Today AFUWOFI-ites and our Israeli counterparts, including my friend Maayan, visited the Kibbutz of Tirat Zvi located near Beit She’an. We learned about the history of the Orthodox kibbutz and how it has evolved since its conception in 1923.
Among the first things built were enclosed rooms with natural “air conditioning “so that residents would have a way to combat the intense summer heat. Babies were kept cool by being layered in damp towels. While not very comfortable, the pioneers both survived and thrived.
Virtually everything that can be owned by an individual in a more capitalist society was shared instead with the group as a whole. There are a total of ten cars on the kibbutz, but no one owns any of them. Clothing is treated in a similar manner, where everyone cleans whatever they wearing, and selects clean clothes from the pile of clean laundry. During the early history of Tirat Zvi, residents earned no salary. Instead, everyone received what they needed to survive.
The young children were raised in their own children’s buildings, divided according to age. Everyone on the kibbutz took turns taking care of the children at night. Many children in the kibbutz grew up without any psychological issues; however a few did have “horror stories” to tell of their nights spent in the childrens’ homes. This system was changed in the 1970’s so that children were raised in their own homes.
I was surprised to learn that the kibbutz also had its own museum. The older members of the kibbutz donated objects that they had used when they were young. Among these objects were an old typewriter, a challah cover, and many tools that I could not begin to imagine how they were used . There also was a radio so that whoever was taking care of the children could listen to all of their rooms at night from a central location.
Another huge shock was the large amount of fish that Tirat Zvi produces. Due to its location and relatively small supply of local water, fish farming was one of the last things that I would have thought a kibbutz near Beit She’an would undertake. Yet the kibbutzniks dug many holes in the ground, filled them with water and fish, and have since had a steady supply. The kibbutz also grows many edible plants such as dates, olives, and bananas.
Even more amazing are the people themselves and their resiliency. Faced in the past with rocket attacks from Jordan, and the fact that they are located close to the borders of both Jordan and Syria, the people of the kibbutzim and Beit She ‘an still grew and prospered. In addition to buildings used for storage, shelter, and other day-to-day uses, there are also many military outposts and watchtowers within the kibbutzim. The stress that the locals faced and endured for decades shows the incredible durability of these people.
While Maayan, my Israeli counterpart, does not have to worry about a military confrontation with his neighbor Jordan, the possibility of a rogue terrorist or an increase in tensions between Israel and Syria or Jordan adds constant stress to the lives of the youth. Yet they seem as carefree and happy as we Americans. They know when to work, and when to play, and they enjoy their lives.