Sorting procedures in enclosed rural communities: Admitting 'people like us' into renewing kibbutzim in northern Israel

► Sorting procedures play an important role in shaping the kibbutz as a rural gated community. ► Preferred newcomers are those similar to people already reside in the kibbutz. ► It is important to define the meaning of 'gated' in the study of gated communities. ► Rural gated communities can be reformulated so they become differentiated instead of uniform communities.