Aviv Karniel receives a doctorate at the age of 80 (photo: courtesy of the family)
Six years ago, when he was 80 years old, Aviv Karniel took to the stage of the open theater at the Hebrew University at Mount Scopus, to receive his doctorate, along with dozens of other new doctors who are 30, 40 and 50 years younger than him.
"Alit is upright and proud to receive the certificate and we cheered with signs and balloons from the stands, and the heart was beating hard with excitement," wrote his daughter, Einav.
As he was for decades an outstanding farmer, a representative of farmers, an officer in the reserves and a dedicated family man - so also as a retiree he studied with determination, tenacity and dedication at the academy.
This week Karniel passed away, leaving behind a legacy of agricultural creation, public mission and academic research, and a wide family clan, with his grandchildren already the sixth generation in Zichron Ya'akov.
He was born on the eve of Shavuot, 1935, in the home of his parents, Yehuda and Naomi, in the Zichron Yaakov settlement.
His two brothers, Mordechai and Shmuel (Shmilik), were 20 years and 12 years older than him, and his birth came a year after a heavy disaster struck the family: the death of the 14-year-old daughter Aviva from an illness.
After her, he was given the name "Aviv", a name that was certainly not common for boys at that time.
"Assisted in guarding the colony during the War of Independence."
Aviv Karniel (photo: courtesy of the family)
His father's parents, Mordechai and Leah Karniel, were among the founders of Zichron Yaakov in 1882 and his parents were second generation members of the settlement.
His father, Yehuda Karniel, is considered one of the best-known vintners in the Land of Israel and the greatest in Zichron Ya'akov and its surroundings.
In the "Encyclopedia for Pioneers of the Settlement and Its Builders", David Tadhar wrote about him that he "wrapped up the theory of science with the extensive experience he acquired all the years of being a farmer on his land. Since the days of Marach (the agricultural lands where the farmers of Zichron Ya'akov lived) he kept his faith in the land and did not raise his eyes to other livelihoods, and later the earth returned its blessing to him, until he saw the reward of his labor and suffering."
The family house was built at the highest point in the colony and was built in the typical way in which the farmers of the colonies built their houses at the beginning of the last century: in front of the residence there was a yard where the cows went out to graze in the morning.
In the yard there were also mules, geese, roosters and hens.
In the "Hukura", which is the backyard, they grew vegetables for self-consumption.
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Aviv and Sarah Karniel (photo: courtesy of the family)
The threshing floor of the colony was the place where the children met and played, mainly football.
Another pastime in his childhood was riding donkeys in nature, around Zichron Ya'akov.
He said that childhood ended when the War of Independence began.
He and his friends accompanied their elders and helped guard around the colony.
As was customary in the agricultural colonies, Aviv would help with the work in the family farm from the age of 12, mainly during vacations from school.
The most exciting time of the year was the grape harvest season.
It was a hard physical job of hand cranking.
The harvested fruit was transferred to wooden crates that were loaded on the back of a donkey and outside the vineyard the harvest was poured into barrels.
The barrels, placed on a cart, were dragged by mules to the winery.
In the winery, the farmers or their children were waiting in a long line, until it was their turn to pour the bunches of grapes into a pit inside which a large iron snail would rotate that separated the fruit from the vine.
The juice of the grapes that flowed from the barrels that the carts slowly dragged up the road to the winery, left a scent that was smelled throughout the colony and was unique to this season of the year in Zichron Ya'akov.
For example, it was written in an article at the beginning of September 1954 that "the cart of Yehuda Karniel, the oldest farmer in Zichron Ya'akov, brought the last of the grapes to the Zichron Ya'akov wineries. With this, the Samaria wineries closed their gates until next year's harvest."
This was a record year in which the grape harvest exceeded all previous years.
A partner in the agricultural revolution in Israel
Aviv grew up in this atmosphere and when he reached high school age he was sent to study at the agricultural school in Pardes Hana.
At that time, there were almost no private cars and the students lived in the boarding schools at the educational institution and would come to visit family only once a month.
It was about demanding studies of agriculture studies and studies of general professions.
So Aviv's heart sprouted the desire to expand his horizons and continue his academic studies, but it was clear to him that this was preceded by his commitment to the family economy.
