kibbutz volunteer

Kibbutz Volunteer FAQs

How long does a kibbutz program usually last?
A kibbutz program lasts anywhere from a minimum of six weeks to a maximum of six months. Duration of the program will depend on several factors, including the kind of program / kibbutz teaching or ideology the kibbutz follows. Volunteers usually work 8 hours a day, 6 days a week and have coffee breaks and lunch breaks.

Do kibbutz volunteers have holidays?
Like regular workers, kibbutz volunteers do not work on Saturdays, also called the Shabbat. Aside from Saturdays, volunteers also get two to three additional days off every month. Volunteers are encouraged to recognise and participate in kibbutz activities including Jewish Holy Days and other celebrations.

Can tourists just sign up on a kibbutz program?
Yes, but the Kibbutz Programme Centre cannot issue invitations to people wishing to enter Israel. Tourists who wish to be included in a Kibbutz Program must, within two weeks of their immersion in a kibbutz, change their visa status from a tourist’s visa to a volunteer’s visa. Like any visa applicant, volunteers must comply with the existing requirements of Israel’s Ministry of Interior.

What other benefits do kibbutz volunteers have?
Kibbutz volunteers are provided with free accommodation in a Volie house (share a room with 2 or four people), three meals a day, free laundry service and a fixed monthly allowance. Aside from these, the kibbutz also organizes tours of Israel. Volunteers also have access to other facilities located within the community.

Can anyone be a Kibbutz volunteer?
The programme is actually open to everyone (Israel national or not) between the ages 18 and 35. Since participating in a kibbutz will most likely involve hard labour, for health reasons, the Kibbutz program refuses to accept volunteers who have children or women who are in the family way.

What are the requirements for volunteering?
The requirements are fairly simple. Volunteers should be aged between 18 and 35; they may or may not be a native of Israel; can communicate in English and must be physically fit. All volunteers are required to take a medical exam and to present their respective medical certificates. Upon arrival in the kibbutz, participants may be asked to take an AIDS test. Volunteers are also required to have a health insurance policy that is valid for at least one year.