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“The next dramatic step was taken when Jews of the second Aliyah pledged to work only for the redemption of the land and build a homeland with no thoughts of personal gain or profits or ambition.”
In Chapter 9 of Book 2, Barak and Akiva have been in Palestine for about twenty years, and the agricultural settlements are struggling. In one of his first leadership roles, Barak steers the settlements toward a communal autonomy. Jewish people will no longer outsource the labor of working their land but instead will take the responsibility on themselves. This decision leads to the birth of the kibbutz, which becomes the heart of the Jewish settlements in Palestine. The Jewish people now have collective accountability for their land, and they thrive on their newfound responsibility. The communal nature of the settlements is necessary for safety reasons, but it in no way hampers the sense of pride and dignity that the immigrants have never known before. Having a stake in the success of their crops gives the new farmers purpose and allows them to play a role in a bright future for their homeland.
“Sandwiched between the rock there were thin layers of earth, some only a few inches thick. The tree was stunted from trying to grow in such ground but the roots fought a stubborn fight.”
In Book 2, Chapter Three, Dr. Lieberman shows Kitty around Gan Dafna. Kitty notices a tiny tree struggling to take root among the rocks, and Dr. Lieberman muses that the tree tells the story of the Jewish people who have returned to Palestine. The Jewish people are fighting against all odds to bring life to a place that has been abandoned as barren and hopeless. Other people might have made the choice to leave a place that is so difficult to cultivate, but this is the home of the Jewish people; it is where they can live without shame, and they are determined to bring life to it. The hard work not only brings them fulfillment, but great joy. Eventually the settlements reap the rewards of their work in ways that Jewish people have rarely experienced throughout history.
