Ayelet HaShahar

Infobox_Kibbutz
kibbutz_name = Ayelet HaShahar
foundation = 1915
founded_by = European immigrants
region = Upper Galilee
industry = Agriculture, manufacturing, tourism
affiliation = Kibbutz Movement
website = [http://www.ayelet.org.il www.ayelet.org.il]

Ayelet HaShahar ( _he. אַיֶּלֶת הַשַּׁחַר) is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located on the Rosh Pina-Metulla road, it is approximately 35 kilometers south of Kiryat Shmona and falls under the jurisdiction of Upper Galilee Regional Council. In 2007 it had a population of 1,200.

History

The land on which the kibbutz is located was bought by the Jewish Colonization Association in 1892. It was first settled by immigrants from Europe in 1915 during the Second Aliyah period.

During the end of the British mandate, the kibbutz was the staging ground for Palmach operations, "Markolet" (Night of the bridges) and the bombing of the Yarmuk Bridge (16th - 17th June, 1946).

Industry

Ayelet HaShahar is one of the larger fruit producers in Israel. They also raise dairy cattle and poultry, and manage beehives (the kibbuts is a major producer of Israel's honey). There are fish ponds, which take water from canals that drain the nearby Hula Valley swamps. The kibbutz runs a factory that manufactures moulds used in the production of tyres. The kibbutz runs the Ayelet HaShahar Hotel, with 144 rooms. They also operate an Apple Crisp Factory, near Kiryat Shmona, which makes crisps for Marks & Spencer.

chools

Mevo HaGalil, the regional elementary School, is located at the kibbutz. The school run by the kibbutzim of the Upper Galilee

Attractions

Tel Hazor, capital of Canaanite Galilee, lies opposite the kibbutz. The Archaeological Museum of Hatzor is located at the kibbutz. Antiquities from Tel Hazor are displayed, but many of the original artifacts are actually at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

Famous residents

Avshalom Okashi, one of the founders of the New Horizons Art Movement, became a member of the Kibbutz Ayelet Hashahar in 1936.

External links

* [http://www.ayelet.org.il Kibbutz website] he icon
* [http://web.israelinsider.com/Views/3750.htm What's happening to the kibbutz?] article written by Ellis Shuman, June 16, 2004, mentions the vote by members of Kibbutz Ayelet Hashahar to transform their cooperative into a moshav.
* [http://ilmuseums.com/museum_eng.asp?id=114 Archaeological Museum of Hatzor]
* [http://www.mevogalil.org.il/english/engindex.htm Mevo HaGalil Elementary School]