A Study of Kibbutz Living: Experiencing Jewish Community and Analyzing Jewish Identity

Abstract

This study examines the modern striving of the Jewish people in the new State of Israel. It was my privilege to be accepted for a work-study program (Ulpan) at Kibbutz Merchavia for the time period between July 1978-November 1978. This report is the result of both academic research of the history and ideology of the kibbutz movement in Modern Israel, and the experiential observations I obtained during my visit at Merchavia. With this information, I have briefly outlined the history of the kibbutz movement, and its relationship to the Zionist Movement of the early 20th century. From there, I have discussed the theoretical structure and ideology of the kibbutz system and finally, recorded my observations of how Kibbutz Merchavia compares with the 'model' kibputz.