One of the most impressive projects of the community is their “midrasha” (learning center) which currently caters only to Israelis between after the army and under age 40 who are searching for a different meaning of life in very tense society. Dwellings for the inhabitants consist of a blend of modest prefabs and newer houses which contain towers with “swamp coolers” a simple, low tech form of air conditioning. The tower, which took 13 years to build, for the kibbutz’s Art & Craft center is of this type. The inhabitants of the kibbutz developed a type of architecture which contains tall towers that serve as effective swamp coolers. People also change their houses every few years in order not to get too attached: here again, the goal is, to prevent people from getting into routines so deeply that they lose their opportunity to experience mindfulness in everyday life.Ī major source of income for the kibbutz is art. However, everybody is also on duty in the kitchen, cleaning dishes or guarding the kibbutz at night once in a while. Obviously, this is not the case for managerial jobs like the general manager of the kibbutz or – say – the manager of the food processing facility: They accept their job for 2-5 years, then move on to a less demanding job, and might cycle back some years later into the same or a similar position, if the kibbutz’s needs and their abilities and wishes match.
In this way, work doesn’t become boring routine. One of the most interesting aspects of their daily life, I discovered, is the fact that most of them hold several very different jobs at the same time. I experienced the sense of idealism from those days. Some feelings I had, reminded me of my first trip to Israel in 1963 (The pre-Six Day War Israel!) with my youth group, where we stayed and worked in a Kibbutz in the Negev. Visiting Neot Semadar and the representatives we had met at an environmental/ spiritual conference in Switzerland was an amazing experience: I who am usually a “speedy” and argumentative guy like many from the “tribe”, became so calm and peaceful for the 5 days at the kibbutz that I could not believe it. These same volunteers also become part of a group that includes some native Israelis who are learning to live in a group environment with the assistance of a team of Kibbutz Neot Semadar’s founding members. Volunteers have the opportunity to learn to milk goats, pluck organic dates or pack organic olives while learning Hebrew on an individual basis. About 90 adult members and about 70 children live on the kibbutz along with around 50 volunteers of all ages. Like other kibbutzim in Israel, the residents live and work together for the benefit of the entire community while exploring what it means to “live together” as co-learners. In order to remind themselves that mindfulness is a spiritual practice, they drop into silence or sit down in groups and spend quiet time together several times daily.
The core of their belief is to practice mindfulness in their everyday life. Their philosophy is best summed up as a learning community in which the focus is on mutual cooperation and creativity in daily life. On Shabbat, especially Erev Shabbat, musicians play, sing and dance together.Įstablished in 1989, Kibbutz Neot Semadar is located in the southern Negev roughly 60 miles north of Eilat. Meals are eaten in a grateful but non-dogmatic silence. Daily meetings are held for each of the various workgroups as well as the entire kibbutz which end with five minutes of silence. Kibbutz Neot Semadar is a place in which one can experience a society of mutual love and understanding, where interpersonal problems are regarded as learning opportunities, where personal growth is more important than productivity and where, although people work hard, life is lived simply, healthily and at a human pace. This description of a personal visit to Kibbutz Neot Semadar was written by ALEPH member Roger Dreyfus and edited for Kol ALEPH by Chanah Zimmerman.