It is not an ideal society, but a society of ideals. Kibbutz is 270 communities, home for over 115,000 Jews who have voluntarily chosen a cooperative way of life and who are free to leave whenever they like. While every kibbutz has a personality of its own, there are certain things that all kibbutzim have in common. The economy of the kibbutz is organized collectively. Kibbutz members work in both productive and service branches.
Income goes into the communes general fund and is distributed to members.
In the beginning, kibbutzim were based strictly on agriculture, but today light industry is common on nearly every kibbutz. The kibbutz today has a relatively high standard of living. Although meals are still served in a communal dining hall and members live in small two and three room apartments, the kibbutz is a total community which provides for the needs of members from birth through old age. It provides complete education through high school and many members are sent to university. Medical care is, of course, complete and the kibbutzim budget a part of their resources toward vacation and travel for its members.