After finishing his studies he enlisted in the IDF, the Nahal and during his service he went through an officer's course and continued for another year of permanent service.
In the service he met Sara Spigelman, they became a couple and a year after they were released from the army they got married and built their home in Zichron Ya'akov.
Over the years they had three children - Or, Einav and Yehuda.
Upon his release from the IDF, Aviv entered the family's agricultural farm, which until then was based on the cultivation of wine grapes. He realized that the farm needed development and renewal. Like other farmers of his generation, he was a participant in the agricultural revolution in Israel. It was about the introduction and application of modern methods with innovative technology of watering and fertilizing. Aviv and the members of the new generation of farmers in the Zichron Ya'akov area also introduced new agricultural crops, such as the cultivation of deciduous fruits. This was the study of a completely new field that required the study of the way of the climate of the new crops.
"Fulfilled his dream of studying academics."
Aviv Karniel (photo: courtesy of the family)
At the same time as his work, he devoted himself to public work which he filled voluntarily for many years.
It was a demanding job that required a lot of dedication from him.
Among his many public positions was chairman of the agricultural committee on behalf of the local council in Zichron Ya'akov, chairman of the Fruit Growers organization on behalf of the Farmers' Association in 1985 - 2000, and chairman of the Magdeli table used in Israel.
In addition, he was a member of the "Rotary" club in the settlement for nearly fifty years and volunteered in many social activities.
Ten years ago he was awarded the Yakir Zichron Ya'akov medal.
Over the years, he also served long periods as an officer in the reserves and reached the position of Major General at the rank of lieutenant colonel in the anti-aircraft formation.
He participated in the Six Day Wars, the Attrition, Yom Kippur and First Lebanon.
During these periods Sarah owned and managed the farm.
When he reached the age of 69, he decided to open a new chapter in his life and fulfill his dream of studying academically.
He passed the torch of the farm to his son Yehuda and began to study Israel at the University of Haifa.
He completed his first and second degrees and in his thesis researched the "Gideonim" association - an association that was established in Zichron Ya'akov at the end of the Ottoman rule, and which was born against the background of the cultural and social crisis between the first generation and the second in the colony.
His father, Yehuda Karniel, was one of the founders of the association which, among other things, worked independently to maintain and secure the colony.
He wrote "out of passion and passion"
Immediately after that, he continued his doctorate at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he researched the "Bnei Benjamin" movement.
This is a movement about which little has been written in historical research.
This movement that was established in the early twenties of the last century tried to place itself at the center of Zionist activity and establish new colonies as a renewal of private Zionist settlement, based on a liberal worldview.
"You did well to combine historical investigation into issues that were so close to your heart, you wrote with passion and passion, commitment to history and concern for the preservation and transmission of information to the younger generations," wrote his daughter Einav in the obituary.
"You studied as if you were 20 years old, with enthusiasm and determination, you were a full-time student, diligent, smart, knowledgeable and deaf - an example and role model for all of us," she added.
His son Yehuda told how one day, when he was arguing with a fruit merchant on the phone, he entered his father's study and addressed him: "Come for a while, don't you miss it?".
"I have a job to submit," he replied as he was busy typing text.
"The number 1 fan"
His family members said that he was a supportive and involved father and grandfather in their lives.
He encouraged them to fulfill their ambitions and was present at the grandchildren's soccer games as well as the granddaughters' dance performances.
"We spent endless hours together on the lines at the soccer fields where the grandchildren played. You were the number 1 fan, the ultras of the grandchildren," his son, Yehuda, paid tribute to him.
Together with his children and grandchildren, he would also religiously watch football games on television, especially the games of his favorite team, Maccabi Tel Aviv.
A week ago he passed away and he is 86 years old. He was laid to rest in the cemetery of Zichron Ya'akov, the settlement where his family planted roots 140 years ago.
"A man with a young boy's name and a young spirit, tall and mature, fearlessly built, a man of action, a man of the land and a man of books, curious, inquisitive, innovative and optimistic. You believed in yourself, in your son and in this difficult country, and you planted this faith in us," wrote his daughter, Einav .
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