Kibbutzniks in the Diaspora

Epilogue

§?ilogue W hen I had nearly completed this book, I decided it would be a good idea to find out what had happened to the subjects of the study When I contacted their families in Israel and introduced myself, they readily answered my queries. I found out who had married, who had divorced, who had had children and how lnany, and that the names of the children-born in Los Angeles-ranged from Golan to Eilat. My impression was that their families are emotionally moved by anything connected with their children, even if it's only a conversation with a stranger who takes an interest in them. After answering my questions about her daughter, one mother said, "As an expert on yordim, maybe you can do something to bring my son back. He's been in New York for four years without any money, and I don't see an end in sight." I was thrilled when, in two cases, family members told me I could get answers from the interviewees themselves. Gil's mother told me that Gil's wife (from whom he has since separated) and his daughters were coming to Israel so that they could go to school in Israel "before it's too late." Nira and Yohai and Gal and Einav were seriously thinkiI1g of returning, but as one of their parents said, "Until I see them, I can't know if it's really going to happen." It seemed that the kibbutzniks living in Los Angeles were beginning to understand that they were reSiding in a place where an earthquake may be both geological and social. The severe recession that hit the American economy at that time created serious unemployment and forced several of the interviewees to sit idly at home. Lengthy commutes that take time away from the family; the very mediocre educa145 146 KIBBUTZNIKS IN THE DIASPORA tional system, which produces fragile high school graduates who are easily tempted by the dangers around them (and the shocking discovery that one of these graduates is your child)~ the growing ethnic tension aIld the fear of crime-all these were having an effect. Added to them are the natural disasters and the worrisome predictions of imminent earthquakes (some have already hit the San Fernando Valley, where a large concentration of Israelis live). After the 1994 quakes, many Israelis returned home~ but not a single one of the interviewees in this study From illy conversations with their parents, I learned that in some cases, the earthquakes not only failed to advance their plans for return, which at least theoretically existed, but actually postponed them. On the o·ne hand, the damage resulted in an unforeseen financial burden and lllade it difficult to sell property in the quake area. This was the case with Anat and her husband , ·whose chain of sporting goods stores was right at t11e center of the quake. On the other hand, for those engaged ill the building or the renovation trade, the damage was a gold mine, and who carl walk away from an opportunity like that? Still, it seems that the push and pull factors have turned topsyturvy to a certain degree in the wake of the eco·nomic recession. The sense of foreignness, and the lack of financial, physical, and social security are beginning to prevail. Geological and social trerrlors and the development of their children in directions opposed to their own world of values have made some kibbutzniks think seriously about leaving Los Angeles. But where will they build their future? In another state of the United States or in the State of Israel? If they leave, Israel would seem to be their natural destination. The intervie\vees' severe criticism of American society (so different from everything they were accustomed to), the feeling that their home is in Israel, tl1e desire to educate their children there, and the existence of a faluilial-social framework they miss-all these are weighty factors that Jnay tip the scales in favor of their return. However, only two of the interviewees had actually returned by the time this study was completed. One of them, Muli, had stated unequivocally during his interview that despite h.is good economic situation , the day he would have to send his children to a jevvish school, he would prefer to return to Israel. When I met with him and his cityraised wife Edna on the kibbutz to which they had returned while they decided where to live, he...