Earth Day Feature: Falling In Love Under The Great Oaks

The early ’50 were the days of the Kibbutz Movement. Fifteen families from Alonim left to create an alternative community near Kiryat Tiv’on, a town in the Haifa District of Israel. They built fifteen houses that were identical to each other and established the Shikun-Ella neighbourhood. Small farms, spacious backyards, children in donkey-drawn-carts headed to school and parents rearing cattle were the most common sights.     

Most of my memories as a teenager are of my family and friends on the farm. I remember walking under the hills, where the statue of Alexander Zaid, one of the prominent leaders of the Second Aliyah, sat upright on his horse and saluted the people. I remember the path I took to school which led me through the valley and under the great oaks, where I fell in love, searched for solitude and learned to photograph.

I carried my camera everywhere so as to not miss a moment on the farm. I bore witness to time as people got older, trees gave way to saplings and my friends moved on from toys to beers. It has been years since I’ve returned but no matter where I go, I always carry with me Shikun-Ella.

 

Text and Images By Daniel Rolider

Arik and Irit, my mother, outside our house in Shikun Ella neighborhood in Kiryat Tivon, Israel, October 2016

Arik and our turkey in our backyard, Kiryat Tivon, Israel, June 2016.

Uriya, my step brother, in our warehouse in our backyard, Kiryat Tivon, Israel, March 2018. we used to hang out in the warehouse, to play and watch movies, until we grew up, as we used the space less and less.

Uriya, walking our donkey and goat in the fields near our home, Kiryat Tivon, Israel, January 2013.

Arik in our backyard, Kiryat Tivon, Israel, June 2016.

Irit, my mother, in the fields next to our home, Kiryat Tivon, Israel, April 2017.

Uriya, my step brother, and our donkey, during a daily trip the Zaid’s Hills, Kiryat Tivon, Israel, May 2016.

Amit, my brother, in our backyard, Kiryat Tivon, Israel, October 2016.

Shiri, my sister, in our warehouse in our backyard, Kiryat Tivon, Israel, March 2016.

Amit (c.), my brother, and his friend Omer, walking our donkey uphill to Zaid’s Hills, Kiryat Tivon, Israel, October 2016.

Uriya, my step brother, walking down Sheikh Abreik Tomb, a local landmark where people use to have tea and play music under the stars at night, at Zaid’s Hills, Kiryat Tivon, Israel, May 2016.

Uriya (r.), my step brother, and his friend Uriel, in the fields of Kiryat Tivon, Israel, June 2015.

Kerem, a family friend, climbs on our house’s rooftop in Shikun Ella neighborhood, Kiryat Tivon, Israel, October 2016.

Uriya, my step brother, sneezes, in the warehouse in our backyard, Kiryat Tivon, Israel, March 2018.

Tommy, a family friend, in his backyard, when his brother, Uri, makes a bonfire, Kiryat Tivon, Israel, May 2016. Tommy’s family live 15 minutes walk through the fields from our home in Shikun Ella neighborhood.

Uriya, my step brother, at Zaid’s Hills, Kiryat Tivon, Israel, May 2016.

Arik, my step father, in our backyard, Kiryat Tivon, Israel, April 2016.

Uriya (l.), my step brother, and his friend Erez, traveling in the fields of Kiryat Tivon at sunset, Israel, May 2016.