Na'an
Encyclopedia
Na'an is a kibbutz
near the city of Rehovot
in Israel
. Located within the Central District
, it falls under the jurisdiction of Gezer Regional Council
and borders the villages of Ganei Hadar
, Ramot Meir
and Sitria
.
The kibbutz was founded in September 1930 by 42 members of the Noar HaOved
youth group, on lands purchased from the Arab village of Al-Na'ani
.
Before the establishment of the state of Israel, the people of Na'an were active in both the British Jewish Brigade
(two members of the kibbutz died in service during WWII) and the Haganah
. Prominent Haganah leader and later Israeli parliament member Yisrael Galili
was a member of the kibbutz and a large Haganah weapon cache was hidden in a hidden cellar under one of the kibbutz houses. That cache was the largest cache not caught by the British Mandatory forces during Operation Agatha
and kibbutz elders claim that Yisrael Galili (who evaded capture by the British) was spirited out of the kibbutz in the guise of a pregnant woman set to give birth.
In 1948, Na'an became the newly formed IDF's headquarters for the operation to free Jerusalem and the elders of the then-Arab city Ramla
signed the formal surrender of the city on the kibbutz grounds.
Over the years, Na'an's economy flourished. At first Na'an sustained itself mainly through agriculture, growing fruits and vegetables and boasting a successful large dairy farm and sheep farm. As time progressed, Na'an went into irrigation
field, as irrigation equipment has been high in demand in arid Israel. What began as a workshop has flourished and by the late 70s was one of the most successful factories in the Kibbutz Movement, producing sprinkler
s, micro-irrigation and other related equipment. Na'an Irrigation Systems is renowned for developing the underground sprinkler system. By the mid 1980s, growing competition and decrease in demand forced the factory into a considerable slowdown. After roughly 20 years of struggles, Na'an Irrigation Systems merged with Indian conglomerate Jain Irrigation in 2007 and the new merged company aims to become the largest irrigation manufacturer in the world.
During the 1980s, with the deterioration of economy and with the passing of the old guard, the Kibbutz began turning away from the idealistic socialist society it once was. over the course of 20 years, Kibbutz institutions were privatized and salaries replaced equal budgeting. The impact of the changes is yet to be determined.
There are currently about 1300 people living in the kibbutz. Income is based on salaries paid directly to members of the kibbutz and gains from joint assets such as the irrigation factory are given as dividends (as the members of the kibbutz are considered stock owners despite not actually possessing stocks of the company). The kibbutz bases its own budget on community taxes paid by the members and it had become, for the most part, capitalistic in nature.
Na'an is also known for being the namesake for an important nearby railway junction, between the Coastal railway and the Railway to Beersheba
.
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...
near the city of Rehovot
Rehovot
Rehovot is a city in the Center District of Israel, about south of Tel Aviv. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , at the end of 2009 the city had a total population of 112,700. Rehovot's official website estimates the population at 114,000.Rehovot was built on the site of Doron,...
in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Located within the Central District
Center District (Israel)
The Central District of Israel is one of six administrative districts, including most of the Sharon region. The district capital is Ramla. It is further divided into 4 sub-districts: Petah Tikva, Ramla, Sharon and Rehovot. The district's largest city is Rishon LeZion. Its population as of 2008 was...
, it falls under the jurisdiction of Gezer Regional Council
Gezer Regional Council
Gezer Regional Council is a regional council in the Center District of Israel. Established in 1949, it had a population of 20,700 in 2006.-List of settlements:The council covers five kibbutzim, 15 moshavim and five communal settlementsKibbutzim...
and borders the villages of Ganei Hadar
Ganei Hadar
Ganei Hadar is a communal settlement in central Israel. Located in the Shephelah near Rehovot, it falls under the jurisdiction of Gezer Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 286....
, Ramot Meir
Ramot Meir
Ramot Meir is a small moshav in central Israel. Located in the Shephelah around four kilometres south of Rehovot, it falls under the jurisdiction of Gezer Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 555....
and Sitria
Sitria
Sitria is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the Shephelah near Rehovot, it falls under the jurisdiction of Gezer Regional Council. In 2007 it had a population of 999....
