The Ravenna Kibbutz

If you haven't read What is the Ravenna Kibbutz?, please do that first. Glancing over the Moving to the Kibbutz page isn't a bad idea either.

Because our goal is to balance many factors for the best overall configuration, we strongly encourage you to apply for every room and programming contribution level that would work for you. The greater your flexibility, the better your chances of being placed, and the better the community's chances of finding a good balance that we'll all love living with. Bear in mind that opportunity periodically arises to change rooms once you are a resident.

Rent and Discounts. The Ravenna Kibbutz is a co-op, collecting monthly dues from every resident. These dues cover the rental of the Commons facilities we all share, plus the collective's assorted other costs of keeping it all running smoothly. (Mainly, dues cover facilities rent.)

There are two kinds of Kibbutz house: Commons house and community house. A Commons house is a house that, in addition to private rooms, includes Commons facilities that are shared equally by the whole Kibbutz community. A community house is entirely the private domain of its residents, though community-house kibbutzniks are all encouraged to open their living and dining rooms to fellow kibbutzniks and to host public events as often as they like -- and they all do!

Because the Commons house residents' living and dining rooms are part of the shared Commons, the Kibbutz gives those residents the opportunity for monthly dues discounts, in exchange for hosting events or undertaking special community-improvement initiatives. These discounts are known as program grants, and they make the total cost of a room in a Commons house variable from month to month, according to the number of program grants a resident opts to take on. A House Aleph/Beit Kayam resident can save as much as $70/month by electing to host programs; and a House Gimel resident can save as much as $140.

There are several rooms with extra space and amenities, appropriate for couples (who receive priority consideration for these rooms) or for singles wanting a lot of personal space or a personal bathroom or kitchen. Of course, these units are priced higher accordingly.

Beit Kayam/Sustainability House. House Aleph is now a living laboratory for sustainable living practices and eco-Judaism. The four residents work together on projects to make their lives in the house more sustainable. They also offer community education and resources about sustainability, and intersections of sustainability and Jewish/Jew-ish culture, to the community. The beit kayam/House Aleph's outdoor spaces, including the gardens and fire pit, are part of the Commons.

Moishe House. Moishe House is no longer affiliated with the Ravenna Kibbutz, but we still share many goals and qualities in common. If you like Moishe House, you'll probably like the Ravenna Kibbutz!

Utilities and Lease. All utilities combined -- water, sewer, garbage, recycling, gas, electricity, and internet -- average out to about $120 per resident per month, and are higher in the winter and lower in the summer. Each resident's name will individually be on the lease signed with the owner of that resident's house. Community house residents are accountable to their landlords for on-time payment of rent. Commons house residents are accountable to the Kibbutz's bookkeeper.

Is there a "quiet house?" Each house has a distinct character according to the group living there. The residential community sets policies for use of the Commons, including quiet hours and cleanliness standards. Community houses are self-governing and set their own standards. Talk to the residents of a house to get a sense for what it's like, and bear this in mind: All kinds of activities take place in the Commons, including public events and informal hanging out; but there is always some place quiet on the Kibbutz as well, because it's not only one house!

If you have any questions that aren't answered here, please email us (address at the very bottom of this page) and we'll get back to you right away.

And now, the application!

Getting Started

Your Full Name(s): *

If you are applying as a couple, please enter both names here.

Are you applying as an individual, couple, or family?: *

Individual

Couple

Family

Your Email Address: *

This is the email address we will use to contact you throughout this process.

Your Phone Number: *

This is the phone number we will use to contact you.

Your Age(s): *

Generally, it doesn't really matter, but we're curious. Current residents happen to range from 18 to 38. Couples and families, please enter comma-separated numbers (ex.: 32, 28).

When would you be prepared to move?: *

Housing

House Preferences: *

	Not Interested	Interested	Very Interested
House Aleph/Beit Kayam: Four-room craftsman on the ravine, our sustainability program, and part of the Commons
House Bet: Four-bedroom craftsman, plus a mother-in-law apartment, on the ravine, and a community house
House Gimel: Four-bedroom "California house," and the main Commons house
Dirat Dalet: One-bedroom apartment community house

Remember, every Ravenna Kibbutz resident gets daily access to all the Commons.

Amenity/Price Preferences: *

	Not Interested	Interested	Very Interested
Single room ($460-640)
Smaller single room ($410-560)
Larger single room ($570-720)
Room plus den/study ($760-920)
Suite with private bath ($760-920)
Suite with private kitchen ($760-920)
Apartment with private entrance ($800-960)

The Ravenna Kibbutz has a variety of housing units, and their availability varies from year to year and season to season. So these are general categories with approximate price ranges, not specific advertised rooms. Bear in mind also that we are in a highly desirable, clean, quiet residential neighborhood, so if you're just looking for dirt-cheap housing you can probably do better elsewhere!

Program Organizing Interest

OPTIONAL.

Every Kibbutz resident is expected to volunteer time for maintaining our facilities, our organization, and our regular residents-only shared meals. No Kibbutz resident is required to host public programs. However, the weekly Shabbat dinners, the monthly movie nights, the bonfires, workshops, and such that bring us all together as a community are a big part of why we love living here. Therefore, when it comes to the two Commons houses, we do look for an interest in program organizing when we pick residents. And then we give dues discounts to show our appreciation!

So, if you are interested in living in a Commons house, please select every level of Program Grant discount you would be interested in pursuing as a Kibbutz resident. Willingness to contribute to public programs is a factor in determining the best fits for our residential community, but please be honest! There are many other factors as well.

Programming Levels:

No public programs, just the basic Kibbutz volunteer commitment

One public program per month ($35 dues discount)

Two public programs per month ($70 dues discount)

Three public programs per month ($105 dues discount)

Four public program per month ($140 dues discount)

What's your ideal level of programming involvement?:

Optional.

Living In Community

OPTIONAL.

These are questions we'll ask you in the interview if you don't answer them here. So you don't have to write a book... just remember that an empty application might look to us like you aren't very serious. :)

Describe your greatest asset and your greatest challenge in sharing a house with other people.:

Name two public programs or community-improvement initiatives you'd be excited to help oganize, or to create!:

What non-programming assets do you see yourself contributing to, or creating, on the Kibbutz?:

What sorts of folks would you like to bring into the extended Kibbutz community? (Geeks? Meditators? Artists? Gardeners?):

More About You

What is a typical week in your life like? (Work? Study? Play? Regular hours? Light load? Heavy?): *

Compatibility Factors: *

	Not Important	A Little Important	Somewhat Important	Very Important	Non- negotiable
How important to you is kitchen cleanliness?
How important to you is living-room tidiness?
How important to you is daytime quiet at home?
How important to you is evening quiet at home?
How important to you is it to have kosher dishes?
How important to you is it to have non-kosher dishes?
How important to you is it to have formal structures in place for things?

Finally, is there anything else you want us to take into consideration about you?:

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