The costume cooperative

While parents throughout Israel scramble to put together costumes for kids ahead of Purim next week, moms and dads at Kibbutz Ketura in the Arava simply send their kids to the community bazaar held several days before the holiday to pick out a costume of their choice for free.

“We’ve got everything,” said David, a 10-year-old trying on an Angry Birds costume Thursday.

There are 85 kids ages 6 and up on the kibbutz, said Leah Kayman, a kibbutz member, and each one of them needs at least one costume for the one-day holiday that has become a week-long extravaganza.

The kibbutz method for dealing with what is often a harrowing and expensive project is a refreshing change from what urban and suburban parents deal with in the rest of Israel, at least when catching a glimpse through Facebook:

“Hi! We are looking for lion and elephant costumes for tallish 3yr old twins…anyone moving some along? PM me please…Thanks!”

“Suggestions for cheapest places to buy Purim costumes in Talpiot, TIA”

“I need costume help. Macabbi tel aviv footballer for school play age 10. Red zombie for school play again age 10. Dr and nurses for kids and adults…and girls clothes for 2 boys for upside down day age 6 and 10. Purim is hardwork and expensive for the non creative amongst us. Im in modiin”

“Hi. I am looking for Jedi costumes and light sabers (sp?). Anyone seen any on their Purim shopping trips. Tel aviv or raanana area please TIA X”

No angst of this kind on kibbutz.

“You don’t have to go to any store,” said Michal, a kibbutz member who helps with the costume exchange. “We’ve got everything.”

The costumes collected from past Purims includes a section of leopard prints and wild cats, as well as a full selection of superheroes, kings and queens, and random action figures.

“It’s the best costume store in the country,” offered David.

Costumes, the cooperative way.