.
The kibbutz was founded in September 1930 by 42 members of the Noar HaOved
Hanoar Haoved Vehalomed
Histadrut HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed , sometimes abbreiviated to No'al is an Israeli youth movement, a sister movement of Habonim Dror, the Labor Zionist movement....
youth group, on lands purchased from the Arab village of Al-Na'ani
Al-Na'ani
Al-Na'ani was a Palestinian Arab village in the District of Ramle. It was depopulated during the 1948 War on May 14, 1948 by the Givati Brigade of Operation Barak. It was located 6 km south of Ramle....
.
Before the establishment of the state of Israel, the people of Na'an were active in both the British Jewish Brigade
Jewish Brigade
The Jewish Infantry Brigade Group was a military formation of the British Army that served in Europe during the Second World War. The brigade was formed in late 1944, and its personnel fought the Germans in Italy...
(two members of the kibbutz died in service during WWII) and the Haganah
Haganah
Haganah was a Jewish paramilitary organization in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948, which later became the core of the Israel Defense Forces.- Origins :...
. Prominent Haganah leader and later Israeli parliament member Yisrael Galili
Yisrael Galili
Yisrael Galili was an Israeli politician, government minister and member of Knesset. Before Israel's independence in 1948, he had served as Chief of Staff of the Haganah.-Biography:...
was a member of the kibbutz and a large Haganah weapon cache was hidden in a hidden cellar under one of the kibbutz houses. That cache was the largest cache not caught by the British Mandatory forces during 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...
and kibbutz elders claim that Yisrael Galili (who evaded capture by the British) was spirited out of the kibbutz in the guise of a pregnant woman set to give birth.
In 1948, Na'an became the newly formed IDF's headquarters for the operation to free Jerusalem and the elders of the then-Arab city Ramla
Ramla
Ramla , is a city in central Israel. The city is predominantly Jewish with a significant Arab minority. Ramla was founded circa 705–715 AD by the Umayyad Caliph Suleiman ibn Abed al-Malik after the Arab conquest of the region...
signed the formal surrender of the city on the kibbutz grounds.
Over the years, Na'an's economy flourished. At first Na'an sustained itself mainly through agriculture, growing fruits and vegetables and boasting a successful large dairy farm and sheep farm. As time progressed, Na'an went into irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
field, as irrigation equipment has been high in demand in arid Israel. What began as a workshop has flourished and by the late 70s was one of the most successful factories in the Kibbutz Movement, producing sprinkler
Irrigation sprinkler
Irrigation sprinklers are sprinklers used on farms, golf courses, and yards, to provide water to vegetation and plants in the event of drought. They may also be used for recreation, as a cooling system, or to keep down the amount of airborne dust....
s, micro-irrigation and other related equipment. Na'an Irrigation Systems is renowned for developing the underground sprinkler system. By the mid 1980s, growing competition and decrease in demand forced the factory into a considerable slowdown. After roughly 20 years of struggles, Na'an Irrigation Systems merged with Indian conglomerate Jain Irrigation in 2007 and the new merged company aims to become the largest irrigation manufacturer in the world.
During the 1980s, with the deterioration of economy and with the passing of the old guard, the Kibbutz began turning away from the idealistic socialist society it once was. over the course of 20 years, Kibbutz institutions were privatized and salaries replaced equal budgeting. The impact of the changes is yet to be determined.
There are currently about 1300 people living in the kibbutz. Income is based on salaries paid directly to members of the kibbutz and gains from joint assets such as the irrigation factory are given as dividends (as the members of the kibbutz are considered stock owners despite not actually possessing stocks of the company). The kibbutz bases its own budget on community taxes paid by the members and it had become, for the most part, capitalistic in nature.
Na'an is also known for being the namesake for an important nearby railway junction, between the Coastal railway and the Railway to Beersheba
Railway to Beersheba
The Railway to Beersheba is the common name for the railroad which currently stretches from central Israel to the Zin Factories in southern Israel, with spurs to the Be'er Sheva Center Railway Station, Ramat Hovav and the Arad phosphate mines and factories in Tzefa...
.