Bayit Rishon Bamoledet, "First Home in the Homeland", is a unique program whose purpose is the absorption of new immigrant families in a kibbutz framework. "First Home in the Homeland" offers a combination of a warm, community atmosphere facilitating a "soft landing" in Israel, as well as an orderly absorption process.
The program includes Hebrew language instruction, a ready-made educational framework for children, host families and a support coordinating staff on individual kibbutzim - all-important factors in a successful absorption process.
Bayit Rishon Bamoledet was established in 1990 as a joint cooperation between The Jewish Agency's Department of Immigration and Absorption and the Kibbutz Movement. Both the secular and religious Kibbutz Movements joined the national effort to absorb the massive wave of aliyah from the Former Soviet Union. They initiated and coordinated immigrant absorption activities on the 250 kibbutzim throughout Israel from the Arava in the south, to the Upper Galilee in the north. Since then The Kibbutz Movement has continued to open its doors to absorb olim (new immigrants) from all over the world, in the framework of "First Home in the Homeland."
Bayit Rishon Bamoledet presently offers five different programs for varying populations and interests. They include:
What is a kibbutz?
A kibbutz is not only a place to live, but also an environment with a special worldview, based on social values. There are over 250 kibbutzim all across the State of Israel, where about 125,000 residents live. Although a secular life is led on most of them, there are close to 20 kibbutzim of a religious nature.
Kibbutz society is based on the personal and free decision to join it, while one of the notable characteristics of kibbutz life is collectivism in property alongside a cooperative character in the spheres of education, culture and social life. The number of members on a kibbutz can range from 100 to 1000, on older kibbutzim members often include three and even four generations, comprising the founders and their successors, as well as members who have joined the kibbutz over the years, including a significant number of new olim.
The Kibbutz Movement is undergoing a process of change. Some aspects that in the past were included in the public domain, are now under the care and responsibility of each member and his or her family. In addition, the “open door policy to all comers” has changed, and the kibbutz now checks the characteristics and qualities of the candidates, assuring better chances of successful absorption. It should be noted that in recent years, the Kibbutz Movement has succeeded in absorbing a large number of new olim within the framework of "First Home in the Homeland."
Economics:
Kibbutz life is based on various economic industries. If in the past, agriculture served as the main source of income, today most of the kibbutz income is derived from industry, tourism and various services.
Agriculture:
40% of the agriculture in Israel is based on kibbutzim, which have made an international name for Israel in this field.
Industry:
Many kibbutzim have moved into the field of industry boasting a variety of factories. 7% of the GDP in this field is developed by the Kibbutz Movement, which produces one of the highest levels of technology in the country and exports internationally renowned quality products.
Tourism:
A number of kibbutzim have gone in the direction of services, which include hotels, resort neighborhoods, shopping centers, conference centers, reception halls and vacation resorts and spots as an additional industry of the kibbutz.
Recently, various other services have been developed as additional sources of economic growth, including computer services, consulting services (technical, legal, advertising and more), holistic clinics, art galleries, fashion centers and more.
In addition, a significant number of kibbutz members earn their livelihood outside the kibbutz, and transfer their wages to the kibbutz.
Education:
From the age of 3 months to 6 years children receive care in day-care-centers and preschools between the hours 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Kibbutz children study at a local or regional school. In the afternoon and evening hours, a large number of activities and workshops are available to the children.
Upon concluding their high school studies and following their military service, every kibbutz member has the right to attend an institution of higher learning (at a university or college, as they choose), and indeed most young people from the kibbutz today complete their higher education.
Personal budget:
Following the privatization process of the public budgets, certain services that were given in the past to kibbutz members are today the responsibility of the members (laundry, meals in the dining hall, purchasing various products and more). For the purpose of covering these expenses, the kibbutz provides an annual personal/family budget. This budget is placed at the disposal of each member, to utilize at his or her personal discretion.
New olim and the kibbutz:
The name kibbutz comes from the word kvutza, the Hebrew term for group. From the time of its establishment until today, the kibbutz constitutes a bold attempt to unite the building and development of the country, while maintaining and upholding the Jewish values of solidarity and social justice. As the successors of the young Jews from Eastern Europe who made aliyah at the end of the 19th century with the philosophy of "to build and be rebuilt," new olim who join “First Home in the Homeland” strengthen the social and economic life of the kibbutz, while “building themselves up” in Israeli society (learning Hebrew, familiarizing themselves with Israel and experiencing their own first steps in Israeli society). "First Home in the Homeland" invites the potential oleh to join these unique programs, to become part of the national endeavor and to experience a rewarding way of life.
For registration and further information, please click here for your local Shaliach or Aliyah Center.
In Israel:
Bayit Rishon Bamoledet/
First Home in the Homeland
Elena Kovarsky
Program director
Mobile: +972-52-6130384
Fax: +972-8-6565403
e-mail: elenako@jafi.org
Last updated: February 6, 2008