The Community Exemplar

It has been a long time. The sole survivor in his family, Raphael Lanzer fled his native Czechoslovakia at the age of 23. He has been living at this kibbutz now since 1937. He is 80 now, and still active as the Public Relations Manager of Ginosar Hotel, which is owned by the kibbutz Ginosar, one of about 270 kibbutzim in Israel. The kibbutz is my home and my life, he says simply.

The kibbutz (Hebrew word for communal settlement), is a unique rural community, a society dedicated to mutual aid and social justice. It is a socio-economic system based on the principles of joint ownership of property, equality, and cooperation in production, consumption and education. It seeks fulfilment of the tenet from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs. It is the microcosm exemplifying the larger ideals of the state of Israel. In that sense a kibbutz is an Israel within an Israel.

 

Things have changed since the first kibbutzim were founded at the dawn of this century. The pioneers were young East European Jews who were looking not only to reclaim their ancient homeland, but also to forge a new way of life. They had to contend with a hostile environment, inexperience in physical labour, lack of agricultural know-how and a paucity of funds. But they were a determined lot, and in course of time they succeeded in developing thriving communities that helped build a strong state.

Today, the 270-odd kibbutzim with memberships varying between 50 and 1,000 lie scattered throughout the country like oases, pockets of civilisation at their productive best. About 130,000 people (2.5 per cent of the countrys population) live in kibbutzim. Each of these kibbutzim claim affiliation to one of the three national movements in Israel.Where once silence held the threat of enemies on the prowl, you now hear the laughter of children in kindergarten schools. The once barren land nurtures vegetation and dairy life, blooming orchards adding a streak of colour to the landscape. Hard work and advanced farming methods have achieved remarkable results, with kibbutzim today accounting for 6 per cent of Israels manufactured goods and 33 per cent of farm produce.

The kibbutz functions as a direct democracy with a general assembly of its members formulating policy, electing officers, fixing budgets and approving new members. Day to day affairs are handled by elected committees which deal with specific aspects like finance, health and planning. As a communal society the kibbutz also assumes responsibility for its members. We look after our members, especially the youngsters and try to council them and help them where possible. Many youngsters now want out, to see the world, and we give them a 6-year sabbatical and then ask them to decide whether they want to stay on, says Lanzer.

Life in the kibbutz is never wanting in fun and cultural activities. The kibbutzim have evolved unique ways of celebrating traditional Jewish festivals and national holidays as well as personal milestones like weddings, anniversaries, and bar mitzuahs. These communal dinners function as a general assembly, reinforcing the ideology of togetherness

Events commemorated in biblical times have been revitalised through song, dance and the arts.

Lanzer seems wistful about the past and the present. Times are changing, he says with a smile. While most kibbutzim are still in agriculture, many have diversified into industry and manufacturing. They have also become tourist centres, with their own hotels, riding and tennis clubs, water parks, training courses and other diverse commercial activities. Lanzers wistfulness is understandable. There are those who fear that the original principles on which the kibbutzim were founded are being compromised. And there are those who believe that adapting to changing times is the key to survival, even if it takes a few compromises.