The Kibbutz, between need and utopia: Symbol and change in the national Ethos of the State of Israel

Abstract

The setting up of the Zionist Project, focused on the State of Israel creation has been tied up to the State and society defining symbols. One of most known landmarks was the kibbutz, a socialist inspired community, which in turn had a paramount role in the process of the creation and strengthening of Israel as well as its outward image. We analyze the kibbutz phenomenon, its support in the creation of the State, its role as a national token and its relationship with the social and political transformation in Israel. The changing process that takes place in the Israeli society, its economy and its policies have pushed the kibbutz from a socialist project to a cooperative one, which, without losing its communal and humane nature, has been adapted to the proper changes. Its role as a symbol, though far from the one it enjoyed at the time of the creation of the State, keeps on symbolizing the values a great deal of the Israel society identifies with.