Kibbutz Ketura is located in the Southern Arava, 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Eilat. Travel time by car is approximately 2 1/4 hours from Be’er Sheva (via Rte. 40), 3 1/2 hours from Jerusalem, and 4 hours from Tel Aviv.
Ketura is an income-sharing community with a communal dining hall; housing is in the form of attached, single-family dwellings with shared yards and garden space. A shared fleet of about 20 cars serve members on a reservation basis (via an app). Our area is also served by public bus service 7 days a week, and two domestic airlines operate between the Asaf and Ilan Ramon International Airport (Eilat) and the airport in Israel’s center. Small numbers of international lo-costs flights are available between October and March.
One thing that makes Ketura unique is our pluralistic approach to Judaism: We believe that each individual should observe (or not) as per his or her belief, so that while members are free to observe (or not) as they wish in their own living spaces, we observe the Jewish laws and traditions including kashrut, Shabbat, and holidays in our public spaces and at cultural events, so that those who do observe feel comfortable, and everyone enjoys a taste of the experience. We also avoid non-essential work that would violate the Shabbat, and incorporate Jewish traditions and values into the community’s life. On a personal level, people can behave as they wish – for example sign out a car on Shabbat and drive to the Red Sea for the day.
We are committed to continuing education to benefit the community, as well as individual enrichment for our members. So at any point in time, some of our members are studying for vocational, academic, or professional advancement and for personal interest. The extension campus of Ben-Gurion University in Eilat has expanded our options in this area as have the options online. In addition a regional community center offers classes such as yoga, pilates, language study, sports, ceramics, painting, and more. Both on the kibbutz and in the Regional Council there are many one time activities such as lectures, workshops, and more.
While many members work on the kibbutz in service branches such as daycare and after-school programming, food service (we have a communal dining room with 3 meals served a day), landscaping, and maintenance, others are involved in businesses such as our date orchards, a craft brewery, argan oil production, and our tourism enterprise.
We also have “hybrid” workplaces, i.e., engaged both in service and production. For example, the member who operates our pool and teaches water aerobics serves both the community and outside students. Our accounting branch serves not only the community and our businesses, but also are contracted for services to many other businesses both in the region and nationwide.
In addition, many members work “outside” as teachers, bookkeepers, social workers, and laboratory technicians. Among our members are specialists including a sports physical therapist, the regional inseminator for area dairy herds, a veterinarian, a chiropractor, and researchers in fields ranging from anthropology and conflict resolution to aquaculture and agricultural research. Most members have undergraduate degrees (Bachelor’s), many have Master’s degrees, and several have or are currently in the process of earning doctorates.
Beyond what we do to earn a living, many members engage in hobbies or pursuits beyond their “day jobs”. Among these are a fitness instructor who leads aerobics, kickboxing and various other workouts; a voice coach; bar and bat mitzvah tutors; several published writers, artists, and artisans (painting, drawing, sculpture and pottery, a range of jewelry makers), and a team of craft beer brewers. Several members sing in the area vocal ensemble, and others run two organic gardens, the produce from which we regularly see in our daily salad bar.
We are currently adding new housing in order to accommodate a growing population, and are welcoming young families, expanding our physical plant, and continuing to grow. Guests are welcome to reserve a room in the Guest House so you can come and explore our way of life, from our myriad expanding businesses to our values and goals. A free tour is included with every Bed and Breakfast reservation.
Kibbutz Ketura seeks to empower its members to fulfill themselves by working together with our communal decision making and resources, and to empower our community to do good in the world.
In order to join Kibbutz Ketura one must be a citizen or permanent resident of the country and able to speak Hebrew fluently. Details are available here: https://www.ketura.org.il/joining-ketura/
Visitors are welcome. For short visits contact the Keren Kolot – Kibbutz Ketura guest house (https://www.keren-kolot.co.il/Homepage.html). For persons ages 18-35 wishing to spend at least 2 months in the community as a volunteer – Kibbutz Ketura accepts healthy young people (often but not always, Jewish, single, ages 18-30) able to do physical work as required for AT LEAST 2 months. While we are not a “religious” kibbutz, our dining room is kosher/shomer shabbat and we have an traditional egalitarian minyan on Shabbatot & holidays. Work is assigned according to the needs of the kibbutz – mostly services (dining room, laundry, kitchen). Before you arrive in Israel, you MUST register on line to volunteer via the *Kibbutz Program Center*: https://kibbutzvolunteers.org.il/ they will help you understand the visa application process.
A few people (not elected by the broader community) make the major decisions.
More than 50% agreement needed.
Members elect leaders who make decisions within defined roles.
Our highest authority is the assembly of all the members and all major decisions must be made at this level. We have 5 community leaders who are elected to a term of office from 2 to 4 years and then elections are held and other members take on those roles. We stagger the dates of the terms of office so that there is continuity in the leadership positions. We have an elaborate system of committees which are also members elected to 2 year terms of office to serve on a particular committee. Committees have to bring major decisions to the executive council to be “checked for form” and then to the general assembly for a vote by all members.
All member income goes into common pool for community use.
Join fee: Yes
Regular fees: Yes
Labor: Yes
Kibbutz Ketura requires that all benefits of a members’ work is contributed to the public financial system, and that system covers expenses for members. Each member also receives a small personal allowance for personal spending. All basics are covered by the collective: housing, food, health, and education.
Common House, Garden(s), Vehicle Share, Library, Workshop, Swimming pond or pool, Large Scale Kitchen, Tractor & Farm Equipment, Stage or Auditorium, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas, Gym or sports area, Internet
Countryside locations with significant distance from urban centers.
Integrated communities designed around ecological principles with sustainable living practices.
Communal living with shared resources, property, and often income or work responsibilities
Connecting people and communities through an intentional online marketplace
A residential project: people live here as their primary home.
An institution, business, network, or project that isn’t a residence (e.g. a learning center, farm, or network with no one living there full-time).
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