{"id":1745,"date":"2015-08-30T21:16:02","date_gmt":"2015-08-30T18:16:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hbne.co.il\/?p=1745"},"modified":"2019-11-05T13:53:00","modified_gmt":"2019-11-05T11:53:00","slug":"big-eyes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hbne.co.il\/?p=1745","title":{"rendered":"Big Eyes"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"rootsphoto-1422393682802-921122338109<\/a>
https:\/\/unsplash.com\/kevinjyoung<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We were joined at the hip Habonim and I. My formative years were \u200egarbed up in my red laced blue shirt and faded Levi jeans. It was my \u200efashion statement.<\/p>\n

I belonged. I was part of the of Habonim, the labor \u200eZionist youth movement.<\/p>\n

But nine years old was I, when I spent my \u200efirst summer at Camp Miriam. It was an all or nothing thing, as I found \u200emyself climbing up the rungs of the movement. At camp and at the \u200e\u200e\u201cken\u201d (the movement\u2019s un-summer city nest), at seminars and other \u200etrainings, I did it all: chanicha (camper) and madricha (counselor). Of \u200ecourse my gap year was spent immersed in Israel on \u201cWorkshop\u201d, \u200eexploring and experiencing the culture and the life of Israel first hand. \u200eEverything was done by the book. \u200e<\/p>\n

Ameliem? Check\u221a Chotrim? Check\u221a Tzofim? Check\u221a K\u2019m Beit? Check\u221a \u200e<\/p>\n

All camper groups completed and accounted for. I did my stint as a \u200ecounselor both at camp and in the \u201cken\u201d. I came back from Israel to \u200ebegin university and suddenly found myself milking cows at a nearby \u200eWashington dairy to save up money for my last and final stint.\u200e<\/p>\n

Like I said, I did it all, part and parcel, and found myself embracing the \u200emovement\u2019s ultimate calling: I made Aliyah to a kibbutz in Israel.\u200e<\/p>\n

\"the<\/a> \"mb\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u200e\u201cIf you will it, it is no dream\u201d\u2026\u200e<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"workshop1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

My path is a vision.\u200e<\/h3>\n

\"workshop2\"<\/a>
\nOnce I was a bulldozer<\/a>, now I am but a rake\u2026\u200e<\/h2>\n

I was hard. I would not allow any ideas other than mine to permeate. \u200eHard is fragile, solitary. I wanted more so I embraced change.\u200e<\/p>\n

I softened. I actually listened and lay down my arms. Lo and behold, I \u200ediscovered that the world is not two-dimensional. Not everything is \u200eblack and white: Fifty Shades? Well, that's just the tip of the iceberg. \u200eThe vision may be perfect, but the people sure aren\u2019t\u2026\u200e<\/p>\n

Many beautiful memories from our life on the kibbutz remain. \u200eAlthough, at times, life on a kibbutz felt like a huge extended family \u200ecomplete with the gossip, the petty fights and the drama.<\/p>\n

Kibbutz was \u200ea lesson in socialism: \u201cFrom each according to his ability, to each \u200eaccording to his needs.\u201d At times, however, it was more along the \u200elines of \u201cwhat is yours is mine and what is mine is mine\u201d\u2026<\/strong>\u200e<\/p>\n

Kibbutz life had its unique systems. One such example was the free \u200egoods distribution. Kibbutz members were free to help themselves to \u200eproduce from the communal refrigerator and from the self-service \u200efood carts in the main dining room. In the early days of the kibbutz \u200esuch things as cigarettes, sugar, salt, bread, eggs, fruit and vegetables \u200ewere freely available for all to take.\u200e<\/p>\n

In the beginning there was trust. It was clear that each member would \u200eonly take according to his needs.<\/p>\n

Big mistake!\u200e<\/h3>\n

Unfortunately, the needs and the boundaries are as clear as the \u200ecollective integrity.\u200e<\/strong><\/p>\n

In time, the distribution method changed and allotments per member \u200eor family size were instituted. For example, a family of five would \u200ereceive three baskets of fruit while a couple would receive only one. \u200eAlas, this system also had its faults.\u200e<\/p>\n

Not all members wanted fruit. Some preferred to snack on other \u200efoods. There was no choice, no alternative provided.\u200e<\/p>\n

Even if there was a preference for a different type of fruit: there was \u200eno choice, no alternative provided. \u200e<\/p>\n

My share \u2013 My take!\u200e<\/h2>\n

What a waste!\u200e<\/h3>\n

I recall my adopted kibbutz father passionately repeating the ongoing \u200esaga of \u201cThe Fruit at Mom\u2019s\u201d.\u200e<\/p>\n

\n

He came to visit his parents. He opened the refrigerator and was \u200eimmediately accosted by fruit, lots of fruit. He turned around and saw \u200efruit, lots more on the table behind.\u200e<\/p>\n

Astonished, he confronted his mother. \u201cEma (Mom)! The fridge is \u200eoverflowing with fruit. Why did you bring more?!\u201d\u200e<\/p>\n

His mother answered deservingly: \u201cIt\u2019s mine! Why should I not take \u200eit?!<\/strong>\u201d\u200e<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

It turns out that a utopian society needs perfect people. The big guy \u200eupstairs appears to have messed that one up\u2026\u200e<\/h3>\n

