100 Years of the Kibbutz Celebration - New York City
March 13, 2010
A very blustery and rainy March evening did not deter 150 people including Gabriela Shalev, the Israel Ambassador to the United Nations, and Asaf Shariv, Counsul General of Israel to New York from celebrating 100 Years of the Kibbutz at The JCC of Manhattan. The first kibbutz, Degania in the Upper Galilee, was founded in 1910.
The event began with a reception and showing of the impressive photography exhibit “100 Years of the Kibbutz” created by Givat Haviva’s Yad Ya’ari Center. Yad Ya’ari is a center of the Kibbutz Artzi Hashomer Hatzair Movement and has two departments, archives and research, which deal with the history and current issues of the kibbutz movement, the youth movement and Israeli society.
“100 Years of the Kibbutz” consists of 25 large panels of beautiful black and white and color photographs as well as original texts relating to the earlier days of the kibbutz, photographed and written by kibbutzniks. The texts are written in Hebrew and translated to English. “100 Years of the Kibbutz” was on view last year for three months at the Knesset.
Guests moved into the auditorium for opening remarks by Gavri Bargil, former Executive Director of the Kibbutz Movement, followed by Gabriela Shalev and Asaf Shariv. Dr. Michael Rahav then spoke about the creation of American Friends of the Kibbutz (AFIK).
For the next hour, the audience was captivated by a lively, whimsical dance performance by the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, who performed “Kef Kafim”. The company is internationally renowned and had additional performances in the U.S.
For further information about the photography exhibit, “100 Years of the Kibbutz” and how to obtain it for a showing at your synagogue or in your community, please contact: info@givathaviva.org. GHEF can also provide a speaker to discuss issues and challenges relating to the kibbutz movement today.