Neot Semadar
- a creative community - |
Neot Semadar
- a creative community - |
Kibbutz Neot Semadar was established in July 1989
in the Southern Negev Desert, 60 km north of Eilat, by a group of friends from Jerusalem.
This step came about after years of self-inquiry and collective study of the problems that
every individual faces today all over the world: alienation, prejudice, aggressive
competition and violence - all that which leads to a life devoid of true joy, depth and
creativity.
From the beginning, members of
the group would meet for both discussion and communal projects. The need to apply our
interests to practical action became clear in the process of meeting the obstacles that
get in the way of learning what cooperation truly means. In the course of our activities,
we discovered that what was really necessary was a radical change in the way the
individual perceives himself and the world around him, and that for this transformation to
occur, there must be some fundamental change in one’s way of life.
Thus, a group of 80 adults with their 40 children left behind city life and personal careers and formed Kibbutz Neot Semadar, a dynamic learning community. Today we number 110 adults and 70 children along with several young volunteers. Most of our members, averaging in age between 35-55, are professionally trained and educated in a large variety of fields, including academics, arts, craftsmanship and farming, which has allowed us to branch out and develop many different areas simultaneously.
It is through special projects that our common interest in forming this learning community is truly expressed. A challenge to one’s preconceived notions and fixed habits, these projects foster a conducive environment for self-observation and provide the community with an opportunity to experience the joy of being together. These projects spread out to all aspects of life, and many have become a source of steady income. For example, along with the cultivation of the more traditional crops of the area, such as dates and citrus fruits, we have developed bio-organic agriculture which includes vineyards, olive groves, fruit orchards, vegetable gardens and grazing fields, as well as a goat farm. Currently under construction is a small-scale "produce factory" for all our organic products, housing a winery, olive-oil press, dairy, honey harvesting and fruit products. Other economic branches include a documentary film company, a construction company, a souvenir shop in the Uvda International Airport and a roadside inn at the Shizzafon Junction. A 120-acre exotic fruit tree orchard which surrounds the kibbutz with its closed-system of springs and lakes is currently being developed into a desert "oasis".
Our central project, in which all members of the community participate, is the building of the Arts & Crafts Center which will also serve as a major source of income. It will provide a regional educational and cultural center for foreign and local students, tourists and visitors. This 2,000 sq.m. project will house 14 workshops where interdisciplinary creative production can take place among the various artistic fields. The design and construction of this center is in itself a scientific and artistic experiment in desert architecture, one which combines modern technology with ancient knowledge to suit our specific climate and landscape. One of its main features is a whole new system of passive air-cooling which will provide comfortable work conditions without artificial means, pollution or noise. Members of Neot Semadar have a special interest in the field of education and have opened an elementary school for grades 1-8, as well as a nursery, kindergarten and pre-school. The school operates with an understanding that true learning can only take place within a fabric of relationships that are based on mutual respect and caring attention to each individual, and not on authority, conformity, competition or any kind of fear. Creativity is emphasized in their studies, which include drama, arts & crafts, music, writing and movement along with the traditional curriculum. The small classes allow children of different ages to learn, eat and play together. The intensity and intimacy which children and adults share as part of their everyday interactions here is an ongoing opportunity for all of us to understand what it means to take individual responsibility in our relationships. At Neot Semadar we live alongside one another as co-learners, attempting to understand ourselves as individuals in a dynamic community. The kibbutz has been attracting young people and adults who come as volunteers for a period of time and are accepted as full participants in our various projects and community life. We welcome anyone interested to write to us. Please send inquiries to: Alon Shemi or Anat Ganor; Tel: 972-7-6358111 Fax: 972-7-6358168 |
