Page 8 - C.A.L.L. #46 - Summer 2020

Kibbutz Amiad, Israel

Kibbutz Amiad in Corona Times

First, a little background.
Kibbutz Amiad is a community that has gone through a process of privatization over the last
25 years, moving from the intense communal/collective interdependence to a community of
independent family units. This has included the division of most (not all) of the kibbutz’s

assets amongst its members, the most significant of which has been the plots and houses in
which we the members live. This profound change was brought about primarily by the need to
survive rather than by ideological inspiration, and in the early process was thought to be “the
end of kibbutz”, and that the kibbutz would metamorphose into a simple community village.
Instead, however, the kibbutz has maintained a high degree of communality. This ranges
from mutual responsibility and care, direct democracy on all major decisions (one vote per
member – meeting together every month), the organization of communal institutions – child
care, education, daily after school informal education, care for the elderly – an active
golden-agers club house, library, cultural activities for the various age groups, sport (there
is a football pitch, tennis courts and a basketball court), and family allotments for growing

vegetables etc.

The members pay an equal monthly tax per person to the community. This tax supports other
such community functions such as landscape gardening, security, safety, the swimming pool
etc. Included also is a “safety net fund”
to ensure that no family falls below a
certain monthly income, together with
a “catastrophe fund” should a disaster
befall a certain family.

An elected Management Committee
overseas all activity including various

economic ventures in which the kibbutz
is involved – a factory, orchards, motel,
land rental, amongst others. Today
most members work outside the kibbutz, each to his/her own vocation.

So in fact, when the Corona Virus struck with its attached ever-growing stringent
regulations, the kibbutz’s well-oiled organization was able to immediately mobilize to social-
distance, isolate the elderly, and provide all services as required.

A special committee was appointed including a social worker, nurse, and other functionaries

to oversee all community and individual issues connected with this special situation.

The kibbutz is surrounded by a modern security fence with an electronic gate at the
entrance, which can be operated from afar by a telephone number that all members have.

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