One autumn, in September a few years ago, the kindergartens in Mishmeret did not open.
As the old song goes: “It’s not so pleasant to see a closed kindergarten…”
What began as a moment of surprise gradually became a stark realization: there were no longer any young children in Mishmeret.
And the difficult truth behind it was clear: we were aging.
We were unmistakably headed toward becoming a “retirement village.”
At around the age of fifty, people tend to pause, reflect, and begin envisioning retirement. What will it look like? What kind of life lies ahead?
And so we reflected.
Amid considerable debate and, at times, difficult dialogue between members, the decision was made: to expand the moshav, to allow our children to remain here, and to open our once-closed community to new families.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity - to breathe new life into Mishmeret: to bring back youth, social vitality, children, fresh faces, and a sense of renewal.
And indeed, we are in the midst of a fascinating and complex transformation.
We identified land for the new neighborhood. Unlike many other moshavim, we were fortunate that this neighborhood would be internal, within the boundaries of the village, following the existing road and completing a natural circle between the outermost homes.
Thanks to the tireless dedication of a group of members - driven by determination and persistence - the vision became reality. Infrastructure work has recently been completed, and the first homes are already being built.
Visitors praise the thoughtful planning and quality of execution.
Challenges still remain, primarily from state authorities like HaMeshakem and the Israel Land Administration, whose decisions often conflict, as well as external interest groups seeking to steer the project to their own ends.
The bureaucracy, admittedly, took far too long. But the momentum is unstoppable, and the path forward is clear.
We now stand on the threshold of a major change - one that will transform all our lives.
The community of Mishmeret, originally composed of 78 households, is about to welcome 100 new families - an increase of 225%.
The new residents are, overwhelmingly, young couples, many of whom are highly educated professionals. They are expected to revitalize our community, turning Mishmeret into a lively, dynamic settlement, full of children, teenagers, and energy.
And yet, we have managed to preserve the agricultural and rural character of the moshav. All of Mishmeret’s lands remain cultivated and green.
Public spaces are well-maintained and landscaped, and the infrastructure is ready to welcome the new families.
It is our hope that we will succeed in integrating these new residents thoughtfully and respectfully - as active, contributing members of our community, who find comfort and purpose alongside the established agricultural cooperative.
From: Avi Zohar, May 2000, “Mishmeret Transforms,” Makom Balev (Place in the Heart).