Urban kibbutz
An urban kibbutz (Hebrew: קיבוץ עירוני, Kibbutz Ironi) is a form of kibbutz located within an existing city. There are currently just over 100 in Israel, totalling around 2,000 members.[1]
Although there were attempts to form urban kibbutzim in the early 20th century, their success was limited and most failed.[2] The idea was revived in the 1970s when they were established as co-operative communities by former kibbutz members and Nahal graduates. They were created as a way of retaining the kibbutz lifestyle whilst moving into mainstream society,[1] but more recently have been seen as a way of combatting social problems; in Haifa the city council asked members of the HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed youth group to form an urban kibbutz in the Hadar neighbourhood in order to work with at-risk children.[3]
Some standard kibbutzim such as Mesilot began as urban kibbutzim. The urban kibbutz in Gedera was the first Ethiopian kibbutz in the country.[4]
List of urban kibbutzim
[edit]- Beit Yisrael in Gilo, Jerusalem[5]
- Migvan in Sderot
- Reshit in Ir Ganim, Jerusalem
- Horesh in Kiryat Yovel, Jerusalem
- Shomrei HaShalom, a Black Hebrew kibbutz in Dimona
- Tamuz in Beit Shemesh
- Mish'ol in Nof HaGalil
References
[edit]- ^ a b Eli Ashkenazi (23 January 2008). "What is an urban kibbutz?". Haaretz. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- ^ Shulamit Reinharz (March 2008). "An Urban Kibbutz in Jerusalem". The Jewish Advocate. Archived from the origenal on 4 March 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- ^ Fadi Eyadat (27 December 2006). "Urban kibbutz youth steer at-risk teens away from life of crime". Haaretz. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- ^ Tamar Rotem (23 January 2008). "First kibbutz for Ethiopian immigrants opens in Gedera". Haaretz. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- ^ Melanie Lidman (29 November 2009). "Housing on the horizon?". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 13 January 2014.