Israel: On And Off The Tour

facilities have sprouted over
the years.
"We once had just one
phone line for the entire
kibbutz," said Mr.
Leichman. "The nearest
phone booth was three miles
away. It's unbelievable to
describe the changes that
we have seen. We started
with a small number of peo-
ple, and now we have 100
member families."
Mr. Leichman said the
struggle to achieve a dream
of kibbutz life led many
members to leave early in
the kibbutz's existence.
"Everyone was struggling;
everyone needed to be able
to function," said Mr.
Leichman. That is why, he
added, the creation of the
income-producing business-
es was so important.
It takes a year-and-a half
to be accepted as a kibbutz
member. New members are
given a job, a home and a
subsidy. There is a day-care
center, and the children do
live with their parents. On
some kibbutzim, children

live with parents on week-
ends only.
Only three percent of
Israelis live on kibbutzim.
It's not a lifestyle that is
acceptable to everyone, said
Mr. Leichman.
When it was time to leave
Gezer, the cab waiting for
us had a driver who didn't
speak any English and who
didn't like the idea of dri-
ving to Jerusalem. We drove
through beautiful hills and
villages until he dropped us
off just off the main road,
not interested in the com-
puter and photo equipment
we had to shlep for blocks.
But he knew what he had
left behind. And like the cab
driver who took us to Gezer,
this one sort of knew how to
get to "the big city." He
didn't want to know any
more than required. Why
should he? Look what he
left behind. 0

Above: Ball players
from all over Israel
come to the Gezer
field.

Left: Mr. Leichman
greets his son, Alon.