On 10/7, many of the communities Hamas attacked were kibbutzim. Kibbutzim are collective agricultural communities which were deeply influenced by socialist ideals and the desire to create a new Jewish society based on cooperation, shared resources, and collective labor. The word kibbutz comes from the Hebrew root “קבץ” (kavatz), meaning “to gather” or “to assemble.” Kibbutz directly translates to “gathering” or “collective.”

The first kibbutz, Degania, was founded in 1909 near the southern shore of the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret), and since then, hundreds of kibbutzim have flourished throughout Israel. They play a significant role in shaping early Israeli society and have contributed to the agricultural, social, and economic development of Israel, although their structure and purpose have evolved significantly over time.

Kibbutzim were an experiment in socialism, where property and labor were shared equally, and no one lived in excess while others were deprived. They aimed to create an ideal society of equality and communal responsibility. Many kibbutzim were founded in remote or barren areas that were difficult to settle. While many kibbutzim have changed from their early origins, they still represent a successful example of egalitarian subsistence.

While the kibbutz movement was originally founded by Jews as part of an effort to establish a Jewish homeland, kibbutzim have been open to people of different backgrounds, religions, and nationalities. On 10/7, some of the non-Jews that were killed on kibbutzim were volunteers from other countries like Withawat Kunwong one of many Thai nationals Hamas tortured on 10/7.

While violence has battered these communities, many still speak about the nature of generational trauma and continue to fight for a peaceful and equitable solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

This is what Kibbutz Nir Or looked like before 10/7:

This is how Hamas left it:

A reminder: Deligitimizing Jewish or Palestinian connections to the homeland is a bad look. Peace is the right look. Let’s focus on that.