Shalom Kibbutzim: FAQ

Shalom Kibbutzim

Internal links

Kibbutz: A View to a Skill

How were the kibbutzim first started and why?

After 1967, Israel found herself with a lot more territories. Doesn't matter here about the political issues, whether you are on the left or the right. My point of view, and that of most of my members on the kibbutzim, is that the Middle East conflict is negotiable; we need to speak about a solution that will bring peace and order to the Middle East.

Before the Eighties, kibbutzim were the leaders of agriculture in Israel and they needed a lot of workers to help in the fields. Over the years, the combination of travelling, working and leisure time made volunteer work become time to be with yourself. You learn about yourself, how to deal with a new, communal style of life.

How are the kibbutzim organised today?

The organisation of the kibbutz is that everyone has the same needs, depending on the income each kibbutz can find. You find rich kibbutzim and not so rich kibbutzim. In the beginning it was a movement, now we speak of each kibbutz needing to co-exist with their sources of income. Today the kibbutzim have become more and more privatised in an adjustment to the external world.

Has the work changed as a result?

Of course. Now we have factories, social workers and sport with kids. In terms of numbers, I would say that half the volunteers work outside in agriculture and half work inside in the community, gardening, doing sport and so on.

What kind of programmes do you offer?

For this generation, the best thing is that you can choose more. You can now work in a more professional capacity, from working with computers to working in chemical factories.

We offer three kinds of programme. The basic is to come and be a volunteer. We take volunteers from all over the world and they get sent to one of the kibbutzim. This is the traditional programme. The second is a skills programme. If, for example, to finish your degree you need some kind of work experience or internship, or if you have a particular ability to offer, you can ask if you want, say, farming or social work with the disabled and elderly. The third is a technology programme, involving work with computers.

How can young people prepare themselves for being a volunteer?

First, you need to understand that you are going to another country. You must be aware that in Israel there are clashes between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Second, you need to be sure you are ready to work at a very simple level. Another thing I ask young people is whether they are aware of the barriers that they will face. The language barrier, a mentality barrier, another story of civilization, culture. If they can benefit from this, they can find a place to see how we run our lives in a new kind of situation. We are not speaking anymore about socialism; we speak now about sharing.

Thirdly, you will meet in your accommodation people who come from all over the world.

So you need to be able to adapt to different cultures?

Yes. In England it is called a gap year. Young people are encouraged to see the world. So, you could find yourself with someone from Brazil, dancing to the samba all day, or perhaps someone from Korea or someone from China.

What are the requirements and processes for becoming a volunteer?

We don't check for drugs, we check for the ability to work. As long as they are able to work, that's okay. Volunteers only pay their flight and insurance. However, we only insure them to work on the kibbutz, nowhere else. The minimum time period is two months and the maximum eight. But in Israel they can extend it a bit. It is mostly young people who apply.

Since 11 September, the numbers have dropped, but even those coming now are between 18 and 26. We can only insure people between 18 and 32. And there is an equal mix of male and female.

Do volunteers need to worry about safety?

Of course we are aware of what is going on around us. I do suggest at this time that you don't go to the territories or to the Jerusalem area. Even if some Israeli friends you make might want you to visit somewhere with them, leave it. Most of the problems we have in the Middle East are raised in Jerusalem, so you need to separate this area from the rest. Since last October I have been saying to volunteers: "Please, leave Jerusalem from your travels". You can travel to Eilat, to the Dead Sea, to Galilee. And, of course, you can travel to Egypt, you can travel to Jordan. This isn't a problem.

This is not a programme concerned with who is Jewish and who is not. We are not religious people on the kibbutz. The establishment of the kibbutz was socialism – this was the philosophy. It was a secular construct. If you like, this is a new kind of holiday – more about agriculture and nature. Human rights and human beings are very important to us.

Finally, I want to focus on what has happened now, the global war against terrorism. I can't even see how many years or months it's going to last, but the most important thing to say is that even with the situation in Israel and the Middle East, when you come to the kibbutz you live a normal life. I don't say it is a good life, I don't say it is a bad life. It is a simple, modest and normal life.

The simple life is the best life?

I think so. A lot of young people and their parents ask me: "Isn't there an impact?" Of course there is an impact. You see it on the news, in the papers, but when you see members of the kibbutz go to work, it's still the same life for them.

Further Information:

Kibbutz Representatives,1a Accommodation Road, London NW1 8ED. Tel: 020-8458 9235 Fax: 020-8455 7930 Email: enquiries@kibbutz.org.uk

Interesting? Click here to explore further