Page 27 - C.A.L.L. #21 - Spring 2003

“The right of an individual, including a kibbutz member, is to freely choose the type of life he wants to lead.
Many in Israel have experienced the kibbutz life, have found it doesn’t suit them and left, still respecting the
idea. There is no doubt that many more people left the kibbutz than those who have remained there. A society
aspiring to equality will not be destroyed by those who do not want it, and who are determined to realize their
dissatisfaction in the kibbutz. Perhaps this is a way of removing the yoke of freedom from those who want to
continue this very special social creation, because where will they go?”

Does the Kibbutz Movement’s expansion of the definition of ‘kibbutz’ negate the right of The Communal Trend to
follow their ideals? What is your opinion?

“If we take as an example the subject of redefinition, today there are 26 classifications of communal
organization, and there is no reason why there should not be 27. The determination to change the definition of
kibbutz, rather than add other defining features is pathetic, since no one has
the right (not even the majority) to take something that belongs to someone
else. If someone thinks that by hiding behind the definition of ‘kibbutz’ as it is
today, he will not pay taxes required by law, that is, he will receive a
differential salary and pay a collective tax, he simply does not know what he
is talking about. He is similar to someone hiding behind a felled bush. Even
though I am not a lawmaker, I know that decisions today are based on the
essence of the matter, not according to empty definitions.”

Do you consider leaving the confinement of the existing movement frameworks in favor of the right of The
Communal Trend to define its own identity?

“I think the issue should not be forced. I believe that it will only be a few years before the differential kibbutzim
become independent communities (at best), since assignment of property titles includes sale of property and
rights of inheritance. No authority can, over time, classify residents according to social principles that have not
been formally recognized (See High Court Judgment Katzir). Whoever wants to remain a kibbutz will, in any
case, do so.”

*

Ido Aloni: “During our Youth Movement activities, we read Eric Fromm’s Escape from Freedom and tried to
understand the significance of the individual’s life in a capitalistic society in which the individual willingly flees
from freedom of thought, and even more important, runs away from the necessity of decision-making. Making
decisions is the very soul of democracy, not only a privilege in a free-democratic society but also part of an
individual’s obligations, conditional to the healthy functioning of a democratic society.

“From the time I arrived in the kibbutz, I found myself questioning our friend Eric
Fromm, wondering if, as a kibbutz member, he would have written Escape from
Freedom. In my opinion, the difficult and more challenging part in the life of the
kibbutzim is the need to accept the decisions of others and act accordingly. I don’t
see this as an escape from freedom, but rather the willingness to accept decisions:
an agreement to accept the decisions of others while others accept your decisions.
Those initiating change in the kibbutz speak openly about the recreation of the kibbutz member – as free, proud
and responsible for his destiny (particularly economically); a real success in Fromm’s terms.

“And I, comparing the kibbutz members of today with those of 20 or 30 years ago, find it hard to distinguish the
new type of kibbutz member created by the current changes. As the new member experiences freedom and
release from the decision-making ties of committees and people in management roles, he shows less interest
and pride in the system, less convinced that it is worthwhile living in this type of society.”

Reprinted from Kibbutz Trends, Winter 2002 and HaDaf HaYarok, April 2002

27