Megiddo Regional Council
Encyclopedia
The Megiddo Regional Council is a regional council
in northern Israel
encompassing land on the Menashe Plateau, and partly in the Jezreel Valley
. The council is bounded by the city of Yokneam Illit
to the north, and the Carmel mountain range to the east, and houses about 9600 people on nine kibbutz
im, and four moshav
im located in its municipal territory.
The council is named after the ancient city of Megiddo, with the remains of this ancient city being located in the proximity of kibbutz Megiddo
, in the territory of the council. The Head of the Regional Council is Hanan Erez, a member of kibbutz Hazorea
who was elected to office in 2004.
.
At the time of its establishment, the council included only 3,000 inhabitants from five settlements. It was originally named "Harei Efrayim" (lit. Efrayim Hills), changing its name to "Megiddo" in 1952, although this change was only officially approved by the state in 1954.
The oldest settlement in the council is kibbutz
Mishmar HaEmek
, established in 1926, whilst the youngest settlement is moshav
Midrakh Oz
, established in 1952.
The official emblem
of the regional council was designed in 1952 by Leo Platau from Hazorea
. It depicts the hills of the region, an ear of wheat, and a lion. The ear of wheat represents the rural and agricultural nature of the council territory. The image of the lion was inspired by a seal, discovered in the ancient city of Megiddo.
. There are three primary schools: Hatikva in Eliakim
, Omarim in Yad Labanim Regional Center, and Plagim in HaZorea
. Some students from the settlements in the Megiddo Regional Council attend schools located outside of the council's territory.
The Megiddo Community College is an institution for adult education
and extracurricular activities, sponsored by the Israeli Ministry of Education. The college offers a variety of classes for both children and adults, including languages, computer skills, art, dance, music, history, Judaism, world religions, and martial arts. The college also organizes educational field trips for adults.
The Megiddo Dance School works to nurture the art of dance in the settlements of the Megiddo Regional Council. The school offers dance classes in the schools of the area, and works to involve dance in the lives of disabled
students.
The Megiddo Music School offers practical and theoretical music classes to students in the schools of the regional council, including classical music
, modern music, theory of music, and voice lessons.
as a biosphere reserve
.
Regional council (Israel)
Regional councils are one of the three types of local government entities found in Israel, with the other two being cities and local councils. As of 2003, there were 53 regional councils in Israel, usually responsible for governing a number of settlements spread across rural areas...
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...
encompassing land on the Menashe Plateau, and partly in 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...
. The council is bounded by the city of Yokneam Illit
Yokneam Illit
Yokneam Illit , also Yoqne'am Illit and Jokneam Illit is a city southeast of Haifa in northern Israel. It is located in a hilly region of the lower Galilee, bordered by Highway 70 and Mount Carmel. Yokneam Illit is at the base of the Carmel Mountains and overlooks the Jezreel Valley, from Haifa...
to the north, and the Carmel mountain range to the east, and houses about 9600 people on nine kibbutz
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...
im, and four moshav
Moshav
Moshav is a type of Israeli town or settlement, in particular a type of cooperative agricultural community of individual farms pioneered by the Labour Zionists during the second aliyah...
im located in its municipal territory.
The council is named after the ancient city of Megiddo, with the remains of this ancient city being located in the proximity of kibbutz Megiddo
Megiddo (kibbutz)
Megiddo is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located in the Jezreel Valley, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 356....
, in the territory of the council. The Head of the Regional Council is Hanan Erez, a member of kibbutz Hazorea
Hazorea
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...
who was elected to office in 2004.
History
Megiddo Regional Council is one of the oldest regional councils in Israel, being established in 1945, three years before the establishment of the State of Israel. Before 1945, the territory of the council was part of Gush Nahalal, a municipal entity of the British Mandate. The first Head of the Megiddo Regional Council was Avraham Fine from Ein HaShofetEin Hashofet
Ein HaShofet is a kibbutz in northern Israel in the Hills of Ephraim. Located in the Ramat Menashe region around 30 km from the city of Haifa, close to Yokneam, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council. In 2008 it had a population of 759....
.
At the time of its establishment, the council included only 3,000 inhabitants from five settlements. It was originally named "Harei Efrayim" (lit. Efrayim Hills), changing its name to "Megiddo" in 1952, although this change was only officially approved by the state in 1954.
The oldest settlement in the council is kibbutz
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...
Mishmar HaEmek
Mishmar HaEmek
Mishmar HaEmek is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located in the western Jezreel Valley, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 964....
, established in 1926, whilst the youngest settlement is moshav
Moshav
Moshav is a type of Israeli town or settlement, in particular a type of cooperative agricultural community of individual farms pioneered by the Labour Zionists during the second aliyah...
