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The Jewish Federation of Peoria -
Kibbutz Nahal Oz
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Kibbutz Nahal Oz
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Kibbutz Nahal OzFollowing a visit from Alon Shuster, the mayor of the Sha¹ar HaNegev region in Israel, the Peoria Jewish community formed a partnership with Kibbutz Nahal Oz. This partnership grew out of a deep desire to strengthen and personalize this community's relationship with Israel. Nahal Oz is a small Kibbutz located in a difficult region and they were looking for a partnership as well. During March of 2005 several members of the Peoria Jewish community visited Nahal Oz. This trip included dinner at Kibbutz members homes, and a tree planting ceremony to establish Friendship Avenue at the Kibbutz. Through the 2005 UJA Campaign Peoria was able to allocate funds to Nahal Oz, which were used to purchase medical equipment and computers. During the 2005 Congregation Anshai Emeth Mitzvah Day volunteers tie dyed tee shirts to send to the children on the kibbutz. Community members who are planning trips to Israel are encouraged to visit the Kibbutz, where they will be greeted warmly and made to feel a part of the family. Arrangements for these visits can be made through the Jewish Federation of Peoria's office. The Peoria Jewish community and the members of Kibbutz Nahal Oz are in regular correspondence to discuss ways to deepen and enrich this important relationship.  HISTORYNahal Oz was first founded by a group of soldiers who served in the “Nahal” Israeli army unit opposite Gaza. In October 1953 a group of young soldiers from Rehovot, Haifa and Tel-Aviv built a settlement “Nahal Oz”. The location of the Kibbutz was just inside the border of Israel. This particular border was on the main road from Gaza to Beer Sheva, and directly outside the Eastern border of the Gaza Strip.
 click to enlarge DEMOGRAPHIC STRUCTUREThe population of the Kibbutz consists of 360 people, including members, children and residents. Since the founding of the kibbutz many soldiers have settled on the kibbutz and raised a family after their service in the army. The Kibbutz has also absorbed many families from the city, new immigrants from Russia, Argentina and the U.S.A. Small groups of Jewish teenagers from Russia have also been sent by their families to learn in our High School. EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMYAgricultural interests include growing vegetables, cotton, potatoes and grain, a dairy farm with 240 milking cows and a chicken farm that produces 2000 tons of poultry per year. A hi-tech factory, Oz Vision, is the standard for recurring revenue from video streaming in the USA security market, providing a new source of recurring income for alarm stations. The checkpoint “Oz Shalom” or Karni checkpoint links Israel and PA-ruled Gaza Strip. Karni checkpoint is a commercial zone where food and various products enter and leave the Gaza Strip. There were plans to turn the area into a much more ambitious industrial zone, which will include storage and refrigeration facilities. These plans have been on hold since the New Intifada erupted. We are very optimistic that after the disengagement from Gaza we may continue with the plans to build the College of Peace, which will serve Israelis and Palestinians. SOCIETY Kibbutz Nahal Oz is a model of privatization, which allows autonomy for the individual and on the other hand provides social support. This support gives all the members security in the fields of education, health and retirement. The kibbutz has started the process of building a new neighborhood to absorb new residents and families who do not want to join the kibbutz as members but are looking for a peaceful green environment away from the city. These residents will live in a new neighborhood in private homes along side the kibbutz and share the facilities the kibbutz has to offer such as education, social and cultural activities of a higher standard. Kibbutz Nahal Oz is located in the Sha’ar Hanegev region. The Sha’ar Hanegev regional council is situated on the Gaza Strip border, and composed of ten kibbutzim, one moshav, a family-owned farm and a village for immigrant students – forming a human mosaic of young people, veterans and new immigrants, with a total of 6,000 citizens. To learn more about the Sha’ar Hanegev log on to http://www.sng.org.il/english-site/first.htm. SAFE ROOMEach house in Nahal Oz is in the process of adding on a "Safe Room". Due to the proximity to the Gaza Strip the residents, and the government of Israel, felt this was essential.  |
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