Reinventing the Kibbutz: The “community expansion” project

This chapter outlines the origins and characteristics of community expansion projects in kibbutzim. Community expansions are neighborhoods for non-kibbutz members located adjacent to the residential built-up area of the kibbutz. Community expansions were of paramount importance in saving troubled and aged kibbutzim from physical degeneration. The motivation of the kibbutz to venture into building a “community expansion” was twofold. First, there was an economic crisis that made it necessary to find additional economic resources, and second, there was demographic depletion which demanded “out of the box” solutions to bring back kibbutz-born youngsters and bring in other young people. The development of community expansion projects corresponded with the growing preferences of many Israelis to live in detached homes. Kibbutz members suggested that the new synagogue be situated in the educational center and not in the cultural center of the kibbutz so as to distance the synagogue from the playgrounds and youth clubs that have activities at times of service.