Page 12 - C.A.L.L. #43 - Winter 2017

nearly 100, and includes 11 children—did not come to Akko for the views. They came to make a
difference, and that is taking place in the heart of the city.

It is no longer possible for members of the kibbutz to achieve their goals from the physical outskirts of
the city; they must move into the social and cultural core of the community they want to serve. About 18
months ago, the kibbutz identified a building near the city’s commercial center and Akko’s mixed inner-
city neighbourhoods. The four-story building of white stone was just seven years old and had been a
private nursing home until it went bankrupt. With only modest changes, the building would be perfect
for the needs of the kibbutz. Renovation of the top three floors would turn them into living areas for
communal residential life and creative collaboration, and the ground floor would provide public activity
space—a physical interface between the kibbutz and the broader community. These were the precise
conditions that would allow the unique social innovation that the Educators’ Kibbutz represents to
become what it needs to be. The building would allow for a model of urban communal living combined
with activist outreach. Nothing like it existed anywhere in Israel.

But buying the building wasn’t possible without partners from Israel and abroad. Members of the
kibbutz sought resources throughout the country and overseas. It was a difficult task—not everyone, they
learned, is supportive of the idea of financially backing a large cooperative community. They came close
several times to signing an agreement for the building, only to have their financial backing fall through.
Sometimes it was difficult not to become disheartened.

“The kibbutz has made such a huge commitment to the future of Akko. I truly believe that if we succeed
in what we’re trying to do, others will follow in our path,” said Mirit Sulema, a member of the Educators’
Kibbutz and one of the leaders of the fundraising drive.

“Not just those seeking to live communally like we do, but also people throughout Israel, and maybe
throughout the world, who want to make change in the places that they live. That’s why we do what we
do.”

An agreement was
recently signed with
the previous owner
of the new building,
and the kibbutz is
now one major step
closer to making
the dream a reality.
But as of the writing
of this article, the
campaign is still
underway.
According to
Sulema, it will take
several more years
to find enough
Mirit Sulema, one of the directors of the Akko Educators’ Kibbutz, outside City Hall.
economic partners
to help fully realize
the kibbutz’s dream. For now, all eyes are turned resolutely to the future of the kibbutz and that of the
community it serves.

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