Answers were given by Annie Reuveni:
Why have the first founders raised kibbutz Yasur? Did they have any goals? Or did they have to flee? The first founders were called "pioneers" - they mostly came from Europe after World War II. They could have remained in Europe after the war, however they were part of the haShomer haTzair youth group which was a Zionist organization - and these young people were idealistic and proud of being Jewish and wanted to reach the homeland of the Jewish people - in the land of Israel. Israel was struggling for its independence and life was not easy here at all - many swamps all over the country - but the Zionist dream was to build and strengthen the nation of Israel.
kibbutz yasur have undergone some changes. what changes? The orginal kibbutz believed in equality and that each member would contribute what they could. all memebers received the same food, the same type of home. clothing and budget. All of the children were given the same type of education, and it didn't make a differnce if you were a farm laborer or the General manger of the kibbutz industry. Everyone was treated the same way and got the same material things. Kibbutz yasur became privatized in 2001, and changed from the socialist society to practically a capitalist society. One that works hard will earn a good salary, and one that is unemployed or lazy will earn less, and therfore have less food to eat, less money to buy things. The kibbutz closed the communal dining room, the communal laundry, meters were put in the homes to measure elecrticity and water usage, and each member had to pay for what they consumed. People cooked at home, and began looking for work off the kibbutz. This in turn caused for members to meet each other less, and therfore caused a big change in the social structure of the daily routine of "old" kibbutz life. The leaders of the kibbutz were non-members which also made a big change. The kibbutz then realized it could not continue this way, and then decided to recruit new people to come and live on the kibbutz...and these newcomers bought land and built homes, continued with their jobs off the kibbutz, yet continue to believe that the old and new members can optimize the best values of the old ways in a modified way of life. We are very lucky that the many new families that have been absorbed on yasur in the last 10 years are good, talented and energetic people that respect the entire community.
Why were these changes needed? Did the kibbutzniks want the changes or was it because of economic issues? Most of the changes were due to the economic situation. The kibbutz had huge debts and was approaching bankruptcy. The kibbutz members were divided in thier opinions. It was extremely difficult and in some cases almost traumatic to have to say goodbye to the socialsit kibbutz where we lived for so many years.
Does the kibbutz about to change more? Yes, I am sure that the kibbutz will continue to change. the kibbut is rapidly growing and absorbing about 15 new families each year. Fancy homes are being built, and the larger the kibbutz becomes, the more difficult it becomes to know everyone. all of the new people bring with them their ideas and customs, and some people think that it's getting closer and closer to the time that a little synagogue will be built on the kibbutz - which is definitely something that the original pioneers would have never agreed upon.
Did kibbutz Yasur have influence in Israel, in the politics or the army? Has that influence changed nowadays? To my knowledge, Kibbutz yasur didn't have any specific influence in Israeli politics or army. But yasur is located in the Galil which was originally occupied by Arabs, and yasur helped to guard this area and increase the jewish population, After the kibbutz was established, its members did its best (and still does) to maintain a good relationship with our Arab neighbors.
Does the kibbutz helps with the good image of Israel, and that the kibbutz gives Israel a better image by the foreign countries? Yes...the kibbutz volunteer program was an excellent way to share the beauty and reality of the country with young people from all over the world.
How the kibbutz will look like in 50 years? Very very different....hopefully there will still be some kind of communal atmosphere where the members will still be dedicated to one another and to the land
