100-year-old Ramat Rachel traces its journey from frontier outpost to ‘bourgeois’ resort

Ramat Rachel is marking 100 years since its founding, looking back at its transformation from a battle-scarred hilltop outpost into what some members now describe as a “bourgeois” resort.

The kibbutz, south of Jerusalem, once played an important role in Israel’s defense efforts. Its strategic position and history of fighting helped define its identity as a frontier community.

Today, real estate and tourism have become central to Ramat Rachel’s activities. That shift has prompted members to debate what the kibbutz should become as it enters its second century.