MEET THE COMMUNITY
The people from Meiser and Kibbutz Mezer are in no way a homogenous group. They are Jews, Muslims, Christians, and agnostics. Their heritage can be traced to all parts of the world, from South and Central America to Europe and the Middle East. The few we spoke to are not representative of the greater Israeli municipality they make up, but rather of the community of people who are actively working towards peaceful coexistence in the region.
Dov Avital
DOV AVITAL, 56, was born in Uruguay to parents who survived the Holocaust. A Jewish socialist, he moved to Israel in the ’70s and served in the IDF. He lives now at Kibbutz Mezer with his wife, a descendant of the original Argentinian founders.
They have three children. Avital worked many years in the plastics factory at the kibbutz before going on to manage the National Association of Kibbutz Industries. In 2002, he was elected secretary of Kibbutz Mezer, a position he held for seven years.
Said Arda
SAID ARDA, 50, lives with his wife and four children in Meiser, the traditional Arab village that neighbors Kibbutz Mezer. He was born and raised in the small village to parents who had lived there since before the state of Israel was established in 1948. His family are some of the few Arabs who have Israeli citizenship.
Arda works to set up activities for children - both Arabs and Jews - where they can meet each other and learn to respect each other.
“I am Said, I am Arabic, I am Muslim, Israeli, Palestinian. But sometimes, I say, I am Said, Arabic, Muslim, Palestinian, Israeli. It depends how I feel at the time.
Awni Abu Arkih
AWNI ABU ARKIH, 53, is both chef and manager of the kitchen at the Kibbutz Mezer community center. A practicing Muslim, he was born and raised in Meiser where he still lives with his wife and three children.
“I like my job. I am running the place by myself. I make food for everyone - the old people, the kids, the workers in the factory. It’s a good relationship between us.”
Talma Janburg
TALMA JANBURG is one of only about 40 remaining founding members of Kibbutz Mezer. Born in Argentina, she moved to Israel in 1952, where she still lives with her husband, Oswaldo. They raised two children at the kibbutz, both of whom - now grown - have chosen to live elsewhere.