Page 26 - C.A.L.L. #28 - Spring 2007

A Short Visit to Israel A Visit to Communal Israel?

In early May 2006 I was privileged to attend the Are you planning to be at
Conference of Kibbutz Researchers at Givat Haviva the ICSA Conference at
Conference Center in Israel. Just where the kibbutzim Damanhur next summer? If
so, you might consider the
will go from here remains a question of great interest
in Israel, for privatization seems to have unstoppable following idea. It has been
momentum. I made a short presentation discussing the suggested that some
participants might like to
evolution of communal forms in the United States; it
travel a little further and
seems to me that evolution and change are inescapable visit the current communal
in intentional communities of all types, not just in scene in Israel. As you may
kibbutzim. The real highlight of the conference for me, well know, this includes a
however, was the presence of four Canadian Hutterites. variety of urban communes
They gave remarkably frank and open presentations and various kinds of
about Hutterite life and the changes the colonies are kibbutzim:
experiencing. communal/traditional, new-
style/privatized, urban,
educational and ecological.
Yaacov Oved and my other hosts arranged for me to
visit three quite different kibbutzim while I was there. And, of course, there is
One, Mishmar Ha'Emek, might be called a "classic" and much more to see in the
Holy Land.
most successful kibbutz. It retains its fully communal

economy and enjoys considerable prosperity with a Regretfully, I have to point
large plastics business in addition to agricultural out that no financial
operations. Another, Kibbutz Tamuz, is unusual in that assistance can be provided
it is urban, located in the city of Bet Shemesh, near and even a short stay on a
Jerusalem. The third was Kibbutz Palmachim, which kibbutz may have to be paid
has gone the way of privatization but retains common for. However, we will do
ownership of the property in its stunningly beautiful our best to make such a
setting on the Mediterranean. visit to Communal Israel a
success.
I also got a chance to spend a few hours in the archives If you are interested in this
at Yad Tabenkin. I would earnestly encourage anyone
suggestion, please drop a
interested in communal studies who is traveling to
few lines to one of us and
Israel to schedule some time there. Their collections include an indication of
are excellent and contain a good deal of material, your specific interests.
including some on North American intentional Realization of the idea will
communities, that can be found nowhere else. depend on the response to
this call.
Four days are hardly enough even to begin to explore
the fascinating ways and byways of this country at We look forward to hearing
once ancient and modern. I appreciate the opportunity from you.
I was given to participate in the conference and to get
an all-too-brief change to sample Israel. Sol Etzioni, International
Communes Desk, Kibbutz

Tzora
Tim Miller
solrene@tzora.co.il
Past President, ICSA
Eli Avrahami, Kibbutz
Dr. Timothy Miller is a member of the Department of Palmachim
Religious Studies at the University of Kansas, USA. arza@palmachim.org.il

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