Kibbutz Ein Gev
Encyclopedia
Ein Gev is a kibbutz
located on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee
in northern Israel
. It falls under the jurisdiction of Emek HaYarden Regional Council
. Tourism and agriculture comprise its two main income-generating activities.
The kibbutz lies near the ruins of the Greco-Roman settlement of Hippos
.
settlement, a common debut for many kibbutzim during that era, and quickly established itself as a viable community. The original settlers were immigrants from Czechoslovakia, Germany, Austria, and the Baltic countries. Using intensive cultivation method, they developed banana plantations. They also fished the nearby Kinnereth River. In 1947, Ein Gev had a population of 450.
Situated along a border initially shared with Syria, Ein Gev was shelled during the Battles of the Kinarot Valley
and in other engagements during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. These dangers were only eliminated when Israel succeeded in permanently displacing Syrian military forces from the neighboring Golan Heights in the 1967 Six-Day War
.
, a founding member of Kibbutz Ein Gev who went on to become Jerusalem's mayor (1965–1993); Israel Defense Forces
general and current Member of Parliament Efraim Fine; Zeev Shor, former chairman of the Jordan Valley Regional Council and current chairman of the United Kibbutz Movement; and Uzi Keren, advisor to the Prime Minister on rural affairs.
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...
located on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee
Sea of Galilee
The Sea of Galilee, also Kinneret, Lake of Gennesaret, or Lake Tiberias , is the largest freshwater lake in Israel, and it is approximately in circumference, about long, and wide. The lake has a total area of , and a maximum depth of approximately 43 m...
in northern Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. It falls under the jurisdiction of Emek HaYarden Regional Council
Emek Hayarden Regional Council
The Emek HaYarden Regional Council , is a regional council in the Jordan River Valley between the Sea of Galilee in the north and Beit She'an in the south. It was the first regional council in Israel, formed in 1949....
. Tourism and agriculture comprise its two main income-generating activities.
The kibbutz lies near the ruins of the Greco-Roman settlement of Hippos
Hippos
Hippos is an archaeological site in Israel, located on a hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Between the 3rd century BC and the 7th century AD, Hippos was the site of a Greco-Roman city. Besides the fortified city itself, Hippos controlled two port facilities on the lake and an area of the...
.
History
Kibbutz Ein Gev came into being on 6 July 1937 during the 1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine as a tower and stockadeTower and stockade
Tower and stockade was a settlement method used by Zionist settlers in the British Mandate of Palestine during the 1936–39 Arab revolt, when the establishment of new Jewish settlements was restricted by the Mandatory authorities...
settlement, a common debut for many kibbutzim during that era, and quickly established itself as a viable community. The original settlers were immigrants from Czechoslovakia, Germany, Austria, and the Baltic countries. Using intensive cultivation method, they developed banana plantations. They also fished the nearby Kinnereth River. In 1947, Ein Gev had a population of 450.
Situated along a border initially shared with Syria, Ein Gev was shelled during the Battles of the Kinarot Valley
Battles of the Kinarot Valley
The Battles of the Kinarot Valley , is a collective name for a series of military engagements between the Haganah and the Syrian army during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, fought between May 15–22, 1948 in the Kinarot Valley. It includes two main sites: the Battle of Degania–Tzemah, and battles near...
and in other engagements during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. These dangers were only eliminated when Israel succeeded in permanently displacing Syrian military forces from the neighboring Golan Heights in the 1967 Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
.
Today
The kibbutz today comprises about 250 members from a variety of cultural backgrounds. It has also been a favorite of international "volunteers" who sojourn on kibbutzim as temporary residents and field hands, immersing themselves in both the social and agricultural aspects of kibbutz life. Ein Gev remains very much a functioning agricultural enterprise.Notable residents
Notable past and present members of the Kibbutz include: Teddy KollekTeddy Kollek
Theodor "Teddy" Kollek was mayor of Jerusalem from 1965 to 1993, and founder of the Jerusalem Foundation. Kollek was re-elected five times, in 1969, 1973, 1978, 1983 and 1989...
, a founding member of Kibbutz Ein Gev who went on to become Jerusalem's mayor (1965–1993); Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
general and current Member of Parliament Efraim Fine; Zeev Shor, former chairman of the Jordan Valley Regional Council and current chairman of the United Kibbutz Movement; and Uzi Keren, advisor to the Prime Minister on rural affairs.