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Kibbutzim are Israeli intentional communities that began during the Second Aliyah in 1909. They were founded to bring Zionist Jewish ideals to Israel and were initially socialist and agrarian. Today, most kibbutzim are no longer strictly socialist, but they retain many community aspects. Kibbutzim have made significant contributions to Israeli culture, with many government and military leaders, artists, and intellectuals coming from them. While there have been criticisms of the kibbutz system, it remains a vital part of Israeli society.
A kibbutz is an Israeli commune, or intentional community. The first kibbutz was established during the Second Aliyah, the second wave of Jewish immigration to Palestine, in 1909, and kibbutzim remain a viable Israeli institution today. Although kibbutzim have undergone many transformations over the years and have never represented more than seven percent of Israel’s population, the kibbutz has immense cultural significance.
The first kibbutz, “Degania,” was founded by Joseph Baratz and eleven other members, including two women, with the goal of bringing Zionist Jewish ideals to Israel. Zionists, who became active in late 19th century Russia as a result of anti-Semitic persecution, sought a homeland in Palestine where Jews would work the land. After the First Aliyah in 1990, Jewish immigrants to Palestine had begun hiring Arabs to work on their farms. Baratz opposed this practice and consequently started the first kibbutz.
At first, the kibbutzim held to socialist ideals. There was no private property, not even tools or clothing, all work was shared and the land was in common ownership. The bulk of the work was agricultural.
The kibbutzim attempted to build a self-sustaining economy, but this proved unfeasible. Instead, they were supported by grants from charities and later from the Israeli government. Today, most kibbutzim are no longer strictly socialist, although they retain many community aspects. All kibbutzim, for example, are democratic.
Over time, it became clear that agricultural labor was not enough to sustain the establishment of the kibbutz. The kibbutzim began to industrialize, with a major upsurge in that direction during the 1960s. Some kibbutzims have focused on military efforts. Today, some kibbutzim have even turned to the tourism industry. The kibbutz also has a long history of political and cultural contributions to Israel. A disproportionate amount of Israeli government and military leaders, artists, and intellectuals have come from kibbutzim.
There are many differences between kibbutzim, though they are outweighed by the similarities. Early kibbutzim were socialist, secular, and agrarian, while later kibbutzim either retained these ideals or became variously religious or militaristic, spanning different points of the political spectrum. Some kibbutzim grew quite large, with as many as 1,500 members, while others remained small.
The kibbutz system has met with controversy over the years. Some groups have been criticized for being elitist, while others have been accused of deviating from their ideals. However, Israeli culture would not be the same without the kibbutz. It is a uniquely Israeli institution which has made invaluable contributions to the political, economic and intellectual life of the nation.
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