A kibbutz is an intentional community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. The first kibbutz, Degania, was established in 1910. Kibbutzim are communal living situations unique to Israel, where people voluntarily live and work together on a noncompetitive basis. They operate under the premise that all income generated by the kibbutz and its members goes into a common pool, which is used to run the kibbutz, make investments, and guarantee mutual and reciprocal aid and responsibility between members. Kibbutz members receive the same budget, according to family size, regardless of their job or position.

Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism. They were exercises in radical democracy, with their profits pooled and shared by members. In recent decades, some kibbutzim have been privatized and changes have been made in the communal lifestyle. Today, most kibbutzim have populations ranging from 100 to 1,000 people, are secular, and have embraced capitalism. Foreign employees, especially from Thailand, now work the land.

It is important to note that each kibbutz has undergone different processes of change. Some kibbutzim have made significant changes in their lifestyle, while others still function under more traditional models. Today, about 125,000 people, a fraction of Israel’s 9 million-plus population, live on the approximately 250 kibbutzim scattered across the country.

In summary, a kibbutz is a unique rural community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. It is a communal society that operates under the premise of mutual aid and social justice, and it is based on the principle of joint ownership. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism, and have undergone changes in recent decades. Today, most kibbutzim have embraced capitalism and have populations ranging from 100 to 1,000 people.