Founded in the early 20th century, these collective settlements helped shape Israel’s identity.
Based on the idea that everything – from food to children – should be shared, the young immigrants who set up the first kibbutzim threw out the old European way of living and sought to create a system of complete equality.
It was a totally radical concept, but without it, Israel would be a very different place today.
But why were the kibbutzim founded, how did they work (did they work?) and what is left (if anything) of these communal utopias?
You can find this video on our YouTube channel Unpacked.