Midrakh Oz
Midrakh Oz
Midrakh Oz is a moshav in northern Israel. Located in the Jezreel Valley, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 447....
, established in 1952.
The official emblem
Emblem
An emblem is a pictorial image, abstract or representational, that epitomizes a concept — e.g., a moral truth, or an allegory — or that represents a person, such as a king or saint.-Distinction: emblem and symbol:...
of the regional council was designed in 1952 by Leo Platau from Hazorea
Hazorea
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...
. It depicts the hills of the region, an ear of wheat, and a lion. The ear of wheat represents the rural and agricultural nature of the council territory. The image of the lion was inspired by a seal, discovered in the ancient city of Megiddo.
Culture and education
There is one high school located in the regional council, Megiddo Regional High School, located in kibbutz Ein HaShofetEin Hashofet
Ein HaShofet is a kibbutz in northern Israel in the Hills of Ephraim. Located in the Ramat Menashe region around 30 km from the city of Haifa, close to Yokneam, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council. In 2008 it had a population of 759....
. There are three primary schools: Hatikva in Eliakim
Eliakim
Eliakim , son of Hilkiah, succeeded Shebna to become finance minister for King Hezekiah.-Old Testament mentions of Eliakim:* Isaiah 22:20* Isaiah 36:3* Isaiah 36:11* Isaiah 36:22* Isaiah 37:2* 2 Kings 18:18* 2 Kings 18:26* 2 Kings 18:37* 2 Kings 19:2...
, Omarim in Yad Labanim Regional Center, and Plagim in HaZorea
Hazorea
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...
. Some students from the settlements in the Megiddo Regional Council attend schools located outside of the council's territory.
The Megiddo Community College is an institution for adult education
Adult education
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
and extracurricular activities, sponsored by the Israeli Ministry of Education. The college offers a variety of classes for both children and adults, including languages, computer skills, art, dance, music, history, Judaism, world religions, and martial arts. The college also organizes educational field trips for adults.
The Megiddo Dance School works to nurture the art of dance in the settlements of the Megiddo Regional Council. The school offers dance classes in the schools of the area, and works to involve dance in the lives of disabled
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
students.
The Megiddo Music School offers practical and theoretical music classes to students in the schools of the regional council, including classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, modern music, theory of music, and voice lessons.
Ramot Menashe Biosphere Reserve
84 million square meters of the 170 million of the Megiddo Regional Council constitute a nature reserve, including forested areas, various water sources, volcanic hills and archaeological sites. The park is currently in the process of becoming recognized by UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
as a biosphere reserve
Biosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
.
Kibbutzim
- DaliaDalia (kibbutz)Dalia is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located in the Galilee about 30 km southeast of Haifa, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 737.-The temporary settlement :...
- Ein HaShofetEin HashofetEin HaShofet is a kibbutz in northern Israel in the Hills of Ephraim. Located in the Ramat Menashe region around 30 km from the city of Haifa, close to Yokneam, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council. In 2008 it had a population of 759....
- Gal'edGal'edGal'ed is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located in the Plain of Manasseh with an area of 14,500 dunams, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 405....
- Givat OzGivat OzGivat Oz is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located between Umm al-Fahm and Afula, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 359....
- HazoreaHazoreaHaZore'a is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located in the west of the Jezreel Valley, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council...
- MegiddoMegiddo (kibbutz)Megiddo is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located in the Jezreel Valley, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 356....
- Mishmar HaEmekMishmar HaEmekMishmar HaEmek is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located in the western Jezreel Valley, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 964....
- Ramat HaShofetRamat HaShofetRamat HaShofet is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located in the Menashe Heights, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 578....
- Ramot MenasheRamot MenasheRamot Menashe is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located on the Menashe plateau between the Carmel mountain range and the Jezreel Valley, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 468...
Other villages
- Ein HaEmekEin HaEmekEin HaEmek is a communal settlement in northern Israel. Located near Yokneam, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 670....
(communal settlement) - EliakimEliakimEliakim , son of Hilkiah, succeeded Shebna to become finance minister for King Hezekiah.-Old Testament mentions of Eliakim:* Isaiah 22:20* Isaiah 36:3* Isaiah 36:11* Isaiah 36:22* Isaiah 37:2* 2 Kings 18:18* 2 Kings 18:26* 2 Kings 18:37* 2 Kings 19:2...
(communal settlement) - Midrakh OzMidrakh OzMidrakh Oz is a moshav in northern Israel. Located in the Jezreel Valley, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 447....
(moshav) - Yokneam MoshavaYokneam MoshavaYokneam 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...
(moshava)