Kibbutz in the heart (of the city)

Dafna Shemer

The borders of the city of Jerusalem underwent a significant change 50 years ago, in June 1967. Much has been written about that change, which led to additional population, territory, and numerous questions of legality and sovereignty being encompassed within the city limits.

However, a number of additional minor changes have been made to Jerusalem's boundaries over the years, the most recent of which was approved in September, 2016, by Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, when a change was made in the border between Kibbutz Ramat Rachel and Jerusalem. The minister has the authority to alter the boundaries between local authorities, in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee for Jurisdictional Boundaries.

This change included the transfer of about 69 acres (280 dunam) of Ramat Rachel's orchards to Jerusalem, and was effected despite the combined opposition of Kibbutz Ramat Rachel, the Mateh Yehuda Regional Council (within which Ramat Rachel is located), and the Ministry of Agriculture (because of the agricultural crops in this area). Those who didn't number among the opponents to the change were the green organizations: The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, and the Sustainable Jerusalem coalition. Although the source of the reasons for which the green organizations chose not to oppose the change is related to the Safdie Plan, the role of the Safdie Plan in this story is not only played out in the position taken by those organizations.

The Safdie Plan was created in response to Jerusalem's demographic needs. As part of the efforts to promote the plan and in order to meet the quota of missing land reserves, in 1993 the then Interior Minister (who was Aryeh Deri at that time as well), at the recommendation of the Committee for Jurisdictional Boundaries, decided to add territory to the city from the west: The Lavan Ridge, the Arazim Valley, and Mt. Herat. Included in this agreement were also the 79 acres (320 dunams) from Kibbutz Ramat Rachel. This area is to the east of the Talpiot neighborhood and to the west of East Talpiot.

Over the years, Kibbutz Ramat Rachel benefited from this decision, since the land is still owned by the kibbutz (under lease), so a situation was created in which the area was transferred to the municipality of Jerusalem, but ownership remained with the kibbutz. As a result the kibbutz made handsome profits from the sale and rental of the housing units built in this area.
As time passed, the green organizations altered their strategy in their efforts to protect open spaces, and focused on protecting areas that are not located on an urban continuum but have value as natural sites.

While in 1993 it was agreed that there would be no further changes in the borders around Ramat Rachel, today, from an urban perspective, sectioning off additional parts of the kibbutz seems like a more logical option than other alternatives, and therefore the green organizations did not express opposition.

Ramat Rachel is an enclave within the Jerusalem city limits that were created in 1967. It is a kibbutz in an urban environment. As we have shown in this short review, this position has both positive and negative ramifications.

Translation: Gilah Kahn

Kibbutz Life: Love It but Leave It?

Dafna Shemer

Israel has 267 kibbutzim, of which 243 belong to the HaTenu’a HaKibbutzit (Kibbutz Movement), 18 belong to the HaKibbutz HaDati (Religious Kibbutz Movement), and the rest to other organizations. As of 2013, a total of 157,525 individuals reside in kibbutzim, constituting nearly 2% of the total population of Israel. In the last year the kibbutz population increased by 3% (Israel’s population increased by nearly 2%). As of the end of 2013, the smallest kibbutz – Kibbutz Niran – has 71 members, and the largest kibbutz – Ma’agan Michael – has 1,768 members.

Metropolitan Jerusalem contains 10 kibbutzim with 6,167 members, constituting 0.5% of the population of the metropolis. The first kibbutz founded in Metropolitan Jerusalem was Kiryat Anavim, in 1920. Half the kibbutzim in the metropolitan area follow the model of kibbutz shitufi (the traditional, cooperative kibbutz system).

According to a survey conducted by Haifa University, 29% of kibbutzim follow the cooperative model – that is, property is owned by the entire community, with equality and participation in production, consumption, and education – and 71% follow the model of kibbutz mitchadesh (a “renewed” kibbutz, which has undergone privatization).

Over the years there has been a decline in the support of kibbutz members for the establishment of a community neighborhood adjacent to the kibbutz (where original founders or city folk and non-members might reside): in 2002, two-thirds of those surveyed supported the establishment of such a neighborhood, whereas in 2014 only 42% supported the concept. In cooperative kibbutzim 28% support the concept while in renewed kibbutzim 48% support it. 

So how many really think about leaving the kibbutz? Only 7% stated that they often consider leaving, a decrease from the 2002 survey, in which 18% stated that they often consider leaving. A total of 15% stated that they sometimes think about leaving, and 78% stated that they rarely think about leaving the kibbutz (compared with 53% in 2002).

Kibbutzniks (kibbutz members) think that their kibbutz is a good place to live: 64% supported this statement, and another 29% think that the kibbutz is a very good place to live, while 7% think that the kibbutz is not a good place to live. In cooperative kibbutzim only 3% think that the kibbutz is not a good place to live. Since 2002 there has been an increase in the number of respondents who think the kibbutz is a good place to live. 

In recent years there has been an increase in the percentage of kibbutzniks who think that “absorption of kibbutz children” (accepting the adult children of kibbutz members as new kibbutz members in the same kibbutz) will harm the continued existence of the kibbutz, from 19% in 2009 to 28% this year. This year, in contrast, 57% said they think that “absorption of kibbutz children” will help the kibbutz. In cooperative kibbutzim 53% think that “absorption of kibbutz children” will harm the kibbutz, whereas in renewed kibbutzim 18% think it will cause harm.

Source of data: Michal Palgi and Eliette Orchan, Public Opinion Poll in Kibbutzim, 2014, Institute for Research of the Kibbutz and the Cooperative Idea, Haifa University