Gdud HaAvoda
Encyclopedia
G'dud HaʿAvodah VeHaHaganah ʿAl-Shem Yosef Trumpeldor , commonly known as Gdud HaAvoda, was a socialist Zionist
work group in Mandate Palestine.
The group was established on 8 August 1920, with the three focuses of work, settlement and defence. It was named after Joseph Trumpeldor
, who was killed at Tel Hai
by Arabs, and was joined by many of Trumpeldor's followers who had made aliyah
from Crimea
; initial membership was around 80. The "defence" part of the name was dropped to avoid antagonising the British authorities.
The group was open to anyone. It drained swamps, paved roads, worked in agriculture and construction, establishing several kibbutz
im, including Ein Harod
(22 September 1921), Kfar Giladi
, Ramat Rachel
and Tel Yosef (14 December 1921). Many former members left to join the Solel Boneh
construction company after learning their trade in the battalion.
In 1923 the battalion split on ideological grounds; the left-wing demanded socialism, whilst the right-wing weer more interested in Zionist pioneering. Despite the split, by 1925 the group had over 650 members, including Israel Shochat
and Manya Shochat
and Yitzhak Sadeh
.
In December 1926 a communist faction of the battalion was expelled. Some members of the faction returned to Russia, where they formed a commune named Via Nova, which was later liquidated in the Stalinist purges. The following year Gdud HaAvoda stopped work, and in 1929 it was dissolved after Kfar Giladi, Ramat Rachel, Tel Hai and Tel Yosef formed the HaKibbutz HaMeuhad movement.
Labor Zionism
Labor Zionism can be described as the major stream of the left wing of the Zionist movement. It was, for many years, the most significant tendency among Zionists and Zionist organizational structure...
work group in Mandate Palestine.
The group was established on 8 August 1920, with the three focuses of work, settlement and defence. It was named after Joseph Trumpeldor
Joseph Trumpeldor
Joseph Trumpeldor , was an early Zionist activist. He helped organize the Zion Mule Corps and bring Jewish immigrants to the Land of Israel. Trumpeldor died defending the settlement of Tel Hai in 1920 and subsequently became a Zionist national hero...
, who was killed at Tel Hai
Tel Hai
Tel Hai is the modern name of a settlement in northern Israel, the site of an early battle in the Arab–Israeli conflict, and of a noted monument, tourist attraction, and a college...
by Arabs, and was joined by many of Trumpeldor's followers who had made aliyah
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
from Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
; initial membership was around 80. The "defence" part of the name was dropped to avoid antagonising the British authorities.
The group was open to anyone. It drained swamps, paved roads, worked in agriculture and construction, establishing several kibbutz
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
im, including Ein Harod
Ein Harod
Ein Harod was a kibbutz in Israel. It was located in northern Israel near Mount Gilboa. It is notable for being built near the battlefield of Ayn Jalut , a battle of huge macro-historical importance where the Mongols were defeated for the first time, in 1260.-History:The kibbutz was founded by...
(22 September 1921), Kfar Giladi
Kfar Giladi
-External links:* * Jewish Agency for Israel*...
, Ramat Rachel
Ramat Rachel
Ramat Rachel is a kibbutz located south of Jerusalem in Israel, as an enclave within Jerusalem's municipal boundaries. Overlooking Bethlehem and Rachel's Tomb and situated within the Green Line, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council...
and Tel Yosef (14 December 1921). Many former members left to join the Solel Boneh
Solel Boneh
Solel Boneh is the oldest, and one of the largest, construction and civil engineering companies in Israel.-History:Solel Boneh was founded in 1921 during the first conference of the General Histadrut, under the name of Batz , an acronym of Binyan veAvodot Tziburiot . Its first project was to pave...
construction company after learning their trade in the battalion.
In 1923 the battalion split on ideological grounds; the left-wing demanded socialism, whilst the right-wing weer more interested in Zionist pioneering. Despite the split, by 1925 the group had over 650 members, including Israel Shochat
Israel Shochat
Israel Shochat was a founder of and a key figure in "Bar-Giora" and Hashomer, one of the precursors of the IDF. He was married to Manya Shochat.- Biography :...
and Manya Shochat
Manya Shochat
Manya Shochat , née Wilbushewich / Wilbuszewicz, was Russian Jewish politician and the "mother" of the collective settlement in Palestine, the forerunner of the kibbutz movement.-Russia and early days in Palestine:...
and Yitzhak Sadeh
Yitzhak Sadeh
Yitzhak Sadeh , was the commander of the Palmach, one of the founders of the Israel Defense Forces at the time of the establishment of the State of Israel and a cousin of British philosopher Isaiah Berlin.-Biography:...
.
In December 1926 a communist faction of the battalion was expelled. Some members of the faction returned to Russia, where they formed a commune named Via Nova, which was later liquidated in the Stalinist purges. The following year Gdud HaAvoda stopped work, and in 1929 it was dissolved after Kfar Giladi, Ramat Rachel, Tel Hai and Tel Yosef formed the HaKibbutz HaMeuhad movement.