Israel Speaks
Although the state of Israel was established only in 1948, -
large numbers of European and Russian Jews began moving to the country
already 60 years earlier.
The reasons for the first immig- ration wave were not religious, -
but rather the hardships and perse- cution faced by the Jews in Europe.
Most of the immigrants settled in cities, but there were groups who
established new agricultural settle- ments based on common economy.
This way a unique Zionist form of communal living was born in Israel -
the kibbutz.
Before and after gaining indepen- dence altogether some 280 kibbutzes
were established in Israel.
The kibbutz of Ein Gedi was founded in 1956 on the shore of the Dead Sea
in the dry desert.
Zevulun Levjem moved to Israel from Persia when he was 9 years old.
He is one of the first members of the kibbutz.
The people of the kibbutz considered taking care of the group members'
needs on the basis of equality a prerequisite for good common life.
Merav Ayalon was born in the kibbutz of Ein Gedi and has lived
almost her whole life there.
She works as the spokesperson and PR-manager of the kibbutz.
One of the basic units of the kibbutz was the children's house, -
where all the children were looked after and raised together.
When the pioneer period of settling the country was over and
the generations started changing in the kibbutzes, -
gradual demands to separate the community's collective life
and the members' private property started arising.
Some kibbutzes moved to complete privatization and others preserved
some elements of the traditional kibbutz.
Also Ein Gedi has gone through a privatization process.
The decision about changing the formation of the kibbutz was made, -
although many objected to it and would have wanted to continue
in the former way.
Despite the change in the way of life, the kibbutz still offers
the inhabitants many services.
Even though many changes have been made in the kibbutz of Ein Gedi, -
there is still a lot to be done.
Translation: Sonja Mattayev