WEBVTT 1 00:00:24.620 --> 00:00:26.020 You 2 00:00:31.400 --> 00:00:32.000 In 3 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:34.600 Hebrew kibbutz means group 4 00:00:34.600 --> 00:00:39.600 But in the last 50 years it has come to mean a very so kind of group 5 00:00:40.760 --> 00:00:44.700 The kibbutz is a group of people who live in a collective community 6 00:00:44.700 --> 00:00:48.960 With a purpose of contributing to the growth of Israel yet at the same time 7 00:00:49.720 --> 00:00:55.980 pursuing a utopian kind of socialism that allows every man to live freely according to his own beliefs 8 00:00:56.540 --> 00:01:04.460 The kibbutz way of life is essentially a return to nature and a rejection of the values of industrial and capitalistic society 9 00:01:04.460 --> 00:01:11.500 The individual kibbutz may praise in him a deep love of Israel and a romantic attraction for the land that surrounds him 10 00:01:14.600 --> 00:01:17.260 This is kibbutz Ramat Yohanan 11 00:01:17.780 --> 00:01:22.420 It will not be our purpose to judge the kibbutz only to try and understand it 12 00:01:32.440 --> 00:01:33.080 You 13 00:01:33.080 --> 00:01:34.680 Many Israelis feel 14 00:01:34.680 --> 00:01:40.640 That if it were not for the kibbutz ideals of a better society and their devotion to these ideals 15 00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:43.660 There would be nothing unique left in Israel 16 00:01:44.860 --> 00:01:46.440 Despite great adversity 17 00:01:46.440 --> 00:01:54.140 The kibbutz movement has held to the conviction that its members will not only create a new idea of how the community of man 18 00:01:54.140 --> 00:02:00.140 Should live the good life, but that they will live it even if they must do so at great personal hardship 19 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:03.780 The kibbutz movement began in 1909 20 00:02:04.740 --> 00:02:09.740 This particular community of Ramat Yohanan was established in the early 30s 21 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:15.140 Rafael Degan tells about the founding of Ramat Yohanan 22 00:02:15.900 --> 00:02:22.580 actually, I was one of a group of Americans who came to Israel at that time and 23 00:02:22.580 --> 00:02:25.120 Of course, this was before 24 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:27.200 Ramat Yohanan was in existence 25 00:02:28.020 --> 00:02:30.940 1930 we came to a small 26 00:02:32.260 --> 00:02:33.140 kibbutz 27 00:02:33.140 --> 00:02:38.660 Temporarily settled at a devout for a forest where we were planting trees at the time 28 00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:41.880 we in 29 00:02:41.880 --> 00:02:48.300 1932 we came over to what is now Ramat Yohanan and began 30 00:02:48.980 --> 00:02:50.880 a kibbutz of our own 31 00:02:50.880 --> 00:02:53.200 From the very beginning 32 00:02:59.160 --> 00:03:03.140 Nehama levy was born in Jerusalem as were her parents and grandparents 33 00:03:03.720 --> 00:03:07.480 To her this land has always been home 34 00:03:08.040 --> 00:03:17.660 She was not one of the founders of Ramat Yohanan, but her devotion to the movement and to this kibbutz is typical. I 35 00:03:17.660 --> 00:03:20.560 Want to tell you one basic thing that you have to know 36 00:03:20.880 --> 00:03:21.800 that 37 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:23.860 2000 years 38 00:03:24.720 --> 00:03:25.420 Nobody 39 00:03:26.160 --> 00:03:28.940 They did anything to this land 40 00:03:28.940 --> 00:03:34.360 So 2000 years this land waited till we came here 41 00:03:34.860 --> 00:03:40.440 so we had to appreciate the rocks and the swamps and everything and 42 00:03:41.540 --> 00:03:43.240 to give them 43 00:03:44.620 --> 00:03:46.700 Good respect 44 00:03:53.940 --> 00:03:58.980 As Nehama says they have given the land good respect 45 00:03:59.820 --> 00:04:04.300 For years the various kibbutzim have been the backbone of Israel's agriculture 46 00:04:04.300 --> 00:04:08.360 The kibbutzniks