Merhavia, Israel

Merhavia
Hebrew	מֶרְחַבְיָה
(Translit.)	Merhavya
Founded	1929
Founded by	Galician Hashomer Hatzair members
Council	Jezreel Valley
Region	Galilee
Affiliation	Kibbutz Movement
Coordinates	32°36′21.06″N 35°18′26.1″E / 32.60585°N 35.30725°E / 32.60585; 35.30725Coordinates: 32°36′21.06″N 35°18′26.1″E / 32.60585°N 35.30725°E / 32.60585; 35.30725
Population	799[1] (2008)
Merhavia
Website	www.merchavia.org.il

Golda Meir in the fields at Kibbutz Merhavia (1920s)

Merhavia (Hebrew: מֶרְחַבְיָה‎‎, lit. Great Enlargement – God) is a kibbutz in northern Israel, near the city Afula. The name Merhavia is derived from the Book of Psalms 118:5;

Out of my straits I called upon the LORD; .. answered me with great enlargement – God.

(in the metaphorical sense: "God set me free." – The experience of the Jews immigrating to Israel and achieving a new homeland without the straits of persecution).

It falls under the jurisdiction of Jezreel Valley Regional Council and in 2006 had a population of 759.

The kibbutz was established in 1929 adjacent to moshav Merhavia (from which it took its name). The founders were members of Hashomer Hatzair who had immigrated from Galicia after World War I and had been living in Haifa, including Eliezer Peri, who later represented Mapam in the Knesset.

Notable residents

• Yaakov Shabtai (1934–81), novelist, playwright, and translator

References

1. ^ "Locality File" (XLS). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 2008. http://www.cbs.gov.il/ishuvim/ishuv2008/bycode.xls. Retrieved June 25, 2010. 

External links

• Village website (Hebrew)