Hazorea
Encyclopedia
HaZore'a is a kibbutz
in northern Israel
. Located in the west of the Jezreel Valley
, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council
. In 2006 it had a population of 901.
to the north, the city of Yokneam to the north-west and the fields and fishponds of the Jezreel Valley to the east. Some of the kibbutz is built upon the hillsides of two neighboring hills, whereas the rest of it extends upon the plain that stretches beneath them. Between those hills and throughout the kibbutz runs Hashofet Stream, a seasonal creek nicknamed "the wadi
" or "the forer" in local lingo.
members from Germany
. The settlement itself was established two years later.
complex ("HaZore'a Aquatics" http://www.aquatics.co.il/), a quality control
centre ("Maba" http://www.mba.co.il/) and various field crops.
As many other kibbutzes, HaZore'a is undergoing a complex process of change from the model of "the traditional kibbutz", where everything is equally shared, to a more "modern" form of settlement. However, as there is much controversy within the kibbutz regarding its future characteristics, the subject of change remains a topic of ongoing public debate in the kibbutz.
Essentially, HaZore'a still operates as a socialistic society, providing uniform living conditions to kibbutz members. Nevertheless, several changes of individualistic nature have already taken place, such as privatizations of services like the dining room and the electricity utility. Another example is official recognition of certain "residency" statuses, which allow some populations to reside in the kibbutz without being part of the economic collective.
Another option, open to both Jews and non-Jews, is the volunteering
program, offering a less obligating frame for young people to experience kibbutz life. In addition, HaZore'a offers an ulpan
program for english speaking students to learn hebrew.
-born Wilfrid B. Israel
, who helped many Jews escape from the Nazis.
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...
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...
. Located in the west of the Jezreel Valley
Jezreel Valley
-Etymology:The Jezreel Valley takes its name from the ancient city of Jezreel which was located on a low hill overlooking the southern edge of the valley, though some scholars think that the name of the city originates from the name of the clan which founded it, and whose existence is mentioned in...
, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council
Megiddo Regional Council
The Megiddo Regional Council is a regional council in northern Israel encompassing land on the Menashe Plateau, and partly in the Jezreel Valley...
. In 2006 it had a population of 901.
Geography
HaZore'a is located on the western rim of the valley, surrounded by the HaZore'a Forest to the south and west of the kibbutz, Yokneam MoshavaYokneam Moshava
Yokneam Moshava is a rural settlement in northern Israel, on the outskirts of the city of Yokneam. Located to the southeast of Carmel City, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council. In 2007 it had a population of 1,100. The village was established in 1935 by immigrants from...
to the north, the city of Yokneam to the north-west and the fields and fishponds of the Jezreel Valley to the east. Some of the kibbutz is built upon the hillsides of two neighboring hills, whereas the rest of it extends upon the plain that stretches beneath them. Between those hills and throughout the kibbutz runs Hashofet Stream, a seasonal creek nicknamed "the wadi
Wadi
Wadi is the Arabic term traditionally referring to a valley. In some cases, it may refer to a dry riverbed that contains water only during times of heavy rain or simply an intermittent stream.-Variant names:...
" or "the forer" in local lingo.
History
As an organization, the kibbutz was founded in 1934 by Hashomer HatzairHashomer Hatzair
Hashomer Hatzair is a Socialist–Zionist youth movement founded in 1913 in Galicia, Austria-Hungary, and was also the name of the group's political party in the Yishuv in the pre-1948 British Mandate of Palestine...
members from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The settlement itself was established two years later.
Economy
HaZore'a's industries include a plastics factory ("Plastopil" http://www.plastopil.com/HTMLs/Home.aspx), a cowshed, an aquacultureAquaculture
Aquaculture, also known as aquafarming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants. Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions, and can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is the...
complex ("HaZore'a Aquatics" http://www.aquatics.co.il/), a quality control
Quality control
Quality control, or QC for short, is a process by which entities review the quality of all factors involved in production. This approach places an emphasis on three aspects:...
centre ("Maba" http://www.mba.co.il/) and various field crops.
As many other kibbutzes, HaZore'a is undergoing a complex process of change from the model of "the traditional kibbutz", where everything is equally shared, to a more "modern" form of settlement. However, as there is much controversy within the kibbutz regarding its future characteristics, the subject of change remains a topic of ongoing public debate in the kibbutz.
Essentially, HaZore'a still operates as a socialistic society, providing uniform living conditions to kibbutz members. Nevertheless, several changes of individualistic nature have already taken place, such as privatizations of services like the dining room and the electricity utility. Another example is official recognition of certain "residency" statuses, which allow some populations to reside in the kibbutz without being part of the economic collective.
Communal life
HaZore'a maintains a lively dining room facility, in which people regularly meet to dine together, and it is regarded as one of the most important foundations of the kibbutz community. The local auditorium is used for cultural and communal activities, such as celebrating Jewish holidays. The kibbutz issues a weekly paper titled "Ba'sha'ar" (English: "At the gate"), which serves as a medium for a variety of material concerning everyday life in the kibbutz.Administration
Like other kibbutzes, HaZore'a is a democratic society. At the head of the kibbutz stands the Secretariat which comprises two secretaries, in charge of all social matters in the community. A wider forum is the Community Council, which includes roughly 15 kibbutz members and meets once a week to discuss matters needing further attention. The final decisive authority of the kibbutz is the ballot, for which all members are eligible to vote.Education
HaZore'a is home to Plagim Elementary School (established 1991), where children from the kibbutz and five other settlements study 1st to 6th grade. The school belongs to Megiddo Regional Council, and is part of the Israeli state education system.Another option, open to both Jews and non-Jews, is the volunteering
Kibbutz volunteer
Kibbutz volunteers are mostly young people who come from all over the world to Israel for a period of time to take part in kibbutz life. These volunteers usually arrive in Israel for a short period of time on a volunteer visa, and participate in all of the activities in all the branches of the...
program, offering a less obligating frame for young people to experience kibbutz life. In addition, HaZore'a offers an ulpan
Ulpan
An ulpan is an institute or school for the intensive study of Hebrew. Ulpan is a Hebrew word meaning basically studio or teaching, instruction....
program for english speaking students to learn hebrew.
Culture
HaZore'a is home to the Wilfrid Israel Museum, designed by Al Mansfied, which is named in honor of BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
-born Wilfrid B. Israel
Wilfrid B. Israel
Wilfrid B. Israel was a German-born Jew who played an important role in the Kindertransport and the rescue of Jews in the Holocaust. He was killed when his plane was shot down by the Nazis. -Biography:...
, who helped many Jews escape from the Nazis.