Kibbutz life – #001 – A background
Posted by hupo on Saturday 24 February 2007
“Children of the dream” was a book written (by Bruno Battleheim) about growing up in a communal village in Israel, called a “Kibbutz”.
I’m the first kibbutz child in my village and have lived through all the stages of this special way of life: Childhood, adolesance, growing up, creating a family, children and grandchildren. The story of the Kibbutz way of life is parallel to my own. I conceder the kibbutz history, my own biography. I would like to pour it out in letters, words and sentances in this blog.
So, first, what is a Kibbutz? The word itself is derived from the root “to gather” and is a gathering of people who see things close enough to be able to live with each other…..;)
Kibbutz is a unique way of life found in Israel. The initial idea came about as people who survived the holocaust in Europe, fled to what-is-now Israel. They started the state of Israel as a home for the Jewish people with the determination that the massacre in Europe would never happen again. The new-born state was invaded by 5 arab neighboring countries. The war of independance was won in 1948 and the state of Israel has been a fact ever since.
The long borders an the very few settlements made it a hugh problem gaurding the state. People were organized in groups, before they ever got to the land and were sent to newly created settlements along the long borders of the country. The idea was twofold: Settling the land and gaurding the long borders. The concept of these settlements, named “Kibbutz” was a greater success than anyone had visioned. They grew and developed into self sustained, profitable and well integrated sociaties that exist till this very day.
…. to be continued……