have built roads and drain swamps 47 00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:15.500 They have taken this land that lay desolate since antiquity and turned it into a bountiful land 48 00:04:15.500 --> 00:04:18.520 But probably most important to themselves 49 00:04:18.520 --> 00:04:23.040 They proved the Jews did not have to live meekly in ghettos 50 00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:29.540 Did not have to be only shopkeepers that they could also be strong and proud farmers 51 00:04:34.540 --> 00:04:39.360 This is on all counts a society devoted to its children 52 00:04:40.040 --> 00:04:48.100 To understand the philosophy of the kibbutz it is necessary to first understand the relationship between the child the parents and the community 53 00:04:49.720 --> 00:04:56.120 These infants are looked upon as not just the children of particular sets of parents, but as children of the kibbutz 54 00:04:57.400 --> 00:05:03.420 Like all mothers these women want the best for their children, but these kibbutz mothers believe that alone 55 00:05:03.420 --> 00:05:05.240 They are unable to offer what is best 56 00:05:06.080 --> 00:05:11.760 Therefore they willingly relinquish their responsibility for the care and education of a child to the community 57 00:05:16.030 --> 00:05:21.350 The idea of a mother giving up the care of her baby to the community is not hard to understand 58 00:05:21.350 --> 00:05:24.470 When it is viewed in the light of the kibbutz philosophy 59 00:05:24.470 --> 00:05:33.650 Women should have the opportunity to reject what kibbutzniks consider the traditional but antiquated role of motherhood 60 00:05:37.110 --> 00:05:41.750 The women are released to join the men in what they view as a more important role in the kibbutz community 61 00:05:41.750 --> 00:05:47.030 It is an important task conquering the land and building the good society of the kibbutz 62 00:05:55.850 --> 00:06:01.110 However this does not mean that there is no longer any relationship between the child and the parents 63 00:06:01.110 --> 00:06:07.110 After work each day the parents devote two hours exclusively to their children 64 00:06:07.950 --> 00:06:13.510 Because of age differences it is not unusual for brothers and sisters to live in different houses 65 00:06:14.210 --> 00:06:18.130 This may be the only time during the day they are together 66 00:06:18.730 --> 00:06:22.570 Once they have been called for by their parents be taken for a walk 67 00:06:22.570 --> 00:06:27.710 Or a visit to the animals or as is most often the case to the parents room 68 00:06:37.110 --> 00:06:37.110 69 00:06:57.170 --> 00:07:04.210 At the end of the visiting period the parents take their children back to the children's quarters and put them to bed 70 00:07:07.430 --> 00:07:12.430 From the time of infancy the child lives in a separate house with others of his age group 71 00:07:13.310 --> 00:07:18.470 Women known as metapolites are chosen by the community to train and care for the children 72 00:07:21.210 --> 00:07:27.290 The metapolite is an extended arm of the community which tells her what to do and what not to do in raising the children 73 00:07:38.930 --> 00:07:43.430 Along with her duties of child care she is responsible for cleaning the house 74 00:07:44.090 --> 00:07:49.510 Fetching the meals from the kitchen getting clean clothes from the communal laundry and doing the mending 75 00:07:51.590 --> 00:07:55.910 For many periods of the day the children are left to their own devices 76 00:07:55.910 --> 00:08:01.770 During this time the child is never alone but always in the company of other children his age 77 00:08:02.510 --> 00:08:06.690 Since they are seldom interfered with by a parent or even a metapolite 78 00:08:07.110 --> 00:08:13.950 The children learn to rely on one another for help comfort and not least security 79 00:08:16.730 --> 00:08:21.710 The fact that the children live and learn together is in keeping with a basic concept 80 