Page 12 - C.A.L.L. #34 - Winter 2011/2012

The Communitarian Scene from all Over and Under
Compiled (and partly translated) by Joel Dorkam

Recently I had to admit reluctantly, contrary to my most cherished
beliefs, that life is replete with surprises - some pleasant ones, and
some which we could quite well do without. Sometimes, a surprise
of the pleasant kind can create several after-effects, in my case
causing a whole bunch of emotions. Case in point, the following
letter from Darvell Community which landed in my mailbox in the wake of the previous
C.A.L.L. Incidentally, for those who didn't notice until now, the letterhead by itself testifies to
the rather dramatic disappearance of the "Bruderhof"s centuries-old logo, yet another
indication of change penetrating even the strongest bastion. Anyway, the senders name on the
envelope sounded vaguely familiar - as it turned out, not without reason. I will let the letter
speak for itself; my only regret is that I cannot see your reactions. Hopefully this could be an
incentive for you, and encourage more surprises of a similar kind to come.

CHURCH COMMUNITIES UK
Darvell, Robertsbridge, East Sussex, TN32 5DR, UK
Joel Dorkam
Yad Tabenkim

Seminar Efal
Ramat Efal
Israel 52960

Dear Joel Dorkam,
My name is Renate Ellwanger and I am working in the Plough Office. The other day I
got your magazine C.A.L.L., No. 33, and when I opened it I saw your article
KALEIDOSCOPE where you write what the life story of my husband Siegfried has
meant to you!
Dear Joel, you cannot imagine what this means to me! Siegfried passed away last
September, on our 58th Wedding Anniversary. That now his life story got published
in a Jewish magazine would have meant all the world for him! And I am moved from all

my heart how you describe what it meant for you! Thank you so, so much!
I already had heard your name by our brother Josef Ben-Eliezer, who lives now in the
States in our Deer Spring Bruderhof (as you might know). I wrote to him and he
wrote me back that he also gets the C.A.L.L. and is very thankful for the article. Also
what you write about our new book "Embassy besieged". I am just helping to edit it to
be published in German.
As you know from Siegfried's story we are Germans and joined the Bruderhof 25
years ago. It has been a call from God. My English is not so good, and Siegfried
didn't know English at all, but by his outgoing way he spoke to many people, guests
and visitors and in spite of the language barrier they felt his heart. Many of them

wrote this to me now after his passing. It is a big comfort for me how his life is used
as a witness for God's Kingdom.
In the weeks before he passed away the song "There is a balm in Gilead" (which you