Founding Ideals of Kochav Hashachar Settlement Recounted

Moty Zelikovich, a founder of the Kochav Hashachar settlement, has shared recollections of the settlement's early days and the egalitarian ideology that guided its initial residents. His account is part of a project by the Israeli Ministry of Heritage and the Council for the Preservation of Heritage Sites in Israel, aimed at documenting the stories of the pioneers who established Israeli settlements.

The project, which includes hundreds of interviews conducted by Mordei Kreshner and Noam Damski in various regions like the Jordan Valley, Judea, Samaria, Benjamin, Golan, and Galilee, seeks to preserve the narratives of settlement founders for future generations. Zelikovich, who also served as security officer for the Benjamin Regional Council and assistant to the Minister of Defense for settlement affairs, described the initial construction phase.

He recalled that around 25 to 30 "ashkoviot" (prefabricated housing units) of varying sizes were built first. The smallest unit measured 45 square meters, containing two rooms and a kitchenette, while larger units were 58 or 72 square meters for families with many children. Zelikovich emphasized that in the first neighborhood, all houses were identical, reflecting an ideological commitment to equality and preventing distinctions based on wealth.

"The goal was that when someone came to the settlement, they would see that we are all together, equal in the eyes of the Creator and in our own eyes," Zelikovich stated. As the initial neighborhood quickly became insufficient, additional units were built in a lower area. Residents in the upper neighborhood held a lottery to decide who would host newcomers moving to the lower section, ensuring a unified community rather than separate neighborhoods.