks. Their first job was to clear them. The kibbutz began with farming and animals. In the early days of tourism in Israel, there were few hotels in the Galil. Since Kibbutz Lavi had many English speakers, many tourists came for information and looking for lodging. The kibbutz recognized that there was a need for the hotel. LYA has stayed for a few trips at Kibbutz Lavi and have seen how the hotel has grown in size.
Our Fellow Travelers enjoyed a tour with Elis Kaplan, Baltimore born, but member of the Kibbutz since 1968. Elis met his Israeli wife while she was in the army and they raised their family on the Kibbutz. Elis has a degree in agriculture and began working on Kibbutz landscaping. He then moved to work in the orchards. He grew pears, wine grapes, avocadoes and olives. He told the students that Kibbutz Lavi has 300 milk cows and 30,000 chickens. They do sell the eggs, but not for food. The eggs are sold to another kibbutz, who then hatch the chicks for more chickens.
Elis spent the last 32 years working in Kibbutz Lavi’s furniture factory. If you would like to see their beautiful furniture, please visit B’nai Torah were their furniture is from the Kibbutz and see Elis’s hard work. Elis told the students that on the Kibbutz everyone works until the age of 70. At 60 one works less hours. In reality a kibbutznik never stops, they do volunteer. Children work a few times a week and in the summer.
We sat in Kibbutz Lavi’s beautiful shul and saw that the shul has been renovated to accommodate their growth. One way that many kibbutzim are retaining and encouraging new families to move is through privatization. At this moment Kibbutz Lavi is beginning this process. Elis did tell us that when there are major decisions to be made all members do have a vote.
We really enjoyed meeting Elis and getting a glimpse into kibbutz life.
Yakov Wolff wrote...