Unveiling the Untold Saga of Kibbutz: A Riveting Account of Communal Life and the Hamas Terror Attack

A group of twelve refugees met near the sparkling Sea of Galilee to establish a safe haven from the increasing hostility towards Jews in Europe.

Their goal was ambitious. With limited knowledge of farming, the ten men and two women endeavored to establish a utopian Jewish community centered around agriculture in the Ottoman Empire. Raised in eastern European ghettos, they had no prior experience with farming.

They formally founded their settlement sometime in 1909 or 1910 and called it Deganya.

This July 1938 shows workers in the orange grove of the Na'an kibbutz.

Kluger Zoltan/GPO/AFP/Getty Images

The group, despite their lack of experience, quickly transformed the barren yet fertile land into a prosperous agricultural collective. Over the course of three decades, what started as a small collection of huts blossomed into a community consisting of 60 homes and several public buildings. The main export of Deganya was milk, but the community also distributed 20,000 bunches of bananas, 12,000 boxes of oranges and grapefruits, and 15,000 boxes of tomatoes annually.

Deganya, which remains inhabited today, is recognized as Israel's first kibbutz. Its remarkable success inspired others, and by 1950 - just two years after the establishment of Israel - there were 67,550 individuals residing in 214 kibbutzim (the Hebrew plural of kibbutz) throughout the country, according to the Jewish Virtual Library. While each settlement had its own unique aspects, they all shared the economic and interpersonal principles of socialism and the spirit of Zionism. Kibbutzim operated democratically, pooling and distributing profits among their members.

Women are seen farming in this undated photo at Deganya.

The kibbutzim played a crucial role in Israel's early development, serving as a key economic force and a vital component of the nation's identity. People from various countries, among them US Senator Bernie Sanders, traveled to the kibbutzim to engage in fruit picking during the day and immerse themselves in the communal way of life at night.

As Israel evolved from being a impoverished desert nation to a thriving modern economy, the influence and prominence of the kibbutzim gradually declined. Presently, the Jewish Agency for Israel estimates that around 125,000 individuals, which is a small portion of Israel's over 9 million population, reside in the roughly 250 kibbutzim spread across the country. These modern kibbutzim have varying populations ranging from 100 to 1,000 individuals, are secular in nature, and have embraced capitalist principles. Moreover, there has been an increase in the number of foreign workers, particularly from Thailand, who are now involved in agricultural activities. The Jerusalem Post reports that currently only 30 kibbutzim continue to accept volunteers.

Burned out buildings are seen in the aftermath of Hamas' attack on kibbutz Kfar Aza in southern Israel.

Muhammad Darwish/CNN

Children found 'butchered' in Israeli kibbutz, IDF says, as horror of Hamas' attacks near border begins to emerge

However, the kibbutzniks, or residents of the kibbutz, are predominantly seen as leaning towards the left. Numerous individuals are critical of the current ultranationalist Israeli government's approach towards Gaza and the West Bank.

Ilan Troen, a retired professor from Brandeis University in Massachusetts, shared that his daughter, Deborah Matias, decided to reside in a kibbutz to embrace the lively atmosphere of a large family, having grown up with five siblings. While at Holit kibbutz, she was responsible for coordinating festivals, parties, and other festivities.

Hayim Katsman, an Israeli-American academic who resided in Holit, was known for his strong advocacy for peace, as stated by his siblings.

During a news conference held on Tuesday, Adrienne Neta's son revealed that she had dedicated her life to assisting individuals of diverse ethnicities and genders as a nurse while being a resident of kibbutz Beeri.

Their politics and way of life, however, meant little to the terrorists who raided several kibbutzim during Hamas surprise blitz on Israel early Saturday morning.

Israeli forces extract dead bodies of Israeli residents from a destroyed house in Kfar Aza on Tuesday.

Ilia Yefimovich/picture-alliance/dpa/AP

Troens daughter and Katsman perished in the assault. Neta, a resident of Beeri kibbutz, with its thriving printing press and art galleries, is currently missing. The kibbutz, located near Gaza, has tragically discovered over 100 bodies.

In close proximity, Kfar Aza is a kibbutz comprising approximately 765 individuals. It hosts a prosperous plastic business generating an annual turnover of around $300 million. Additionally, their website states that they have an acclaimed sound and lighting company, responsible for equipping shows for renowned artists such as The Rolling Stones, Radiohead, Britney Spears, Guns N Roses, Rihanna, and Justin Timberlake.

According to the Israeli military, Kfar Aza witnessed a horrific event described as a "massacre," where individuals of various age groups, including women, children, toddlers, and the elderly, endured a merciless slaughter reminiscent of ISIS tactics. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, spokesperson for the IDF, informed CNN that numerous residents of Kfar Aza actively advocated for peace, coexistence, and mutual respect, maintaining friendships with individuals in Gaza.