Page 6 - C.A.L.L. #38 - Summer 2014

The Israeli Council of Communities for Social Action

James Grant-Rosenhead, Kibbutz Mishol, Kvutzot HaBechira of HaMachanot Ha'Olim

The first experiments of the new generation of intentional, activist communities in
Israel can be traced back to as early as 1968. In that year, Garin Sha'al began building
a prototype Urban Kibbutz in Carmiel, whilst the founders of the first Garin Torani

began establishing themselves in Kiryat Shmona. These new social action oriented
communities were from very different backgrounds, politically, ideologically and

sociologically. Garin Sha'al founders were graduates of the Socialist Zionist youth
movement Habonim Dror from North America, whilst the founders of the Garin Torani
in Kiryat Shmona were from Orthodox National Religious backgrounds, including Bnei

Akiva and Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav. Several similar Urban Kibbutzim and Garinim
Toraniim were established during the late 1970's and 1980's but then in the 1990's

they began blossoming in more significant numbers all over Israel, as a variety of
networks and
movements were by

then focused on
actively creating

such intentional
communities.

For the past three
decades, the

contact between
these communities
was rare and usually

confrontational –
based on political

and ideological antagonism and rivalry, as these socialist and religious communities and
movements competed and fought to influence and lead Israel in opposing directions with
regard to many key issues. In recent years however, social and political developments

such as the struggle against the privatization of the land of Israel and the growing
poverty gap have brought the various community movements and networks together,

putting aside some of their differences in order to work together towards mutual aims
such as democratic Zionism, social solidarity, social action and community building. By
the time that the massive socio-economic protests swept Israel in 2011, there were

already at least 14 different community movements and networks representing,
networking, and creating social action oriented communities across Israel. They can be

6