Tirat Zvi
Encyclopedia
Tirat Zvi is a religious
kibbutz
in the Beit She'an Valley, ten kilometers south of the city of Beit She'an, Israel
, just west of the Jordan River and the Israel-Jordan
border. It falls under the jurisdiction of Valley of Springs Regional Council. In 2006, the kibbutz had a population of 654.
. On June 22, 1942, it recorded the highest daytime temperature in Asia (53,7ºC; 128,7ºF).
settlement enterprise. The founders were Jews from Poland
, Romania
and Germany
. The pioneers hailed from two groups: Kvutzat Shahal and Kvutzat Rudges. The kibbutz is named after Rabbi
Zvi Hirsch Kalischer
, one of the fathers of the Zionist Movement
and a leader of Hovevei Zion
. The "tira" refers to a two-storey mud-brick structure purchased from the Arab landowner, Musa al-Almi.
The kibbutz was attacked on February, 28, 1938 by an armed Arab
mob during the Arab revolt. The attack was repelled with many casualties on both sides.
On June 21, 1942, the highest temperature ever recorded on the Asian continent was observed at Tirat Zvi. The temperature was 53.9°C .
On February 20, 1948, before the neighboring Arab nations officially joined the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
, a battalion of the Arab Liberation Army
led by Muhammed Safa attacked Tirat Zvi. The Arabs were repelled, after 60 of the attackers were killed. One kibbutz member Naftali Fridlander Z"L was killed in the fighting.
, Tiv, which sells its products locally and abroad. Tirat Zvi is the largest date grower in Israel, with 18,000 trees.The kibbutz also has a lulav
business. Working with scientists from the Volcani Institute
, Tirat Zvi developed a method of preserving the palm fronds for several months, allowing them to be harvested in the spring and sold in the fall, for use on the holiday of Sukkot
. In 2009, it produced 70,000 lulavs.
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
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...
in the Beit She'an Valley, ten kilometers south of the city of Beit She'an, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, just west of the Jordan River and the Israel-Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
border. It falls under the jurisdiction of Valley of Springs Regional Council. In 2006, the kibbutz had a population of 654.
Geography
Tirat Zvi sits 220 meters below sea levelSea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. On June 22, 1942, it recorded the highest daytime temperature in Asia (53,7ºC; 128,7ºF).
History
The kibbutz was founded on June 30, 1937 as part of the tower and stockadeTower and stockade
Tower and stockade was a settlement method used by Zionist settlers in the British Mandate of Palestine during the 1936–39 Arab revolt, when the establishment of new Jewish settlements was restricted by the Mandatory authorities...
settlement enterprise. The founders were Jews from Poland
History of the Jews in Poland
The history of the Jews in Poland dates back over a millennium. For centuries, Poland was home to the largest and most significant Jewish community in the world. Poland was the centre of Jewish culture thanks to a long period of statutory religious tolerance and social autonomy. This ended with the...
, Romania
History of the Jews in Romania
The history of Jews in Romania concerns the Jews of Romania and of Romanian origins, from their first mention on what is nowadays Romanian territory....
and Germany
History of the Jews in Germany
The presence of Jews in Germany has been established since the early 4th century. The community prospered under Charlemagne, but suffered during the Crusades...
. The pioneers hailed from two groups: Kvutzat Shahal and Kvutzat Rudges. The kibbutz is named after Rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
Zvi Hirsch Kalischer
Zvi Hirsch Kalischer
Zvi Hirsch Kalischer was an Orthodox German rabbi and one of Zionism's early pioneers in Germany.-Life:...
, one of the fathers of the Zionist Movement
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
and a leader of Hovevei Zion
Hovevei Zion
Hovevei Zion , also known as Hibbat Zion , refers to organizations that are now considered the forerunners and foundation-builders of modern Zionism....
. The "tira" refers to a two-storey mud-brick structure purchased from the Arab landowner, Musa al-Almi.
The kibbutz was attacked on February, 28, 1938 by an armed Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
mob during the Arab revolt. The attack was repelled with many casualties on both sides.
On June 21, 1942, the highest temperature ever recorded on the Asian continent was observed at Tirat Zvi. The temperature was 53.9°C .
On February 20, 1948, before the neighboring Arab nations officially joined the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
, a battalion of the Arab Liberation Army
Arab Liberation Army
The Arab Liberation Army , also translated as Arab Salvation Army, was an army of volunteers from Arab countries led by Fawzi al-Qawuqji...
led by Muhammed Safa attacked Tirat Zvi. The Arabs were repelled, after 60 of the attackers were killed. One kibbutz member Naftali Fridlander Z"L was killed in the fighting.
Economy
The kibbutz operates a meat processing factoryMeat packing industry
The meat packing industry handles the slaughtering, processing, packaging, and distribution of animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and other livestock...
, Tiv, which sells its products locally and abroad. Tirat Zvi is the largest date grower in Israel, with 18,000 trees.The kibbutz also has a lulav
Lulav
The Lulav is a closed frond of the date palm tree. It is one of the arba'ah minim used in the morning prayer services during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot...
business. Working with scientists from the Volcani Institute
Volcani Institute of Agricultural Research
The Volcani Institute of Agricultural Research is an agricultural research center in Beit Dagan, Israel.The Volcani Institute is named for its founder and director for 30 years, Yitzhak Elazari Volcani. It was the first agricultural research institution in Palestine. It began as an agricultural...
, Tirat Zvi developed a method of preserving the palm fronds for several months, allowing them to be harvested in the spring and sold in the fall, for use on the holiday of Sukkot
Sukkot
Sukkot is a Biblical holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei . It is one of the three biblically mandated festivals Shalosh regalim on which Hebrews were commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.The holiday lasts seven days...
. In 2009, it produced 70,000 lulavs.