Free has a price tag!\u200e<\/h2>\n

As a child, my family dined out frequently. We especially liked buffets. \u200eWe were free to pick and choose again and again. It was conquer and \u200edestroy, a battle zone in our wake. We escaped weary and breathless, \u200eheavily burdened with our exploits.\u200e<\/p>\n

Later as parents, we too preferred a good buffet. Frequently we would \u200ealso seek out hotels with a buffet. There were food choices for every \u200epalate, no opportunity for the kids to complain. Everyone walked \u200eaway happy (except, of course, the cleanup crew\u2026).\u200e<\/p>\n

Supersize?\u200e<\/h3>\n

The fast food industry discovered many marketing incentives to get us \u200ein the doors. For a pittance, they offered to enlarge our meals. They \u200egave us large soft drink cups with free access to endless refills.\u200e<\/p>\n

Big Eyes<\/h1>\n
\"eyephoto-1414775838024-666765beb5d9\"<\/a>
https:\/\/unsplash.com\/seandbrown<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Our appetite is insatiable. A wedding would not be complete without \u200etasting the whole spread. A spectacular find at the clothing boutique \u200ewould not feel right without a multiple color purchase. \u200e<\/p>\n

There is an easy payment plan available for every dream. So what if \u200eyou can\u2019t afford it!\u200e<\/p>\n

\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/mili_vigerova\"<\/a>
https:\/\/unsplash.com\/mili_vigerova<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the first concepts taught in Economics 101 is the \u201celasticity of \u200edemand\u201d. This concept measures the percentage change in product \u200edemand as compared to the percentage change in price.\u200e<\/p>\n

When the elasticity of demand is inelastic, one will purchase the same \u200eamount of a product regardless of its price. Household salt and tap \u200ewater are two good examples of products with a relatively inelastic \u200edemand.\u200e<\/p>\n

Another example of inelastic demand is a diabetic\u2019s need for insulin. A \u200ediabetic will continue to buy the same amount of insulin every week \u200eregardless of its price as his demand for the product is fixed.\u200e<\/p>\n

On the other hand, however, the demand for organic bread is quite \u200eelastic. As its price drops it is more than likely that many will prefer it \u200eover ordinary bread, however, when the price is high few will \u200epurchase as there are many lower priced alternatives to organic bread.\u200e<\/p>\n

Nothing is Free!\u200e
\nA tiny price tag comes at a HUGE cost\u2026\u200e<\/h2>\n

Take government subsidies for example. A government spends money \u200eto lower the price of essential goods. Is this decision a reflection of the \u200egovernment\u2019s intent to aid the producer or rather the weak \u200econsumer? On which product is the emphasis focused? Does it \u200ebecome an attempt to find the easiest and cheapest way to feed the \u200eweak, regardless of the havoc it will play with our health? Would it be \u200eso wrong if whole food plant choices\u00a0were the standard? It is all too easy to \u200epush the substandard white sugary choices. Really, is white bread \u200eand lot fed flesh what the doctor ordered?\u200e<\/p>\n

It saddens me to see bumper crops dumped and burned to keep \u200emarket prices up. What a wonderful world it would be if there were \u200efruits and vegetables freely available to hungry families\u2026\u200e<\/p>\n

When I travel I love to explore farmers\u2019 markets. The vibrant colors, \u200espectacular flavors and unique handcrafts will draw me in time and \u200etime again. Just before we came home from this summer\u2019s trip we \u200estopped to explore the Union Square Farmer\u2019s Market. Some official \u200esigns aroused my curiosity and I went up to the booth to understand \u200eto meaning of what I read. It appears that eligible food stamp holders \u200emay choose to exchange their food dollars for market coins. For every \u200efive dollars of food stamps exchange the bearer will receive seven \u200edollars of market money. Simply stated, this provides the bearer with \u200ean extra 40% value which can be used on all food and beverages \u200e\u200e(solely) in the market! Talk about added value\u2026\u200e<\/p>\n

\"5<\/a> \"2<\/a><\/p>\n

It excites me to see the abundant health initiatives of the mayor of \u200eN.Y.C. Besides the market money program, he is responsible for \u200ecreating an upper limit for soft drink beverage cups, prohibiting the \u200esale of foods with trans fats, designing a healthy teacher\u2019s training, \u200ecreating school gardens and school salad bars.\u200e<\/p>\n

Salad Bars?\u200e<\/h2>\n

Can you imagine if we had a salad bar in every school, work place, \u200eplay place and well place? Despite being a \u201cless is more\u201d kind of gal, I \u200ewould LOVE to see more of this!\u200e<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s talk about it!\u200e<\/a><\/h3>\n
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I would like to thank you for your patience in reading this post to its end.\u200e<\/em><\/p>\n

If you liked what you read and you are not on my mailing list, you can sign up \u200ehere<\/a>.\u200e<\/em><\/p>\n

Finally I would like to request that you please share my post which precedes the \u200erelease of my animated clip (soon, I promise). I am so excited! Please share this \u200epost\u2026<\/a>\u200e<\/em><\/p>\n

Thank you and have a great week!\u200e<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"HBNE\"<\/a><\/p>\n

You tell your future! The power is ours!<\/a><\/h2>\n
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