Now, although they spend much of the day with their peers, kibbutz children live with their families until reaching Bar Mitzvah age. In addition, some kibbutzim emphasize communal activities less. Families may eat dinner in their own homes and spend their evenings there instead of in common areas. Kibbutzim still emphasize social solidarity, however. As soon as they are old enough, children are assigned tasks within the community.
Teenagers often take one day from school each week to work for the kibbutz.
Kibbutzim also make special contributions to Israeli society. Their economic and agricultural production far outweighs the percentage of citizens living on them. Similarly, young people from kibbutzim volunteer for special units of the Israeli army in disproportionate numbers. While kibbutzim must continue to evolve in order to survive, they are also striving to ensure that the sense of community and family that has characterized them does not change. Test your vocabulary comprehension by hiding the Word Meaning window and reading the Title, or by hiding the Segment window and typing your own Segment translations in the Notes tab.