Giving Compass' Take:

• A new project called Gather aims to bring more individuals to the kibbutz, by offering the program to digital nomads (people who work remote),  to stay there, volunteer and work.

• Is this a sustainable model? What is the draw for the digital nomads?

• Read about the benefits and motivations of volunteers. 

In their heyday, back in the 1960s and 70s, Israel’s kibbutzim would draw thousands of volunteers a year – young men and women from around the globe, eager to experience this unique form of collectivism with its strong emphasis on working the land.

These days, only a handful of kibbutzim still take in foreign volunteers. At best, a few hundred come every year. But as young Israeli entrepreneur Omer Har-shai recently discovered while traversing the country in search of potential kibbutz partners for a new initiative, their presence is sorely missed.

A brand new project he will be launching this week aims to bring young people from around the world back to the kibbutz – but in a framework better suited for the 21st century. The name of his project is Gather, and the idea is to offer digital nomads – people who take advantage of technology to work remotely, often very far from home – the opportunity to experience life on a kibbutz.

“By its very nature, the kibbutz has all the facilities digital nomads would need: spare rooms, a communal dining hall, laundry services, tennis courts and swimming pools. So everything is taken care of for them,” he says. “Another major advantage is that kibbutzim tend to be located in very beautiful places, surrounded by fields and orchards.”

Har-shai, 30, sees his role as that of a matchmaker, connecting groups of digital nomads to kibbutzim that fit their specific preferences. According to the plan, each group of about 20 to 30 participants will spend a month on a kibbutz.

Read the full article about Kibbutz volunteering by Judy Maltz at eJewish Philanthropy.