An Inspiring Community

While Avi already wrote about Kibbutz Mishmar Ha' Emeq, we (Baruch & Veronica) were so blown away by our experience there that we wanted to share these words.

While planning our trip to Israel, given our interest in intentional communities, we really wanted to find a way to experience kibbutz life.  A month before our departure, an Israeli family just happened to come to Veronica’s weekly acroyoga class.  Veronica introduced herself and mentioned that we would soon be in Israel.  Though they had met only a moment before, Yenai immediately offered to host us. Without hesitation, Veronica accepted the offer.  A month later we drove directly from the Tel Aviv airport to Kibbutz Mishmar Ha’ Emeq.

After travelling around Turkey, we were all ready for a homier environment.  The Family Levor (Yenai, his wife Dafna and their children ages 16-21) along with the kibbutz generously provided what we were hoping for.  Yenai is an amazingly multi-talented person.  He’s a prominent homeopath, an acrobalance teacher, has many circus arts skills, and has a leadership role in the kibbutz. He is a thoughtful and knowledgeable man who speaks fluent English. As a result, we learned so much from him about kibbutz life and Israeli history.

The morning after we arrived, Yenai and his teenage son took us for an exciting first surfing lesson.  We all got ‘washing machined’ by the rowdy sea, and experienced the thrill of riding some waves lying on the boards.  We also all had a great time doing acrobalancing on the beach.

We spent the next four days graciously hosted by the Family Levor and their amazing kibbutz.  Yenai gave us a wonderful insider view of kibbutz life.  It was heartwarming to see how 1000 people can live together, each one contributing to the community and each one having their needs very well met. 

While the kibbutz movement is diminishing in Israel, this kibbutz is going very strong, celebrating its 90^th anniversary in 2011.  Over the years Mishmar Ha’ Emeq has grown from a handful of pioneers living in tents to a thriving community that owns a successful agricultural plastics factory, a large dairy and chicken farm, and several other agricultural ventures.

Kibbutz members provide almost all of the labor for the kibbutz’s business and community operations without receiving any pay.  The elderly can keep working, as much as they are able. All kibbutz members receive what they need: a nice place to live, three great meals a day in the amazing kibbutz cafeteria, a car or van to use when needed, laundry, healthcare, childcare, education, and a monthly allowance for clothing and all other expenses.  The factory manager receives nothing more than any other kibbutz member. It is in many ways the full manifestation of the dream so many of us share of living together with abundance and without money or class distinctions.

Between the generous family energy of the Levor’s and the heartwarming experience of the kibbutz life, we left feeling renewed and inspired!

Baruch & Fernmoss