Rehearsing the Spectacle of Spectres

The Hebrew word ‘kibbutz’ means ‘gathering’. Founded in 1946, Kibbutz Be’eri’s life is still shaped by the idea of the collective. In static and gliding shots through the exterior and interior spaces of the kibbutz, Evron and Krieger direct the viewer’s gaze to public meeting places that provide a space for the collective. These film sequences alternate with portraits of kibbutz members reciting the poem Rehearsing the Spectacle of Spectres by Anadad Eldan (b. 1924). As the ‘kibbutz poet’, As the ‘kibbutz poet’, Eldan writes librettos for the community’s ceremonies and he is also a published author of lyric poetry. He is known for his alliterative style and modern use of Biblical Hebrew. The members of Kibbutz Be’eri are seen in single shots and multiple layered compositions. Sometimes, only their recitation is heard in the audio track. The lines of the poem and the filmic realisation speak of the wistfulness that arises when seeking harmony between individual and community, a harmony which is difficult to achieve.

The video opens and ends with aerial shots exposing the geographical location of the kibbutz, neighboring with the Gaza Strip. In this region of political tension, many peace activists from Be’eri have worked for coexistence. They were also among those killed in the recent terrorist massacre. News media have reported over 100 deaths and an unspecified number kidnapped to Gaza. Hagay Avni ז״ל, one of the participants appearing in the film and a member of the defense unit of the kibbutz, was killed in action against Hamas. Despite their advanced age, the Eldans survived the attack. Ten years ago, Anadad Eldan wrote a poem mourning his daughter’s death, to which his wife Sari has recently brought public attention:

עַל קִירוֹת בְּאֵרִי

עַל קִירוֹת בְּאֵרִי כָּתַבְתִּי קוֹרוֹתֶיהָ 
מִמְּקוֹרוֹת וּמַעֲמַקִּים קְרוּעֵי קֹר 
עֵת קָרְאוּ אֶת הַקּוֹרֶה בַּכְּאֵב וְאוֹרוֹתֶיהָ 
נָפְלוּ לַעֲרָפֶל וַאֲפִלַּת לַיְלָה וִילָלָה כְּמָקוֹר 
לַתְּפִלָּה כִּי נָפְלוּ יְלָדֶיהָ וְדֶלֶת נְעוּלָה 
לְרַחֲמֵי שָׁמַיִם נוֹשְׁמִים שְׁמָמָה וּשְׁכוֹל 
הוֹרִים לְלֹא רַחֲמִים מִי יְנַחֵם כִּי קְלָלָה 
לוֹחֶשֶׁת אַל טַל וּמָטָר וּמֻתָּר לִבְכּוֹת לְמִי שֶׁיָּכוֹל 
יֵשׁ שָׁעָה רוֹחֶשֶׁת חֹשֶׁךְ אַךְ יֵשׁ שַׁחַר וְהִלָּהּ 
 

On Be’eri’s Walls [On the Walls of my Well]

On Be’eri’s walls I wrote her story 
from origins and depths wrenched from the cold 
they now read what happened in pain and her light 
that fell into the mist and darkness of night and a primeval cry 
for a prayer, her children have fallen and a door is locked 
for the grace of heaven they breathe desolation and sorrow 
Who will comfort inconsolable parents, for a curse 
whispers may you have neither dew nor rain and whoever is able may weep 
There is an hour when darkness roars, but there is dawn and radiance