Education for Rehabilitation of Rural Communities in Distress in Israel

This paper summarizes the history of rural communities (moshavim and kibbutzim) in Israel and attempts to rehabilitate those that have experienced difficulties. The first section of the paper outlines the context of these communities, most of which are cooperatives. Before the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, most of the communities flourished. The next section explains what happened to these communities after the establishment of the State and the formation of more communities, some without ethnic or ideological continuity. The paper then focuses on some attempts made to rehabilitate the rural communities in distress, focusing on the social-communal sphere and using adult education as the major vehicle for rehabilitation. Five aspects of the effort to facilitate the quick absorption of nonfarmers into the established mainstream of the farming cooperative community are listed; these mainly revolve around the amalgamation of different ethnic groups and the imposition of new models. Finally, attempts at rehabilitation are explained, with the caution that no attempt in the past seven years brought about a total recovery of the struggling communities. This section describes attempts to restore "normal functioning" to the communities through education and the role of the facilitators. It is pointed out that the facilitator's role is a very difficult one, suggesting that none of the attempts could be completely successful under present conditions. (KC) *********.************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ***********************************************************************