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come to meet, and from where Centre" in nearby Upper Nazareth.
communal affairs are managed. This will have two advantages: all
Mish'ol's management group or members will be able to live under the
steering committee (known as same roof, and they will be near the
Mazkirut) consists of two members largest Arab Israeli city (Nazareth),
from each kvutza. Each April, the offering them far more opportunities
Mazkirut, through consensus, decides to promote mutual respect and
on major projects and directions for understanding, and (hopefully) making
the next year. There are various other them more effective as agents for
kibbutz committees responsible for peace and social justice. They will also
specific matters such as finance, be far more visible as the model
finding a permanent home, and social intentional community to which they
and cultural functions. At weekly aspire.
meetings, members can make kibbutz- I expect that moving together under
wide decisions based on consensus. one roof will throw up a number of
Most decisions, however, are made challenges to their way of life. Will it
within the smaller kvutzot or within allow them to become more socially,
work groups. Members live, usually culturally, and politically active, to
sharing with other kvutza members, in better exemplify an ideal intentional
nearby rental housing. community—or will they find the larger
Mish'ol members operate several small social grouping saps their time and
businesses which employ some energy? Mish'ol members are inspiring,
members; these include catering, web warm, welcoming, and passionate, so I
design, childcare, and coaching for new hope that the move is beneficial. How
mothers. A few members work outside they cope and how they develop will be
in occupations ranging from computer well worth watching.
programmer to childcare expert, but The kibbutz movement, said by some
most work in educational projects in critics to be floundering and dying is, in
schools, youth movements, fact, flourishing in the guise of this
after-school clubs for "at-risk" youth, new generation of urban intentional
etc. Almost all work has some communities. They might just contain
connection with education, peace, the seeds of a solution to the long-
justice, and social welfare. All member term problems of peace, equity, and
income goes directly into the kibbutz justice that beset Israeli Jews and
coffers. There are no private cars but Arabs, as well as Palestinians in the
Mish'ol owns vehicles that members Occupied Territories.
book as needed. Or am I too hopeful?
Money in Mish'ol's coffers is allocated
by their finance/treasury committee Dr. Bill Metcalf, of Griffith University,
to each kvutza, according to Australia, is the author of numerous scholarly
membership, and to cover kibbutz-wide and popular articles, plus seven books, about
intentional communities, the most recent being
expenses and to promote and develop The Findhorn Book of Community Living. He is
new projects. Past President of the International Communal
Mish'ol members are negotiating to Studies Association and has been
take over from the Jewish Agency a COMMUNITIES magazine's International
large, disused "Migrant Absorption Correspondent for many years.
