In the eyes of leisure researcher Ehad Karib, the expansion of leisure hours can cause serious social problems. The National Leisure Research Council, his initiative, will try to solve them
By Yaniv Zach
Leisure hours are apparently a person's most private hours. he is not
He is committed to work and can spend his time in any way he chooses. Nevertheless, there is
who see leisure as a public issue, and even a social danger. These days
The National Council for Leisure Research in Israel is established, which will unite the practitioners
In the study of leisure on its various aspects: researchers specializing in the leisure industry
and in leisure culture, researchers from the fields of geography, urbanization,
the community, and more. According to the plan, the council will present studies on an ongoing basis, and even
Try to make the theoretical knowledge practical.
"In the eyes of many, leisure is a good thing," says Ahed Karib, a leisure expert
And the initiator of the council, "They think that leisure is pleasure, a good life, quiet."
and peace But if you dig a little deeper, you realize that the transition from the world of work
The leisure world involves many changes and processes. Leisure is a difficult thing
Very much, and you shouldn't be happy that it's getting bigger. The leisure day is not only
Voluntary as before, it is also forced. This is a very difficult human and social phenomenon."
By the term "forced leisure" Karib means early retirement - voluntary
Or not - which has become common in recent years. According to data collected from the bureau
Employment and the Central Bureau of Statistics, there are about 250 people living in Israel today
A thousand "young retirees", aged 65-48, who were thrown out of work for various reasons
and looking for alternative employment to fill their day. According to Kriev, about 100 thousand
Among them are the refugees of the hi-tech industry. "Forced leisure means there is less
And fewer people who have something to get up for in the morning. Many say they are
They want more free hours, but when suddenly they don't have a job - and the intention
It is mainly for retirees - they go crazy and try to escape from inaction."
And this is not the end of the injury to the leisure person, according to Karib. "For people who are expelled
There is nothing to live for from work", he states, "and this is reflected
In the destruction of families, obesity, psychoses and depressions. according to inspection
I did, among young pensioners domestic violence is increasing. there is also
Other phenomena: people start new careers, open a new business,
And lose within a year or two the money they have accumulated over 25 years of work."
Karib also states that leisure creates spiritual depletion and fatness, and claims
that the Israelis found two dubious solutions for this: the shopping malls and the telephones
the cell phones. "Studies have shown that only two out of ten people buy
in shopping malls; The rest are wandering. This gave birth to a new profession, which does not exist abroad:
Event manager at the mall - sales promotions, workshops for children.
The children are active, and the parents are shopping."
As the leisure age expands, Kriev says with a hint of optimism, value
Leisure will be higher than the value of work. Meanwhile we live in a reality where
Work defines a person's purpose, and in its absence the ground falls under
his legs "I'm definitely waiting for this moment, for Adam to make a 'second career'
from his leisure time, as he did at work. But now we are in the period
Intermediate. Work is still a central value in life, although for young people,
According to various surveys and studies, the value of leisure is as important as
the job".
Karib, 60 years old, a sociologist by training, independently researches the aspects
The practicalities of leisure (he intends to soon publish his book "Caution -
Leisure", which, despite its name, does not only refer to the negative aspects of
the phenomenon). The Leisure Research Council is supposed to help solve the crises that it is
guitar pick. The council will have about 40-30 researchers, and it will cooperate with councils
Similar in the United States and Europe. Karib hopes that the studies and discussions
Its will directly affect the company. He intends, for example, to contact Vadi
employees and guide them on how to prevent early unemployment ahead of time.
According to one of his proposals, the work agreements will include professional training
that will keep the employees updated in their field.
{Appeared in Haaretz newspaper, 19/10/2000{
The knowledge site was part of the IOL portal from the Haaretz group.