00:08:22.230 --> 00:08:29.190 That of conditioning a man from infancy to the idea of cooperating and sharing with his fellow man 81 00:08:49.990 --> 00:08:50.830 I 82 00:08:50.830 --> 00:08:53.110 Think that this society 83 00:08:53.670 --> 00:08:58.970 It creates the situation that we don't have poor people and rich people 84 00:08:58.970 --> 00:09:03.370 The equality of people this brought me to the kibbutz 85 00:09:12.730 --> 00:09:15.970 Since everyone in the kibbutz is looked upon as socially equal 86 00:09:15.970 --> 00:09:21.290 A man and woman are judged on their ability to get along with fellow members of the kibbutz 87 00:09:21.290 --> 00:09:25.290 And on their personal efforts to be good and conscientious workers 88 00:09:26.190 --> 00:09:32.890 The democratic socialistic kibbutz theory is simply that each man will share the fruits of his labor 89 00:09:32.890 --> 00:09:37.090 And that only the community as a whole should profit from the work performed 90 00:09:37.090 --> 00:09:37.750 By the members 91 00:09:41.530 --> 00:09:48.050 Therefore a large amount of concern between husband and wife is devoted to the economic success of the kibbutz 92 00:09:48.850 --> 00:09:51.050 Rather than to their personal success 93 00:09:51.870 --> 00:09:54.350 So long as the community thrives 94 00:09:54.350 --> 00:09:58.030 The members will not have to worry about food clothing or shelter 95 00:09:58.530 --> 00:10:00.530 Because they will be supplied by the kibbutz 96 00:10:03.790 --> 00:10:10.690 In the kibbutz women are looked upon as having the same equality as men the same rights privileges and responsibilities 97 00:10:11.590 --> 00:10:15.690 But this does not mean that women have equal opportunity to do man's work 98 00:10:15.690 --> 00:10:21.130 Rather it means that they are given work for which they are psychologically and physically suited 99 00:10:26.690 --> 00:10:30.310 This work is elevated to an equal status with the work done by men 100 00:10:30.870 --> 00:10:35.330 When the community services of kitchen work laundry and child care were organized 101 00:10:35.330 --> 00:10:41.270 They were done so with the idea that this would liberate the women from having to perform these chores at home 102 00:10:44.530 --> 00:10:47.730 But in any society that strives for a utopia 103 00:10:47.730 --> 00:10:53.110 There are bound to be some weaknesses that must be faced as well as certain adjustments that the individual must make 104 00:10:54.410 --> 00:10:58.150 One of the weak sides of the kibbutz life is 105 00:10:58.150 --> 00:11:01.130 That one has to be always 106 00:11:01.910 --> 00:11:03.350 Among people 107 00:11:04.230 --> 00:11:08.070 This is something not so easy one has to accept it 108 00:11:08.610 --> 00:11:12.410 And to agree with it and to adjust himself 109 00:11:13.110 --> 00:11:18.890 Because many types of people are among us and not everyone is alike and the same 110 00:11:18.890 --> 00:11:23.150 And everyone has his personality and his weakness 111 00:11:23.710 --> 00:11:30.670 But if one gets used to it it makes him a little bit easier, but it doesn't avoid the fact 112 00:11:33.710 --> 00:11:39.150 Probably the best example of kibbutz togetherness can be found in the communal dining room 113 00:11:39.710 --> 00:11:42.290 This is the center of the community's activities 114 00:11:43.070 --> 00:11:49.550 Not only do they eat here, but this is the place where mail and communal announcements are received and work assignments made 115 00:11:50.110 --> 00:11:53.430 This is where the communal life is intended to take place 116 00:11:53.950 --> 00:11:57.310 This is so much so that in the early days of the kibbutz 117 00:11:57.930 --> 00:12:04.450 Husband and wife carefully avoided sitting together during dinner because it would separate them from their community of comrades 118 00:12:06.930 --> 00:12:11.410 Another one of the difficulties, especially for new members is the lack of table manners 119 00:12:12.030 --> 00:12:15.550 Manners