Kvutza

A kvutza, kvutzah, kevutza or kevutzah (קבוצה "group") is a form of cooperative settlement that was founded in the Second Aliyah and developed in the Third Aliyah, its principles are based on the existence of a cooperative, communal, small and intimate group.

The settlers of the group lived in full cooperation (a common fund for expenses and income, without private property) and without external control (warehouses etc).

Ideology
The "Kvutzas" were influenced by the socialist and communist principles and thoughts. This influence caused a surge of settlements, built on community ownership and agriculture. later, most of the Kvutza's turned into Kibbutz's.

History
First there were kvutzot (plural of kvutza) in the sense of groups of young people with similar ideals living and working together; and after 1909 and for many years to follow, in the sense of collective settlements created by such groups. The kvutza collective settlement was distinguished from the kibbutz settlement in that it intended to remain small and mainly agricultural, whereas the larger kibbutzim were intended to expand with agriculture, industry and other productive pursuits. Later, as the distinction disappeared, most kvutzot were renamed kibbutzim. Notable example: Degania Alef.

There are various plurals in English: several kvutza may be called kvutzas, kvutzot or kvutzoth