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Kibbutz?
Hey has anyone volunteered on an Israeli Kibbutz in their gap year? Is it good? Which one? Im thinking of doing it so tips would be nice 
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Reply 1
I am going in March to Kibbutz Lotan. It is a progressive Jewish Reform kibbutz, that is inclusive and egalitarian. It is about an hour north of Eilat in the Negev desert. From what I've heard it is the most amazing place! I've never voluntered on a Kibbutz before, but I have been to Israel and it is great. Don't let the Zionist extremist settlers you frequently see on TV put you off - it's a pretty liberal open society in reality. I'm sure if you go you will have a great time!
Reply 2
Never been on one but they all look amazing and so beautiful! Not very helpful in regarding to "which one" but "is it good?" - of course! Volunteering looks great for your CV/personal statement/blabla, it costs hardly anything, free tours, Kibbutz life - unique, great facilities. If you want a religious one (
) I recommend Kibbutz Lavi - I've been there and it's nice. Otherwise, the ones in Eilat and Ein Gedi look nice, or even Jerusalem. Go for it.
) I recommend Kibbutz Lavi - I've been there and it's nice. Otherwise, the ones in Eilat and Ein Gedi look nice, or even Jerusalem. Go for it.Reply 3
gemgems89
If you want a religious one ( ) I recommend Kibbutz Lavi - I've been there and it's nice.
) I recommend Kibbutz Lavi - I've been there and it's nice.Reform is religious....?
Reply 4
My auntie used to live in Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek and i always liked visiting there. Not that i'm exactly sure where it is... I think it's fairly north near Haifa.
Reply 5
my sister was on a kibbutz for a while - ill ask her.
Reply 6
aaronc2
OP
At the mo Im thinking either Geva or Maagan Micha'el - although I wanna be sure that they're not just going to bung me in a factory - Id say my preferences are a secular (although not aggresively), liberal, egalitarian, mostly agricultural and leftie one - thanks for the tips
Reply 7
Sorry if this is a really stupid question but can you still stay in a kibbutz even if you aren't jewish?
Reply 8
clueless101
Sorry if this is a really stupid question but can you still stay in a kibbutz even if you aren't jewish?
Yep, I'd say a very high percentage who choose to vist/volunteer are not Jewish.
Reply 9
aaronc2
OP
clueless101
Sorry if this is a really stupid question but can you still stay in a kibbutz even if you aren't jewish?
yes, you just have to not be a spoilt brat!
, and enjoy the socialist lifestyleReply 10
true even though most of the kibbutzes arent socialist anymore. the rich ones still are, cuz they can be. but dont worry, they still all have cafs with the same dry chicken every day...
id say if you want to volunteer at a kibbutz during the summer than its better in a kibbutz in the north becuz its slightly cooler. the desert can be a bitch in the summer.... have you heard of year course? that might be suitable for you. its a year thats broken into three parts: army, studying, and volunteering. my friend is on it and she loves it.
id say if you want to volunteer at a kibbutz during the summer than its better in a kibbutz in the north becuz its slightly cooler. the desert can be a bitch in the summer.... have you heard of year course? that might be suitable for you. its a year thats broken into three parts: army, studying, and volunteering. my friend is on it and she loves it.
Reply 11
maybreeze
have you heard of year course? that might be suitable for you. its a year thats broken into three parts: army, studying, and volunteering.
ARMY??? Good god, you'd have to be bloody insane to join the Isreali Army. I've heard of Kibbutz but what is it?
Reply 12
the army part is for three months. and its not going to be combat since its three months and you cant learn everything in that time. and in general its not all combat, there are lots of different jobs.
Reply 13
oh yeah and a kibbutz is a small settlement that has agriculture and its socialist, well, most arent anymore. but in the old days ppl would share money, eat at cafeteria, even the children would live in a children's house and not with their parents. they were invented by the russian jews who immigrated and came from socialist background.
Reply 14
aaronc2
OP
maybreeze
oh yeah and a kibbutz is a small settlement that has agriculture and its socialist, well, most arent anymore. but in the old days ppl would share money, eat at cafeteria, even the children would live in a children's house and not with their parents. they were invented by the russian jews who immigrated and came from socialist background.
do you know of any nice ones? I dont want to do a year course because I wnat more flexibility and Im not religious- but ill be doing similar things
Reply 15
year course isnt religious, only if you choose to do a religious program. but do whatever you want!
yiftach is a really nice kibbutz in the north. my sister stayed there with garin tzabar when she volunteered to the army and before they started the army they volunteered picking apples. magan michael is a good one. yiron is nice too. hmm.... ktura in the south. maybe maayan tzvi. its nice there but im not sure if they have a lot of volunteers. i really like the ones in the northwest, like yiftach, dan, daphna, manara...that area. but its nice in the golan too. im not too crazy about the negev but maybe you like it.
yiftach is a really nice kibbutz in the north. my sister stayed there with garin tzabar when she volunteered to the army and before they started the army they volunteered picking apples. magan michael is a good one. yiron is nice too. hmm.... ktura in the south. maybe maayan tzvi. its nice there but im not sure if they have a lot of volunteers. i really like the ones in the northwest, like yiftach, dan, daphna, manara...that area. but its nice in the golan too. im not too crazy about the negev but maybe you like it.
Reply 16
aaronc2
OP
smellielli
my sister was on a kibbutz for a while - ill ask her.
any news?
Reply 17
Does anyone know much about kibbutz maagna michael or kibbutz hazorea quite a high chance that i'll go to one of them so any information would be really helpful.
Reply 18
Gamma
Are there any places like this outside Israel?
not that i know of but you can still volunteer on one if you are not jewish
Reply 19
I went to Kibbutz Yahel for Harvest in 2005 and stayed to December. The experience it self was truly unforgettable - made great friends, learnt a language, really tried to immerse myself in the culture (there is even romance in the air on occasions).
Its NOT all roses. Trying to get a place in a good kib is a nightmare - the ones that want volunteers arent the nice agricultural ones but rather the ones that have toilet roll facotries. The stupid organisation that allocations no longer operates in Golders green to get placements (although it sometimes still claims 2) so you`ll have to go to the Tel Aviv office - this measn a lottery to where you end up.
hope i was little helpful.
Will
p.s My mate went to Hazorea and loved it
Its NOT all roses. Trying to get a place in a good kib is a nightmare - the ones that want volunteers arent the nice agricultural ones but rather the ones that have toilet roll facotries. The stupid organisation that allocations no longer operates in Golders green to get placements (although it sometimes still claims 2) so you`ll have to go to the Tel Aviv office - this measn a lottery to where you end up.
hope i was little helpful.
Will
p.s My mate went to Hazorea and loved it
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