Mizra
Encyclopedia
Mizra is a kibbutz
in northern Israel
. Located between Afula
and Nazareth
, it falls under the jurisdiction of Jezreel Valley Regional Council
. In 2006 it had a population of 689.
named Ruba al-Natzra during Hanukkah
in 1923 by the first immigrants of the Third Aliyah
. The following year the founders were joined by a group which had formed in Haifa
, and in the 1930s they were joined by Galician Hashomer Hatzair
members from Aliyah Bet. During the British Mandate of Palestine, Mizra hosted the Palmach
headquarters, until it was discovered by the Mandate authorities in Operation Agatha
of 1946. The kibbutz also has a museum portraying the history of the Yishuv
.
The name Mizra can be found on maps from the Middle Ages
, though its exact origin is unknown. There is one theory that it is derived from nearby Nahal Mizra, though some believe that is connected to Hovat Mizra, an ancient farm in the area.
. For the Israeli religious public, it was a symbol of impurity and a violation of the state's Jewish character
. During the aftermath of "the dirty trick
" affair of 1990, an Agudat Yisrael MK said of a Mizra member that he "not only sold pig, he acted like one". The Aliyah from the Commonwealth of Independent States in the 1990s
brought Mizra competitors, and it eventually sold 75 percent of the plant to Tiv Ta'am
, an Israeli supermarket chain that sells pork.
In 2007, Maadaney Mizra was threatened as Russia
n-Israeli billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak
announced his plan to purchase Tiv Ta'am and turn it kosher, saying he would make Mizra supply chicken instead of pork. However, the deal fell through a few months later, when Gaydamak discovered a contract between Tiv Ta'am and Mizra, that prevented the chain from changing Mizra's character.
Today, in addition to the meat processing plant, Mizra employs a hydraulic machinery factory, and a factory for injecting metal powder. It also has a hotel and a room letting branch, for students of the nearby Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel
. In addition, the kibbutz also operates a center for alternative medicine
, including Reiki
, reflexology
and Shiatsu
.
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 between Afula
Afula
Afula is a city in the North District of Israel, often known as the "Capital of the Valley", referring to the Jezreel Valley. The city had a population of 40,500 at the end of 2009.-History:...
and Nazareth
Nazareth
Nazareth is the largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...
, it falls under the jurisdiction of Jezreel Valley Regional Council
Jezreel Valley Regional Council
Jezreel Valley Regional Council is a regional council in northern Israel that encompasses most of the settlements in the Jezreel Valley. It includes 15 kibbutzim, 15 moshavim, 6 communal settlements and two Bedouin villages...
. In 2006 it had a population of 689.
History
The kibbutz was established on a tellTell
A tell or tel, is a type of archaeological mound created by human occupation and abandonment of a geographical site over many centuries. A classic tell looks like a low, truncated cone with a flat top and sloping sides.-Archaeology:A tell is a hill created by different civilizations living and...
named Ruba al-Natzra during Hanukkah
Hanukkah
Hanukkah , also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE...
in 1923 by the first immigrants of the Third Aliyah
Third Aliyah
The third Aliyah refers to the third wave of the Jewish immigration to Israel from Europe who came inspired by Zionist motives between the years 1919 and 1923 . A symbol of the start of the third immigration wave is the arrival of the boat "Roselan" in the Jaffa Port on December 19, 1919...
. The following year the founders were joined by a group which had formed in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, and in the 1930s they were joined by Galician Hashomer Hatzair
Hashomer 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 Aliyah Bet. During the British Mandate of Palestine, Mizra hosted the Palmach
Palmach
The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Palmach was established on May 15, 1941...
headquarters, until it was discovered by the Mandate authorities in Operation Agatha
Operation Agatha
Operation Agatha sometimes called Black Shabbat or Black Saturday because it began on the Jewish sabbath, was a police and military operation conducted by the British authorities in the British Mandate of Palestine...
of 1946. The kibbutz also has a museum portraying the history of the Yishuv
Yishuv
The Yishuv or Ha-Yishuv is the term referring to the body of Jewish residents in Palestine before the establishment of the State of Israel...
