BootsnAll Travel Community

The oficial kibbutz website says that you can serve for a maximum of six months on a kibbutz, but I have read about people doing it for two years. Have the rules changed? Is there a loophole like having to leave the country for 24hours and then come back? Anyone have any info?

The back of my mind was immediately telling me that somewhere or other in the distant past I'd seen six weeks mentioned.
Seems the back of the mind was reliable in part as www.wzo.org.il/en/programs mentions 6w as a minimum and 6m as maximum. along with the age and other factors to be considered in being eligible.

Thanx for the link, there is some good info on there, but it didnt really answer my question. My question was about how long you can serve with a loophole of some kind. I have heared about numerous people doing it for extended periods, far longer than six months, and I have also heard of people never leaving the kibuttz, so obviously there is another part of the story that they do not advertise. Anyone got any inside info?

Have you had a look at www.kibbutzprogramcentre.org - reference there to just two months or more without any upper limit stated, and with Ulpans tho they mention 5 months, under FAQ, there's reference to staying longer.
I'd start making contact direct with them.

Well I just heard back from the Israeli Kibuttz authorities and they informed me that the limit is six months at a time(which we allready know) BUT, after a year out of country you can come back and do it again. I know that there are other programs and loopholes, but I guess I will learn about those when I get there.

Those that go to kibbutz and never leave are Israeli citizens who apply to be members, not volunteers (though they might start out volunteering).

The limit is 6 months, because that's twice the allowed number of months on a tourist visa... after that, it gets dicey with the Interior Ministry if you're not in the process of making aliyah or on a student or business visa.

It's a great way to not only see the country (many kibbutzim offer limited touring options during the time you are there) but also to "give something back" - to help out these "communities" that are, for the most part, quite broke financially but rich in human resources.

suzanne