Alma, Israel

Infobox_Kibbutz
kibbutz_name = Alma
foundation = 1949
founded_by = Libyan Jews
region = Galilee
council = Merom HaGalil
industry =
affiliation = HaPoel HaMizrahi
website =

Alma ( _he. עלמה) is a religious Jewish moshav in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Merom HaGalil Regional Council.

Alma was founded in 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.Cite book
publisher = Mapa Publishing
isbn = 9657184347
pages = p. 424
others = Yuval El'azari (ed.)
title = Mapa's concise gazetteer of Israel
location = Tel-Aviv
date = 2005 he icon]

The name "Alma" is based on the Arab village that existed nearby, which was also named "Alma." Under the Iudaea Province, the place was a Jewish town. The name Alma is first mentioned in the crusader era. Apparently, a Jewish community existed until the 17th century. Near the moshav's cemetery lie the remnants of a 3rd century synagogue, as well as several tombs including that of Eleazar ben Arach, and one which is traditionally recognized as Eliezer ben Hurcanus' tomb.

The Arab village of Alma was founded in the 19th century by Algerian Muslims and was destroyed in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

References