at ramat yohanan are far below middle class standards 120 00:12:16.190 --> 00:12:18.190 But this is not due to ignorance of etiquette 121 00:12:18.950 --> 00:12:23.550 Rather it is a deliberate rejection of the niceties of the industrial society they left behind 122 00:12:26.710 --> 00:12:29.410 No one in the kibbutz is paid for his work 123 00:12:29.410 --> 00:12:35.650 But each member does receive an allowance amounting to about 35 dollars a year and some monthly coupons 124 00:12:35.650 --> 00:12:39.070 Which can be exchanged for various items at the communal store 125 00:12:54.190 --> 00:12:54.910 The 126 00:12:54.910 --> 00:13:01.830 Kibbutzim are the only places in israel that provide free education for all children up to 18 127 00:13:02.790 --> 00:13:05.290 The teaching is of extremely high quality 128 00:13:05.990 --> 00:13:11.050 Most of what is taught can be directly related to the necessary economic activities of the kibbutz 129 00:13:20.710 --> 00:13:21.230 Not 130 00:13:23.130 --> 00:13:26.190 All of what the children must learn can be taught in a classroom 131 00:13:26.970 --> 00:13:31.630 Special projects are set up by the teachers to supplement the general class activities 132 00:13:32.890 --> 00:13:38.870 In the back of the science building we have our botanical garden which a part of it is now 133 00:13:39.570 --> 00:13:41.070 Where the children work? 134 00:13:42.970 --> 00:13:43.490 the 135 00:13:43.490 --> 00:13:46.170 Garden is about has an area of about an acre 136 00:13:46.890 --> 00:13:52.650 And we try to put in it according to the ecology and geography of the country old plants 137 00:13:53.350 --> 00:13:54.790 flowers and trees 138 00:13:55.530 --> 00:14:03.170 Which we found and we brought over here for us biology is one of the important parts of study because we live in nature 139 00:14:03.690 --> 00:14:08.470 We live on agriculture and understanding and loving nature is one of our major tasks 140 00:14:08.470 --> 00:14:15.210 And therefore we are doing a great effort to bring those values into the children's life and into their knowledge 141 00:14:17.030 --> 00:14:25.410 At ramat yohanan the elementary and high schools have their own land and the students conduct a full farm economy 142 00:14:26.330 --> 00:14:31.770 In grade school the children plant cultivate and harvest crops on their own farms 143 00:14:32.310 --> 00:14:36.470 They're also given animals to raise and care for 144 00:14:36.470 --> 00:14:40.950 Virtually all the elements of adult life are within the child's grasp 145 00:14:41.770 --> 00:14:44.050 He does the same things the adults do 146 00:14:44.050 --> 00:14:46.050 But on a smaller scale 147 00:14:51.870 --> 00:14:58.610 Unlike most children of an industrial society kibbutz children have the opportunity to visit with parents at their jobs 148 00:14:59.510 --> 00:15:05.330 Work is interrupted to explain it to the children and help them understand the importance of each task 149 00:15:05.330 --> 00:15:08.870 In relation to the success and well-being of the kibbutz 150 00:15:10.370 --> 00:15:16.470 This freedom to view their parents occupations as well as occasionally trying their own hand at the job 151 00:15:17.170 --> 00:15:20.890 Contributes to the feeling that this is our kibbutz 152 00:15:38.870 --> 00:15:39.070 So 153 00:15:47.370 --> 00:15:54.370 By the time the children reach their teens they are expected to begin to conform to the demands of the adult society 154 00:15:55.450 --> 00:16:01.670 Any desire they have to reach out to the big city or to the life they find in books and magazines 155 00:16:02.310 --> 00:16:04.470 Is frowned upon by their elders 156 00:16:05.350 --> 00:16:09.530 For the kibbutz teenager a place in society is assured 157 00:16:10.550 --> 00:16:18.310 However, this assured place is not of their choosing and for this reason a few will they leave the kibbutz as of probably do 158 00:16:18.850 --> 00:16:24.230 But most will stay some may feel a responsibility for