The tower at Neot Smadar's Art Center evokes a Buddhist temple, a medieval castle or even Disneyland. Credit: David BacharDespite international recognition, the community at kibbutz Neot Smadar fiercely guards its privacy, allowing visitors access only to select areas04:48 PM • July 01 2026 IDTIt is worth looking at the pictures, because it's hard to adequately describe the unique structure of the Art Center in Neot Smadar. At times, I felt as though I had wandered onto a Hollywood movie set, or perhaps into an Indian film. I kept expecting dancers to appear. At other moments, it felt as though I had somehow ended up back at Disneyland. Then it reminded me of a medieval castle in the Czech Republic, or a Buddhist temple in Korea.In the NewsA Remote Kibbutz Was Named a UN Best Tourism Village. Too Bad You Can't VisitRemembering Al-Baqa Cafe: 'It Was Different From Every Other Place in Gaza'Leader of Democrats' Boycott Over Gaza in 2024 Elections Meets ex-VP HarrisIDF Hostage Chief: Gaza Hostages Could Have 'Returned Alive,' but Gov't RefusedIsraeli Automotive Cybersecurity Firm PlaxidityX Shuts Down After $450M ExitRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIAdvanced Israeli Systems Sold to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Documents and Images ShowIsrael 2026 Election Poll Tracker: The Latest ProjectionsA Collapsing Society: Israel Suffers National Mental Crisis Due to the WarFlagGate: How Israel Set Off a Storm by Hosting a Separatist Genocide DenierWhy Israelis Should Stop Being Afraid of Mamdani-backed Brad LanderSettlers Tried to Torch Palestinian Homes. They Messed With the Wrong Village