Kibbutz Life

What is a Kibbutz?

A kibbutz represents a form of child rearing that is particular to the state of Israel. It is a voluntary collective living arrangement in which children are raised by multiple caregivers. The foundation of the kibbutz is a traditional family structure with a group framework as its base. It focuses on the idea of collective rearing as opposed to one mother. A kibbutz maintains a general agricultural focus and entertains no forms of private wealth. Each kibbutz is an economically and socially autonomous unit. It is a unique, group-oriented institution that has been instrumental in the struggle towards the creation of the state of Israel. Kibbutz society did this by settling in outlying areas along the country's future borders, by providing a home for the influx of immigrants entering the state, and by furthering the development of agricultural and defense. The kibbutz population has been slowly declining since the early 1990's, however, the impact it had on the establishment of the state of Israel still stands strong.

What is life like for children living on a kibbutz?

Following the underlying principle of coexisting as 'One Big Family', children living on a kibbutz experience a different kind of growing up. Since the ideology of the community is so greatly valued, children's schooling is conducted through forms of communal education. In addition, the young are raised in children's houses separate from their biological parents. The living arrangements consist of sleeping quarters as well as study and play rooms for the children. Generally the children form relationships with their parents by spending time with them after the day of work is done. This type of living arrangement lends itself to intense interaction between all its inhabitants.

How does living on a kibbutz effect the socialization of children?

Living on a kibbutz has a major impact on the socialization of children. Children reared by their biological parents develop different social skills than those brought up in a collective living arrangement like a kibbutz. The two most influencial factors in any child's life are the caregiver and the peer group. In non-kibbutz society, parents fill the central socializing role in a child's life especially at the preschool age. Children growing up on a kibbutz are more dependent on their peer group than their biological parents. Those raised in collective establishments are generally more supportive of one another and convey a greater sense of community through their actions. Instilling a sense of appreciation for the the greater community and the common goal is evident through the socialization of children living on a kibbutz. Through the kibbutz experience, children learn to value the group over the individual.

Related Links | Article of Interest From Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs |

Childcare Children In Israel Education The History of Orphanages Kibbutz Life Organizations Poverty

Sources
Svilavi.1990.Kibbutz Members Study Kibbutz Children.Wesport,Ct.;Greenwood Press.
Jaffe, Eliezer David. 1983.Israeli Institutions: Studies in Child Placement, Practice and Policy. Gordon and Breach, Science Publishers,Inc.
Fidler, Jon. 1999. "Kibbutz What, Why, When, Where" Kibbutz Beit Ha'emek. Retrieved November 20, 2000 (http://www.israel.org)

This website was created in the fall of 2000 by Rachel Geller, Allison Miller, Iris Travis, and Diana Osborn, students at Tulane University. Our collaborative effort is part of a class project for Professor April Brayfield's Sociology 119: Children and Society Class. Information about children in other countries can be found at The Children Around the World webpage.

Updated December 1, 2000