Page 11 - C.A.L.L. #47 - Winter 2020/2021
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These cooperative communities are most who over a century ago laid the groundwork
often located in what are called for creating what became the State of
development towns, far from the economic Israel. They were the generation who
and cultural heart of central Israel. founded the first kibbutzim – envisioned as
Considered something of the country’s utopias of egalitarianism and social justice
backwater, these towns are not an obvious – and serve as inspiration for Mr. Sabo and
draw for educated young people. But those his friends as they strive today to foster a
joining these cooperatives in growing more humanist, democratic Israel.
numbers say they are choosing to live in
these neighborhoods and towns precisely Mr. Sabo’s kibbutz is one of 16 in the Dror
because that is where they can have the Israel movement, the organization for
most impact on Israeli society. adult graduates of a large socialist-
oriented youth movement called HaNoar
A kibbutz for Millennials HaOved VeHaLomed, Hebrew for The
Mr. Sabo, who Working and
grew up in the Studying Youth, that
Tel Aviv suburb was founded in 1924.
of Kiryat Ono, Their work focuses
walks across his on education in local
kibbutz building’s schools, but also with
sprawling roof at-risk youth and
deck, which is vocational training
lined with potted for adults.
plants growing “The founders, the
herbs and halutzim, they are
tomatoes – our heroes,” says
perhaps the only Ella Orion (left) and Bella Alexandrov, members of the Kama Gilad Perry, a leader
nod to the group, an urban collective in Beersheba, sit in Ms. Orion's of Dror Israel and
original kibbutz apartment in the city. On the floor is art utilized in a himself a member of
movement’s ceremony that the group created for its children starting an educational
origins as an grade school. kibbutz. “But the
ideology rooted question of today’s
in not just communal, egalitarian living but young generation is what does it mean to
working the land. be a pioneering Zionist today? … It is not
draining a swamp, or settling the land. It’s
On the deck are scattered picnic tables something else. But it is drawn from the
and chairs where group members like him – same basic idea for being responsible for
graduates of one of Israel’s largest youth your life, for your country’s life, and more
movements – gather sometimes late into broadly, for humanity.”
the night discussing ideas and educational
projects they have underway in the city. Sense of belonging
“Today’s kibbutzim are very good places to
These intense, often ideological discussions live in, they have nice swimming pools, nice
would be familiar to the country’s original living standards, this is great,” says Mr.
halutzim – the Hebrew word for pioneers – Perry. “But if you are talking about …
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