.
The name Mizra can be found on maps from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, though its exact origin is unknown. There is one theory that it is derived from nearby Nahal Mizra, though some believe that is connected to Hovat Mizra, an ancient farm in the area.
Economy
Mizra is known in Israel for its meat processing plant and its store, Maadaney Mizra (Mizra delicatessen), which for many years was Israel's only provider of non-kosher meat, most notably porkPork
Pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig , which is eaten in many countries. It is one of the most commonly consumed meats worldwide, with evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BC....
. For the Israeli religious public, it was a symbol of impurity and a violation of the state's Jewish character
Religion in Israel
Religion in Israel is a central feature of the country and plays a major role in shaping Israeli culture and lifestyle, and religion has played a central role in Israel's history. Israel is also the only country in the world where a majority of citizens are Jewish...
. During the aftermath of "the dirty trick
The dirty trick (Israel)
The dirty trick refers to a political scandal that erupted in Israel in 1990. It consisted of an attempt by Shimon Peres to form a narrow government made up of the left-wing factions and the ultra-orthodox parties...
" affair of 1990, an Agudat Yisrael MK said of a Mizra member that he "not only sold pig, he acted like one". The Aliyah from the Commonwealth of Independent States in the 1990s
Aliyah from the Commonwealth of Independent States in the 1990s
Russian Jewish immigration to Israel began en masse in the 1990s when the liberal government of Mikhail Gorbachev opened the borders of the USSR and allowed Jews to leave the country for Israel.-History:...
brought Mizra competitors, and it eventually sold 75 percent of the plant to Tiv Ta'am
Tiv Ta'am
Tiv Ta'am is an Israeli supermarket chain. There are 32 Tiv Ta'am supermarkets throughout Israel, in addition, the company is involved in food processing and production, and telecommunications. The chain is notable for being Israel's largest store selling pork and other non-kosher products, and...
, an Israeli supermarket chain that sells pork.
In 2007, Maadaney Mizra was threatened as Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n-Israeli billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak
Arcadi Gaydamak
Arcadi Aleksandrovich Gaydamak, is a Russian-Israeli businessman, who was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honour. On April 29, 2011 the Court of Appeal in Paris acquitted him of charges of arms dealing...
announced his plan to purchase Tiv Ta'am and turn it kosher, saying he would make Mizra supply chicken instead of pork. However, the deal fell through a few months later, when Gaydamak discovered a contract between Tiv Ta'am and Mizra, that prevented the chain from changing Mizra's character.
Today, in addition to the meat processing plant, Mizra employs a hydraulic machinery factory, and a factory for injecting metal powder. It also has a hotel and a room letting branch, for students of the nearby Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel
Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel
Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel is a college located in the Jezreel Valley of Israel, between the cities Afula and Nazareth, and next to Kfar Gid'on, Tel Adashim and Mizra....
. In addition, the kibbutz also operates a center for alternative medicine
Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence....
, including Reiki
Reiki
is a spiritual practice developed in 1922 by Japanese Buddhist Mikao Usui. The teaching was continued and adapted by various teachers. It uses a technique commonly called palm healing as a form of complementary and alternative medicine and is sometimes classified as oriental medicine by some...
, reflexology
Reflexology
Reflexology, or zone therapy, is an alternative medicine involving the physical act of applying pressure to the feet, hands, or ears with specific thumb, finger, and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion...
and Shiatsu
Shiatsu
Shiatsu is Japanese for "finger pressure;" it is a type of alternative medicine consisting of finger and palm pressure, stretches, and other massage techniques. There is no scientific evidence proving that shiatsu can treat any disease, but shiatsu practitioners promote it as a way to help people...
.
Notable residents
- Ohad NaharinOhad NaharinOhad Naharin is an Israeli contemporary dancer, choreographer and dance company artistic director.-Biography:...
(born 1952), contemporary dancer, choreographer, artistic director, and musician