Kibbutz life...

At our Traveler's meeting - Rotem Prag described life on a Kibbutz in Israel...  She is one of our area's Israeli emmissaries.  Here are some of the excerpts from her talk --


Rotem's Kibbutz, Ein Harod, is about 90 years old (she thinks), which means it was established well BEFORE Israeli Independence!  The name refers to a nearby spring, at the location where the Kibbutz was formed.  She is a 4th generation family member of the Kibbutz, and in her Kibbutz there are about 400 families (she thinks!) or about 1000 people.  She described how each Kibbutz generally has a main industry - for example, her Kibbutz makes Honey!!  Some Kibbutzim are more successful than others financially, depending on the industry and how well they are run. 

When people are voted into a Kibbutz, they provide their money into the group, and then each member receives a paycheck each month, but each member receives exactly the same monetary allotment from the Kibbutz.  Members have to be voted in, and generally, the successful Kibbutzim are more likely to attract new members.  There are about 250 Kibbutzim in Israel, and it is a way of life unique to the state of Israel.

Although each Kibbutz is financially socialistic, she said a Kibbutz is run very democratically, which means that everyone in the Kibbutz is equal and everyone votes!  About once per month decisions are made and voted on by everyone at the main hall.  She passed around a book of pictures and memories from her life with her family and friends on the Kibbutz.

The center of life in the Kibbutz revolves around the main gathering "hall", where meals are all served, meetings are held, and social events take place.  She described the food at the large dining hall as wonderful, tasty, and plentiful - it sounds like a smorgasbord - and she eats a big meal there at 2:00 each afternoon, after she gets out of her education/schooling.

Children initially live with their parents, but because she is older now, she lives with a roomate along with other similar aged kids in a dormatory style housing complex; small apartments with shared bathroom facilities.  Children at age 16 are allowed to live on their own in this type of housing. 

Finally, Rotem described a little bit about her formal education.  After high school, all young people in Israel are required to serve in the IDF.  Then, after serving with the IDF, they return and apply, if they want, to continue their education at the College level.  Some will return to the Kibbutz, others will go on to high tech jobs and live their lives outside of the Kibbutz. 

However, for some high school graduates, there is a middle year between high school  and the IDF, in which some can choose and can be selected to travel.  Such is the case for Rotem and Avital, our two young emmissaries.  Rotem talked to us about her counselor at the Kibbutz, who acts as a spiritual guide for her - the Hebrew word she used is "musar".  He has been very instrumental and important in her life, in her education, and in preparing her, guiding her, and encouraging her to pursue her travels in her in-between year. 


Thank you Rotem - for sharing with us and giving us a glimpse of life on an Israeli Kibbutz!