Peki'in
Encyclopedia
Peki'in or Buqei'a , is a locality, local council
in the Northern District
of Israel
located eight kilometres east of Ma'alot-Tarshiha
in the Upper Galilee
. The local council in the predominantly Druze
village was established in 1958 and has a population of over 5,200 people (2008 estimate).
There is a tradition that Peki'in is the location that Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai used to hide from the Romans. According to the Talmud, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son, Rabbi Elazar ben Shimon
, hid in a cave from the Romans for 13 years after the collapse of the Bar Kochba rebellion against Roman rule. According to story, Rabbi Shimon and his son lived off spring water and the fruit of a miraculous carob tree
during their years of hiding, and passed the time by studying torah. There is a tradition that during this time Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai wrote the Zohar
, an important book in the Jewish mysticism.
period. Near the village, there are significant sites for Druze and Jews, including a restored Jewish synagogue
dating back to the Roman Period. The oldest Druze school in the region was established in Peki'in by the Russia
n church at the end of the 19th century.
was established as a Jewish community in 1955, very close to Old Peki'in.
Peki'in was one of settlements hit by Katyusha rocket
s sent by Hezbollah on July 14, 2006 during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
. On July 28, 2006 five Katyushas struck Peki'in and one directly hit a home next the yard where a family was preparing for an afternoon wedding. Ten people were lightly wounded and treated for shock.
Up until recently Peki'in had a small Jewish population of approximately 9 families, which lived in close proximity to the ancient Peki'in Synagogue
. However, according to residents of Peki'in, during recent years these Jewish families had suffered abuse from Arab gangs, such as theft and destruction of property and vehicles, and three grenade attacks in the past year.. Following riots in October 2007 in which the houses of the Jewish families living in the village were burned down, most of the families left the village. On December 3, 2007 it was reported that most of the last Jewish family had left Peki'in after their car was torched by locals.
Local council (Israel)
Local councils are one of the three types of local government found in Israel, with the other two being cities and regional councils. As of 2003, there were 144 local councils in Israel, these being settlements which pass a minimum threshold enough to justify their operations as independent...
in the Northern District
North District (Israel)
The Northern District is one of Israel's six administrative districts. The Northern District has a land area of 4,478 km², which increases to 4,638 km² when both land and water are included...
of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
located eight kilometres east of Ma'alot-Tarshiha
Ma'alot-Tarshiha
Ma'alot-Tarshiha is a mixed city in the North District in Israel, some 20 km east of Nahariya, about 600 meter above sea level. The city was established in 1963 through a municipal merger of the Arab town of Tarshiha and the Jewish town of Ma'alot...
in the Upper Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
. The local council in the predominantly Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
village was established in 1958 and has a population of over 5,200 people (2008 estimate).
Classic antiquity
Eleazar b. Simeon
Eleazar b. Simeon was a Jewish Tanna sage of the fifth generation, contemporary of R. Judah haNasi. He is also the son of R. Shimon bar Yochai...
, hid in a cave from the Romans for 13 years after the collapse of the Bar Kochba rebellion against Roman rule. According to story, Rabbi Shimon and his son lived off spring water and the fruit of a miraculous carob tree
Carob tree
Ceratonia siliqua, commonly known as the Carob tree and St John's-bread, is a species of flowering evergreen shrub or tree in the pea family, Fabaceae...
during their years of hiding, and passed the time by studying torah. There is a tradition that during this time Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai wrote the Zohar
Zohar
The Zohar is the foundational work in the literature of Jewish mystical thought known as Kabbalah. It is a group of books including commentary on the mystical aspects of the Torah and scriptural interpretations as well as material on Mysticism, mythical cosmogony, and mystical psychology...
, an important book in the Jewish mysticism.
Middle ages
Peki'in is notable in Jewish history because it is an where Druze and Jews lived peacefully together for hundreds of years. Peki'in is frequently mentioned in historical sources, specifically in reference to its small Jewish community that has existed there almost continuously since the Second TempleSecond Temple
The Jewish Second Temple was an important shrine which stood on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem between 516 BCE and 70 CE. It replaced the First Temple which was destroyed in 586 BCE, when the Jewish nation was exiled to Babylon...
period. Near the village, there are significant sites for Druze and Jews, including a restored Jewish synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
dating back to the Roman Period. The oldest Druze school in the region was established in Peki'in by the 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 church at the end of the 19th century.
British Mandate
In 1936, Arab riots forced the Jews of Peki'in to leave their homes for safer parts of the country; only a few of them later returned.The State of Israel
Peki'in HaHadashaPeki'in HaHadasha
Peki'in HaHadasha is an moshav in northern Israel. Located near Peki'in, it falls under the jurisdiction of Ma'ale Yosef Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 355....
was established as a Jewish community in 1955, very close to Old Peki'in.
Peki'in was one of settlements hit by Katyusha rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
s sent by Hezbollah on July 14, 2006 during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
The 2006 Lebanon War, also called the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War and known in Lebanon as the July War #Other uses|Tammūz]]) and in Israel as the Second Lebanon War , was a 34-day military conflict in Lebanon, northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied territories. The principal parties were Hezbollah...
. On July 28, 2006 five Katyushas struck Peki'in and one directly hit a home next the yard where a family was preparing for an afternoon wedding. Ten people were lightly wounded and treated for shock.
Demographics
Today, Peki'in is a majorly Druze locality.Up until recently Peki'in had a small Jewish population of approximately 9 families, which lived in close proximity to the ancient Peki'in Synagogue
Peki'in Synagogue
The Peki’in Synagogue, located in the centre of Peki'in, Northern Israel, is said to have built into its walls two stones taken from the walls of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem...
. However, according to residents of Peki'in, during recent years these Jewish families had suffered abuse from Arab gangs, such as theft and destruction of property and vehicles, and three grenade attacks in the past year.. Following riots in October 2007 in which the houses of the Jewish families living in the village were burned down, most of the families left the village. On December 3, 2007 it was reported that most of the last Jewish family had left Peki'in after their car was torched by locals.