Kibbutz Mizra, founded in 1923, happens to be one of the most secular kibbutzim in Israel but it is slated to have gender-separate swimming hours for four days in summer 2014 so that the pool can accommodate Haredim visitors as well. Haredi Judaism is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that rejects modern secular culture and considers itself the most authentic form of Judaism in the world.
This development has shocked a lot of liberals in the region because Mizra happened to house a slaughterhouse in 1957 to kill and process different meats including beef, duck, turkey and pork. Naturally, this had not gone down very well with Haredim and Zionist Orthodox Jews and so several attempts were made to put Mizra’s meat production out of business. Mizra survived those attacks but recently sold its slaughterhouse to Tiv Taam, a supermarket chain, well known for selling treife, in 2010.
This summer, a group of Haredi Jews decided to vacation in Mizra and that is when the kibbutz was compelled to segregate some hours at the public swimming pool for males and some for females. Leaders in Mizra told locals on June 15 that the segregation would be in place for four days. While most were not affected by the announcement, some members of Mizra have taken offence to this regressive decision.
“I of course have no objection to hosting Zionist Orthodox/Haredim but I strongly object that we kibbutz members will have to adapt to the customs of the Haredim and not act like everywhere normal, where guests adapt to the local customs,” wrote a member, who describes himself as a devout atheist.
The letter writer added that he would rather give up the money the Haredi guests are pay during their visit and cancel their stay since they cannot tolerate mixed swimming than give up on being “a proud secular person on Kibbutz Mizra.” He also expressed his objection to “the trend in recent years to reverse the Zionist cultural revolution that took place in the previous century and was the basis for establishing the State of Israel.” Under no circumstances did this man want to “return to public religion, a trend that was fit wonderfully with the right-wing political trend that is taking over our country.”
Over 80 percent formerly socialist kibbutz have been privatized in recent years and every member is now responsible for his own expenses and every business must now generate profits.
