KADDISHEL
A Life Reborn
work, and every division submitted a roster of who had worked and who had not at the end of the week. The management handled the finances and reported the results, so all members were aware of our financial condition. One of the key principles of the kibbutz charter was to be self- sufficient and to live by our own sweat — not to exploit others. We were a communal system and believed that we should not enrich ourselves through other people’s labor. Thus, when we hired work- ers, who were usually from the refugee camp, they not only re- ceived their wages, but also a bonus, proportionate to the kibbutz’s profit, at the end of the year. These new immigrants were often shocked when they received this extra payment. On May 1, 1947, exactly one year after their arrival, the Dror group created a pamphlet with written contributions from each member, including memories from the war, the journey, and their new lives as part of the kibbutz. The children described their work, the hikes in surrounding areas, and their thoughts. The pamphlet was written in a literary, almost academic Hebrew, probably with help from older kibbutz members. I wrote the following introduc- tion to it: “When I realized it’s been a year of my life in Eretz Yisrael, many thoughts crossed my mind. I remembered all the difficult past; I remembered myself standing in front of a cruel death with- out knowing why and what for. I’ve heard in stories and legends about heroes who died while protecting their people and honor, and others who died for their crimes and sins, but us...us!!! I did not protect and I did not sin, and with no trial or justice, I was about to die. I did not understand much but I was accepting my destiny. “The days have passed, an entire year is over. I have felt I am free. Yes, I am free of the Germans, but am left without parents. I had to make up my own mind, what to do and where to turn. When I came from Poland, I joined the Hevrat HaNoar (youth community) of Dror. Together we lived, together we were happy, and together we suffered. At difficult moments, everyone was willing to sacrifice
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