Page 8 - C.A.L.L. #46 - Summer 2020
P. 8

Kibbutz Amiad, Israel



        Kibbutz Amiad in Corona Times

        First, a little background.
        Kibbutz Amiad is a community that has gone through a process of privatization over the last
        25 years, moving from the intense communal/collective interdependence to a community of
        independent family units. This has included the division of most (not all) of the kibbutz’s

        assets amongst its members, the most significant of which has been the plots and houses in
        which we the members live. This profound change was brought about primarily by the need to
        survive rather than by ideological inspiration, and in the early process was thought to be “the
        end of kibbutz”, and that the kibbutz would metamorphose into a simple community village.
        Instead, however, the kibbutz has maintained a high degree of communality. This ranges
        from mutual responsibility and care, direct democracy on all major decisions (one vote per
        member – meeting together every month), the organization of communal institutions – child
        care, education, daily after school informal education, care for the elderly – an active
        golden-agers club house, library, cultural activities for the various age groups, sport (there
        is a football pitch, tennis courts and a basketball court), and family allotments for growing

        vegetables etc.

        The members pay an equal monthly tax per person to the community. This tax supports other
        such community functions such as landscape gardening, security, safety, the swimming pool
                                                                    etc. Included also is a “safety net fund”
                                                                    to ensure that no family falls below a
                                                                    certain monthly income, together with
                                                                    a “catastrophe fund” should a disaster
                                                                    befall a certain family.

                                                                    An elected Management Committee
                                                                    overseas all activity including various

                                                                    economic ventures in which the kibbutz
                                                                    is involved – a factory, orchards, motel,
                                                                    land rental, amongst others. Today
        most members work outside the kibbutz, each to his/her own vocation.

        So in fact, when the Corona Virus struck with its attached ever-growing stringent
        regulations, the kibbutz’s well-oiled organization was able to immediately mobilize to social-
        distance, isolate the elderly, and provide all services as required.

        A special committee was appointed including a social worker, nurse, and other functionaries

        to oversee all community and individual issues connected with this special situation.

        The kibbutz is surrounded by a modern security fence with an electronic gate at the
        entrance, which can be operated from afar by a telephone number that all members have.






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