Kibbutz

A Jewish Kibbutz, a community of people who have intentionally chosen to live a relational and collective life, lies in close range to the Gaza Strip. Reminding me of the new monastic movement, I was intrigued by the way of life on the Kibbutz. From sharing tools, food, and monetary resources, the people on the Kibbutz have learned what it means to rely on others and maintain a collective responsibility. 

Although I have always found this way of life intriguing, it wasn't their lifestyle that made me tune into the speaker a little more closely. This Kibbutz, settled outside of the Gaza Strip, is working in the field of nonviolent action and conflict transformation. 

By the end of our conversation with a leader on the Kibbutz, I walked away with a variety of stories that I could share, but what stands out to me the most is their attempt to create a space for the sharing of narratives. A sector of the Kibbutz is working to create a space for listening with understanding and speaking the truth in love. Because the war ceased any opportunities for relational living between the people of Gaza and the people of Israel, the restorative practices of the organization at the Kibbutz had to become creative. Although there is an exception for the people of Gaza to leave for humanitarian reasons, the violence often created a fear that kept peacemakers in Gaza from leaving. Therefore, the practices continued through conversations over the phone, Skype, email, etc. Even though the preferred method for restorative practices was to share a physical space, they continued their belief in nonviolent action by creating alternatives. 

"The common denominator is that violence is the only option to ending the conflict," pronounced the speaker. There is a high state of trauma all the time, but in order for conflict to be transformed, the people of the Kibbutz and organizers for peace have chosen to continue and move forward by transforming their trauma by creating a space for story telling.