Page 20 - C.A.L.L. #36 - Summer 2013

Welcome to “Kibbutz Shorts”,

where we discover what’s new
on the Kibbutz in an update
KIBBUTZ SHORTS
from around Israel.

Compiled mainly from the
Kibbutz weeklies by Yoel Darom,
Kibbutz Kfar Menachem

Treason or Renewal?

Last century's eighties was a period of spiritual and organizational upheaval in the Kibbutz
movement. Dissatisfaction and doubts, especially from the younger generation, who have now
taken on the leadership positions in each Kibbutz and also in the movement as a whole, have
led to new ways of leading a collective life, and – as we have explained here more than once –
have won the upper hand in most kibbutzim.

The main thrust of this revolution has led to the loosening of the collective forms of kibbutz
life and the introduction of more "freedom", more space for the individual, for the family,
for ‘myself’. This has not been easily achieved. Intense struggles broke out in many of the
kibbutzim, with about 3/4 eventually following the new trend, ‘betraying the old, traditional
ways’ and building a new kibbutz collective, whose first ‘achievement’ was the abolition of all
children sleeping together in their ‘house’, and not with their parents. This had been, for
many decades, a must for all.

The main reason for communal children’s houses was that the tiny and sparse ‘rooms’ (not
houses!) of the parents were physically unable to accommodate their offspring. However,
over the years, this circumstance developed into an established theory of ‘kibbutz education’.
One of the accompanying difficulties with this new trend was the need to enlarge all
Kibbutz-parents' houses.

Slowly, more and more ‘privatizations’ were introduced: private money, personal choice of
work (not necessarily on or for the Kibbutz), differential wages and more. Many were quite
happy with these changes; others considered themselves to have been betrayed.

Now a new position has been voiced by many: we are the majority so do not call us
‘destroyers’ but rather ‘renewers’; ours is the collective form which suits these modern
times, we are the true future of kibbutz. At a recent convention of ‘The Renewed Kibbutz’,
all of the personal and organizational ‘achievements’ of the New Kibbutz were proudly
celebrated, however some dissatisfaction could also be heard. Many were looking for a more
ideological and spiritual renewal, not just technical improvements. Ayala Gilad from Kibbutz
Ein Gedi wrote: "Do we have any strength left for us to return to the kibbutz its intrinsic
message, its ability to form and strengthen a new identity, a new spiritual dimension?"

*

20