Gesher Haziv

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Gesher Haziv
Founded 1949
Founded by Immigrants from North American Habonim and former members of Kibbutz Beit Ha'arava
Region Western Galilee
Industries Agriculture, manufacturing, tourism
Affiliation United Kibbutz Movement
Website gesherhaziv.org.il

Gesher Haziv is an Israeli kibbutz located in the Western Galilee on the Coast Highway between Nahariya and Rosh HaNikra, situated opposite the Achziv National Park. Kibbutz Gesher Haziv belongs to the Mateh Asher Regional Council.

Contents

[edit] Founding

It was formed in 1949 by two groups: 120 olim from the first immigrants' nucleus group ("gar'in"; גרעין) of the Habonim Labor Zionist youth movement in North America, and half of the former members of Kibbutz Beit Ha'arava, evacuated in the War of Independence.

[edit] Education

In 1952, Gesher Haziv became the second kibbutz to have its children sleep in the parents' homes (לינה משפחתית) rather than in communal children's houses (לינה משותפת).

On the kibbutz grounds are two regional schools: the elementary school Hofei Hagalil ("Galilee Shores," grades 1-6) and the secondary school Sulam Tzor ("Ladder to Tyre," grades 7-12). These schools serve local kibbutzim and moshavim, along with accepting private students from nearby towns. Since the mid-1990s, Gesher Haziv has its own local chapter of the Zionist youth movement Hanoar Haoved Vehalomed ("Working and Student Youth").

[edit] Recent Developments

In July 1998, Gesher Haziv joined the vanguard of "privatization" in the kibbutz movement. Largely due to pressures caused by collective debts, the majority of the membership voted to adopt a policy of "differential income". Numerous economic branches were sold off, and many communal services were either shut down entirely or converted to a non-subsidized, pay-per-use basis.

"Nachlat Ziv," a housing development now in the fourth and last stage of construction on what was formerly agricultural land, numbers 200 units. Its projected total population will eventually be double that remaining of the kibbutz membership, now approximately 100 households. Another housing tract is being developed for offspring of kibbutz members who plan to build homes there.

[edit] Further reading

  • Goldberg, J.J. and King, Eliot (eds.), Builders and Dreamers: Habonim Labor Zionist Youth in North America. New York: Herzl Press, 1993. ISBN 0845348418


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