Page 3 - C.A.L.L. #41 - Summer 2016

From Top to Bottom:

The Many Faces of Israel’s

Intentional Communities

A group of Americans from a range of Jewish intentional communities visited Israel for a whirlwind tour of the
thriving diversity of communal life in the homeland of the kibbutz and moshav.

Tamar Fendel, April 13, Jerusalem.

IN MARCH, I had the privilege of attending the Jewish Intentional Communities Tour of Israel, put
together by the US nonprofit organization, Hazon. A group of Americans who are all engaged in
building Jewish intentional communities where they live came together to be inspired by the incredible
communal work being done in Israel. I was invited to join the tour as a representative of Berkeley
Moshav. My family and I are part of the core group of people trying to build Berkeley Moshav, which will
be a Jewish co-housing complex in Berkeley, California, the first of its kind in the United States. Each
household at the Berkeley Moshav will own or rent their own unit, like an apartment building or a
condominium, but we will also have shared space such as a kitchen, a dining room, a garden and play
areas for children. We will be a pluralistic Jewish community, jointly engaging in Jewish life and inviting
others in the area to celebrate with us.

The tour took us throughout Israel – from Tzfat and Nazereth Illit in the north to Beer Sheva and Shuva in
the south. We spent time learning with experts in the field about the history of kibbutzim and other
intentional communities in Israel, and how the communal movement has evolved in recent years. We
had opportunities to visit communities dedicated to service to others in Israel, while each manifests that
idea in very different and unique ways. The number and variety of intentional communities in Israel is
staggering, and we visited several of each of the main types. Each of the communities we visited is
affiliated with Makom, an umbrella organization that helps grow and strengthen the movement.

One type of kibbutz that most of the Americans in the group weren’t aware even existed prior to this
tour, is one that is dedicated to education. A
great example of this is Kibbutz Ravid, which
we visited on our first day. Nearly every
member works in the field of education, in
communities outside of the kibbutz. They
have even created a degree program in
progressive education. They are a kibbutz in
every respect, in that they share economic
and communal resources, but they are
focused on building the greater community
and Israeli society, rather than being insular.
Another example of this kind of intentional Exterior of Kibbutz Mishol.
community – a particular highlight of the
tour for me – was Kibbutz Mishol. Kibbutz Mishol is an urban kibbutz, located in Nazereth Illit (just north
of Nazareth). It is situated in a low/mixed income town. The kibbutz has been in the area for nearly 20

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