Kibbutz Harel is a small kibbutz in the center of the country that was heavily traumatized in 2019 when a fire destroyed ten of the kibbutz houses and caused enormous damage. Residents were forced to move and return a few months later to a temporary caravan neighborhood set up for them.
From the stories about the event, it is clear that alongside the crisis, the support within the community itself and the warm embrace that the kibbutz received from the neighboring communities, provided a ray of light and further strengthened this small kibbutz’s community.
By the way, on the edge of the kibbutz are two abandoned buildings that were previously used for drying tobacco. At one point, the Department of Agriculture decided that Kibbutz Harel would take part in an attempt to grow Virginia tobacco. The crop was fine, but there was one small problem that halted the growth attempts… The tobacco didn’t burn properly. Too bad the fire did.
Photos: Kibbutz Harel
