Alma, Israel

Alma
עַלְמָה‬
Alma, 2012
Alma
Coordinates: 33°3′4.32″N 35°29′59.63″E / 33.0512000°N 35.4998972°E / 33.0512000; 35.4998972Coordinates: 33°3′4.32″N 35°29′59.63″E / 33.0512000°N 35.4998972°E / 33.0512000; 35.4998972
Council Merom HaGalil
Affiliation Hapoel HaMizrahi
Founded 1 September 1949
Founded by Libyan Jews
Population (2017)[1] 698

Alma (Hebrew: עַלְמָה‬) is a religious Jewish moshav in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Merom HaGalil Regional Council. In 2017 it had a population of 698.[1] It is built on the basaltic plateau north of Safed.

History

Under the Judaea Province, a Jewish town was situated at this spot. The name Alma is first mentioned in the crusader era. The Jewish community existed until the 17th century.[2] Benjamin of Tudela said that during his visit, he found 50 Jewish families living in Alma.[3]

Modern Alma was founded on 1 September 1949 by immigrants to Israel from Libya. In 1953 a group of converts to Judaism, known as the Jews of San Nicandro, arrived from Italy. They later abandoned Alma to live in other nearby moshavim. After the Italians left, Cochin Jews arrived from India.[2] By 1968, Alma's inhabitants were mostly from Libya and Tunisia. The economy is based on hillculture (vineyards, deciduous fruit, vegetables) and beef cattle. Alma, in its early years of development, was associated with Ha-Po'el ha-Mizrachi.

Archaeology

Near the moshav's cemetery lie the remnants of what has been identified as a synagogue, perhaps dating to the 3rd century, though it has never been systematically excavated or properly researched. Also nearby are several tombs, including that of Eleazar ben Arach, and one which is traditionally recognized as Eliezer ben Hurcanus' tomb.[2]

The nearby site of Arab village of Alma, whose land Alma stands on, was destroyed in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.[2]

Geography

Alma is located about 600 m above sea level, in an area called Alma Heights, bordered by the Dishon Stream. The Dishon Stream Nature Reserve is located next to the village, as well as the Circassian village Rehaniya.

References

  1. 1 2 "List of localities, in Alphabetical order" (PDF). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Mapa's concise gazetteer of Israel (in Hebrew). Yuval El'azari (ed.). Tel Aviv: Mapa Publishing. 2005. p. 424. ISBN 965-7184-34-7.
  3. ↑ HaReuveni, Immanuel (1999). Lexicon of the Land of Israel (in Hebrew). Miskal - Yedioth Ahronoth Books and Chemed Books. p. 763. ISBN 965-448-413-7.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.