The Independent in Ireland ran an interesting column by a writer who spent time on a kibbutz, when he was 19, as a volunteer during the early 80s. He looks back on the nearly 30 years of increasing tension and violence between Israelis and Palestinians, while...

After a frenetic week of packing and repacking, I'm finally on the road (or rather in the air) for my research trip to Israel. I'm nervous of course (especially given recent events) and spent the last half hour mooning over photos of my family on my Ipod. I'm excited...

Here is an interesting review of a new book about the kibbutz and "utopian architecture" by a pair of Israeli architects (who aren't kibbutzniks). It also mentions that the Venice Biennale—the world's most important art show—will include an exhibit on the architecture...

I'm putting together an itinerary for my return trip to Israel in June. Last year, I focused on interviewing experts who could teach me more about the history of the kibbutz, especially the changes of the last 20 years. This trip, I'm hoping to visit many of the...

Here is an interesting article about Kibbutz Kerem Shalom in the Negev, right near Gaza, that has dwindled down to about 60 residents and 26 members. Because of the relative peace of the past few months, they have launched a P.R. campaign to attract new residents,...

Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant!These were the words that kept running through my mind as I watched Lavi Ben Gal’s delightfully eccentric, utterly original and often laugh-out-loud funny movie Eight Twenty Eight. To call it a “documentary” doesn’t do justice to Ben...

Here is a curious news article about a talk given by an economics prof in the States. He had lived on a kibbutz, but became disillusioned with socialism and later even progressive politics—and became a libertarian who promotes individual rights and minimal government....