Kibbutz Degania Bet is located in northern Israel, south of the Sea of Galilee. Many kibbutzim have undergone privatization and strayed from the original ideals of the kibbutz, but Degania Bet still functions a collective community.
Degania, established in 1909, holds the title of being the first kibbutz. The “Mother” of all kibbutzim. Early members included war hero Joseph Trumpeldor, politician David Ben-Gurion and military legend Moshe Dayan, the second child born at Degania.
A long-simmering dispute within the kibbutz about child-rearing came to a head in the 1950s. One faction believed that kibbutz children should live with their parents until they complete high school; the other believed Degania should stay true to traditional kibbutz ideology, with offspring living in separate children’s homes.
The issue was resolved when Degania was divided in two, separated by about 1,600 feet. They were called Degania Bet (B) and Aleph (A) — the A and B of the Hebrew alphabet.
Today, all kibbutz children live with their parents.
As farming communities, to this day both Deganias are surrounded by banana plantations, orchards, dairy farming and much more.
In addition to its 350 cow dairy herd, crop fields, almond orchards, banana, date and avocado plantations, Degania Bet industrialized in the 1960s with Degania Sprayers, now a green industry; in 1984 it opened the Degania Silicone factory.
An additional source of income is its kibbutz cottage tourist accommodation, and it specializes in organized bicycle tours.
