The Jerusalem Post - The Jerusalem Post Magazine
Going out into the light
Tsala Yaffa, 62, CEO of the Kibbutzim College of Education, Technology and the Arts for the past 17 years, surprised everyone when she announced her intention to take early retirement this year in order to focus on writing and illustration, which she adores. “I decided that I must take this step for myself,” she said excitedly, “even if the number of pensions available to me will be less than what I would’ve received if I had stayed at the college until the age of 67.
At the beginning of May, shortly before her 63rd birthday, Tsala Yaffa will complete her position as CEO of the Kibbutzim College of Education, Technology and the Arts in Tel Aviv and will, at her request, retire early. Yaffa, a member of Kibbutz Netiv Halamed Heh and originally an educator, could have stayed for another four or five years in the position she had filled with dedication and success for the last 17 years, until retirement age, which stands at 67 years old.
She could have, but she decided that it was time to change phases, to realize old dreams and to devote herself completely to the art that she loved so much and had been “a side project” for so long, mainly painting and writing.
“Already from an early stage, I had fantasies about another career at retirement age,” said Yaffa, a mother of three and grandmother to a grandson. “My decision was that I had to undertake this process for myself and retire from work when I reached the age of entitlement for women, 62 years, even if the amount of pension available to me would be lower than what I would receive had I stayed in the seminar until the age of 67. I made the decision even though the college is a quality and unique workplace, with a team that I am very appreciative of and that I love, and I feel there the most at home.”
What early preparations did you make before making such an important decision?
“In the first stage, I checked within the workplace what sums I had accumulated in the pension fund and what the monthly national insurance benefit I would receive from now on. There were no surprises, because the Kibbutzim College was very organized on this subject, but it was important for me to clarify the matter, and especially in order to know in advance what standard of living I would have. Considering this, I consulted with people, including financial experts, who helped me examine the numbers. Here I already saw what the difference would be between what I would get now and what I could receive in four or five years, and I told myself that for this price, it is worth the freedom of early retirement.”
And you are not worried for the future?
“Not really. I really like changes in life, even dramatic ones, so I feel more joy than fear, and also enthusiasm for the free time I have at my disposal from now on. I would like to point out that my case is a bit unusual, because until the age of 45, I worked in the kibbutz in the fields of education, social work and human resources, and I did not accumulate any pension rights. In other words, most of the pension amounts available to me are from the time I started working as an ‘outside worker’ at the seminar. To the credit of the kibbutz, I will say that it supplemented some of those funds for its members.”
How did your friends and employees at the college receive your decision?
“The first reactions were of surprise and a little disappointment, but with time the environment got used to it and accepted – and then it changed into understanding and giving blessing. It is important to note that I announced this more than a year ago, knowing that finding a worthy replacement for such a complex managerial position is a process that takes time. Indeed, my replacement has already been chosen, and we will begin the process of onthe-job training this March.”
What are your plans for the near future and a little further down the line?
“First of all, to continue to write. In the past I released two ‘romantic’ novels published by the Kibbutz Hameuchad Publishing House, Other and I’m Not Really Alone, and last year I published two more books in private publishing. One of them, which I published only a few weeks ago, was called Lech Lecha [‘You go’], in which I wrote about the story of my father, who is a Holocaust survivor. This book deals with a heavy historical subject in a light and accessible way. The second book is called Good Girl, and it is a work of ‘shirpurim’, which is a word I invented. These are short and rhyming stories with a bit of weight, very similar to what is now called ‘Spoken Word’ and ‘Poetry Slam.’ I released it on my own and illustrated it myself. For each ‘shirpur,’ I created a colorful mandala that adorns the title of the ketubah in calligraphy with a pen.”
Are you satisfied with the decision to retire early?
“Completely. To this day, there are things that I dreamed of doing and I did them, but in a small way, and from now on I intend to do them big time. I retire with the feeling that I am reaching a place that I belong to but have not yet realized – and now is the time.”
The bank is not a tax adviser. Everything stated above comprises only general information and explanation, which does not constitute pension advice, investment advice of tax advice, and it does not replace personal advice subject to provisions by law.