The kibbutz, an agricultural collective where all property is held in common, is a uniquely Israeli expression of a  strong Jewish tradition of socialism and labor-leftism, one that has attracted Jews and other idealists to Palestine/Israel throughout the twentieth century.  We found this tradition alive and well when we visited Kibbutz Zikkim.   Originally founded by Romanian Jewish immigrants in 1949, this commune of 150 adults has persisted in a day and age when the kibbutzim are dwindling with more and more of them going bankrupt or privatizing.   Consisting of a dairy farm, avocado and sabra (prickly pear) cultivation, a foam paneling factory and good schools that attract students from outside the kibbutz, the kibbutz has adapted to survive to provide a life outside of the capitalist system for its like-minded members who are paid equally for their work.  One person attracted to this lifestyle was an American we spoke with who came to the kibbutz in late ‘60s whose left of center viewpoint, in his words, represented “95% of what 95% of people” on the kibbutz thought.

Situated one the outskirts of Sderot in southern Israel just north of Gaza Strip,  Kibbutz Zikkim has found itself on the frontline of the Gaza crisis.  Located near a main powerplant on the coast, whose smokestacks loom overhead, and due south of the city of Ashkelon,  the kibbutz is in the direct line of fire from rocket attacks launched from the northern Gaza Strip aimed particularly at the enticing target of the powerplant.   According to our hosts, one thousand rockets had been launched in the area in the preceding nine years, with thirty actually hitting the kibbutz randomly killing a few cows but also, in one incident, injuring two small children.  Yet, the kibbutz has not turned to hating their neighbors in Gaza, despite the threat of rockets.  “I’ve found the Palestinian people to be warm and hard-working,” observed our American host.  From 1949 through 2000,  befriended and worked alongside Palestinian neighbors from Gaza.  But now the situation has turned.  “We can’t visit them, they can’t visit us.  We’ve sent them money [to help them out survive under the siege conditions].”  Rather than blaming the common people, our Israeli-American host blamed “stupid politicians,” Israelis, Palestinians, Americans and the world community, for perpetuating the Gaza crisis.  But our host went further, now as an Israeli criticizing Israeli society,  “We are responsible for what we do… Israelis don’t realize how strong we are…  The stronger [party] in the conflict must take the first step.”  Before taking a short tour of the kibbutz, our American host closed by urging us emphatically, “If you want to do one thing for peace, support President Barack Obama holding both sides accountable.”