the continuation of the movement 159 00:16:24.970 --> 00:16:29.830 Others may find themselves dedicated to the kibbutz philosophy of the good life 160 00:16:30.890 --> 00:16:35.050 Certainly there are those who remain because here they have security 161 00:16:39.970 --> 00:16:47.270 But whatever their reason for staying it is probably not due to any personal ambition to rise in the kibbutz leadership 162 00:16:48.030 --> 00:16:49.470 Unlike most societies 163 00:16:50.030 --> 00:16:54.110 There is virtually no advantage to being a part of the administrative group 164 00:16:54.750 --> 00:16:58.710 The kibbutz is first and foremost a worker society 165 00:16:59.270 --> 00:17:03.470 And if a person seeks recognition from his community he will obtain it faster 166 00:17:03.470 --> 00:17:08.790 As a devoted and energetic laborer than as an executive bearing the burdens of the kibbutz 167 00:17:09.830 --> 00:17:13.030 This often is due to a general feeling in the community 168 00:17:13.030 --> 00:17:18.150 That administrative work is not as worthwhile as that done by laborers 169 00:17:24.010 --> 00:17:28.190 All major decisions are brought up in the business meeting conducted in the dining room 170 00:17:28.710 --> 00:17:35.890 They are voted on democratically and their enforcement rests on the assumption that all members bear the same good intention 171 00:18:01.190 --> 00:18:08.750 It can be convincingly argued that the modern zionist movement has done more to preserve and revitalize the meaning of being Jewish 172 00:18:08.750 --> 00:18:12.510 In the past 50 years than anything else 173 00:18:12.510 --> 00:18:17.330 Modern israel is the culmination of 4 000 years of jewish history 174 00:18:17.330 --> 00:18:24.190 The kibbutzniks like to think of their movement as being an integral part of the new israel 175 00:18:24.190 --> 00:18:28.570 As being the crest of the wave of jewish rebirth 176 00:18:39.470 --> 00:18:47.710 In Ramat Yohanan, stone markers bear the names of the men and women who died defending their kibbutz 177 00:18:47.710 --> 00:18:54.910 Deserted cement block houses stand as a reminder of the deadly fight the people of this kibbutz and others like it 178 00:18:54.910 --> 00:18:58.550 Made against the attacking Arabs who tried to drive the Jews out of the city 179 00:18:58.550 --> 00:18:58.550 180 00:18:58.550 --> 00:18:58.550 181 00:19:18.990 --> 00:19:25.390 The people of Ramat Yohanan have great faith in the future of their kibbutz and in the kibbutz movement 182 00:19:26.570 --> 00:19:28.530 Those old enough to remember the tense moments of the war 183 00:19:28.530 --> 00:19:28.530 184 00:19:28.530 --> 00:19:28.530 185 00:19:28.530 --> 00:19:28.530 186 00:19:28.530 --> 00:19:28.530 187 00:19:28.530 --> 00:19:28.530 188 00:19:28.530 --> 00:19:33.310 The cities that shelter the founders look with pride on their communities today 189 00:19:34.310 --> 00:19:38.530 It is the belief of these people that no matter what the individual does 190 00:19:39.350 --> 00:19:42.530 Whether driving a tractor, picking fruit or mending clothes 191 00:19:43.570 --> 00:19:50.030 Zephyrits are not only creating a new society but contributing to the future of Israel 192 00:19:51.450 --> 00:19:57.270 Yet in the end, such a unique movement as this must be equated in terms of people 193 00:20:06.370 --> 00:20:10.550 And I will bring back the captivity of my people Israel 194 00:20:10.550 --> 00:20:14.530 And they shall build the waste of cities and dwell therein 195 00:20:15.410 --> 00:20:19.210 And they shall plant vineyards and drink their vine 196 00:20:19.210 --> 00:20:23.310 And they shall lay out gardens and eat their fruit 197 00:20:23.950 --> 00:20:27.250 And I will plant them upon their own soil 198 00:20:27.250 --> 00:20:31.950 And they shall not be pulled up any more out of their land 199 00:20:31.950 --> 00:20:36.870 Which I have given unto them, saith the Lord thy God 200 00:21:54.190 --> 00:21:55.590 Music 201 00:21:55.570 --> 00:21:55.590 .