ABSTRACT
Since 1992, the Na’aleh program has been bringing youth from the Confederation of Independent States (CIS) to study in Israel without their parents. Two research instruments were used to examine the adjustment and absorption of Na’aleh students sent to kibbutzim: An adjustment scale examining social acceptance, practical problems, personal distress, and conflictual relationships; and a second scale that measured factors related to absorption in Israel: levels of satisfaction, willingness to live in Israel, coping with leaving the CIS, and desire to adopt an Israeli identity. Evidently, Na’aleh students in kibbutzim experienced fewer adjustment problems than those in state schools and more adjustment problems than those sent to religious schools. Kibbutz in-takes suffered greater personal distress than Na’aleh intakes in non-kibbutz schools. Distress took the form of social alienation, sense of lack of control and confusion. The article seeks to understand the kibbutz’s unique contribution to the project and its difficulties regarding the absorption of Na’aleh students in Israel. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: <getinfo@haworthpressinc.com> Website: <https://www.HaworthPress.com> © 2001 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.]
