There was a couple from Haifa named Bela and Sholom who had joined us for a Congregational Seder in St. Augustine about 3 years ago that joined us for dinner at the kibbutz. They had waited for us at the B'Hai Gardens for 2 hrs never realizing that we were just going to quickly get out of the bus and snap a few pictures before traveling on. Phyllis K. was finally able to get in touch with them so it all worked out well.
During dinner I see this really tall young man at the salad bar who looks very familiar to me but I can't quite place the face. He sees me and then hears Rabbi do the motzi and his face lights up as he makes the same connection. It is Sam Hayes, one of Rabbi Mark's Flagler students who had just graduated and was given the Israel trip as a present by his father who he was traveling with. He is going to Seminary in NW Alabama near Birmingham where he will study for the priesthood. What are the odds?
After dinner, we attended a very informative lecture about kibbutz life given by a young woman named Elisheva. She has 6 children and is married to a physician. All the money they earn is turned over to the kibbutz and they have a budget they have to stay within and the kibbutz pays for everything. I still don't get the concept and she didn't sound real ecstatic about it. She stated that she doesn't understand why anyone stays on the kibbutz. Statistically 30-40% of the kids come back to the kibbutz after military service and the rest leave to make lives of their own choosing. There are about 270 kibbutz in Israel. About 180 families with approximately 700 people live on Lavi.
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