The old pillar: Israel’s kibbutzim have changed beyond recognition - so what keeps them alive?
DOMESTIC AFFAIRS: Israel's kibbutzim and moshavim have shed many of their founding structures, but October 7 revealed that their social bonds and communal identity remain deeply resilient.
Israel's kibbutzim and moshavim, once vital pillars of the Zionist project, have undergone dramatic transformations in recent decades. These communal living arrangements, which once encompassed aspects such as farming, immigration absorption, and community building, now appear vastly different from their original forms. Sociologist Dr. Avi Shnider contends that many people's perceptions of these institutions are outdated.
In a special issue of Israel Studies Review, researchers explore the contemporary kibbutz and moshav landscape, grappling with the question of who is driving their evolution and what still binds them together. Shnider argues that researchers have largely neglected this topic for years, focusing instead on the kibbutz and moshav's establishment, ideological battles, and crises from the 1940s to the 1980s.
However, the October 7th attacks on Israeli communities have brought kibbutzim and moshavim back into the national spotlight, as these places have become symbols of sacrifice, resilience, and the challenges faced by Israeli civilians. Shnider emphasizes that the renewed attention highlights the gap between the image of kibbutzim and moshavim and their current reality, with many aspects of the old models having been dismantled.
The journal's special issue, edited by Shnider and Prof. Aviad Rubin, delves into various aspects of contemporary kibbutz and moshav life, including solar energy production, agricultural labor, Latin American immigration, taxation, architecture, and the reconstruction of communities devastated on October 7. These papers collectively question what keeps these institutions alive in the modern era.
Shnider proposes examining kibbutzim and moshavim through three dimensions: organization, space, and community. While the organizational dimension is relatively straightforward, the real challenge lies in understanding the physical space and social relationships within these communities. Despite the dismantling of many formal structures, Shnider argues that the survival of the kibbutz and moshav lies in the enduring social bonds among members.
He notes that the sharp distinctions between kibbutzim and moshavim have begun to blur, with many elements of each system now merging into a broader rural space. This evolution raises the question of why these communities have not simply transformed into ordinary suburban Israel. Shnider's research suggests that the key lies in investigating the interplay between organizational structures, physical spaces, and social relationships within these communities.
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