About a quarter of a million Israelis are expected to participate in Shavuot ceremonies on kibbutzim starting Thursday evening. Despite the decline in the status of agriculture in Israel and despite the fact that few still make a living working in agriculture, Shavuot is still considered a significant holiday in kibbutzim and moshavim.
Shavuot holiday at Kibbutz Nachshon in the 50s (Photo: Government Press Office)
The holiday, centered on the ceremony of bringing the first fruits, took on special significance with the renewal of Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel. The farmers wished to remark the agricultural holiday and renewed the custom of firstfruits, and in the new attire of the holiday, the first fruits of their produce were given as a donation to the Jewish National Fund.
Shavuot holiday at Kibbutz Ga'ash in the 50s (Photo: official website, Zvi Shahar)
The collective ceremony on Shavuot comes from the ancient commandment, when the Israelites used to bring firstfruits to the Temple, firstfruits that consisted of the fresh crops in their fields, as well as the young animals born this season. The kibbutz celebration is held surrounded by a backdrop of haystacks, beams of crops, baskets of fruit and greenery, tractors and many wreath-clad participants dressed in festive white attire.
Shavuot holiday at Kibbutz Ein HaHoresh in the 50s (Photo: official website, David Scharf)
Shavuot at Kibbutz Sarid (Photo: official website, Yosef Dragner)
The center of the holiday is the proudly presentation of the first branches of field crops, orchards, cowsheds and chicken coops, industry and tourism, and branches of service to members. Another key component is the dance of kindergarten children, young people and veterans of the kibbutz.
The first graduation ceremony of school children at Kibbutz Afikim (Photo: official website, Afikim Archive)
Shavuot celebrations at Kibbutz Afikim (Photo: official website, Afikim Archive)
The moving climax of the kibbutz ceremony is the presentation on stage – to the applause of the audience – of parents with babies born on the kibbutz since the previous Shavuot holiday. Data collected by the Kibbutz Movement show that in the past year about 2,500 babies were born on kibbutzim.
Shavuot celebrations, Kibbutz Afikim (Photo: official website, Afikim Archive)
Shavuot celebrations at Kibbutz Beit Keshet (Photo: official website, Beit Keshet Archive)
Shavuot celebrations at Kibbutz Beit Keshet (Photo: official website, Beit Keshet Archive)
Nir Meir, secretary general of the Kibbutz Movement, said: "Shavuot expresses the strength of the community, and our pride in the products of agriculture, industry and service to all the residents of the kibbutz. The highlight are the babies, who are already the fifth generation on the kibbutz. The population of the 275 kibbutzim is about 170,<> people. The leading agricultural sectors in the kibbutzim are dairy farming, field crops, fruits and citrus, and broilers.
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