Hatzor HaGlilit

Hatzor HaGlilit
  • חָצוֹר הַגְּלִילִית
  • حتسور هجليليت
Hebrew transcription(s)
  ISO 259 Ḥaçor ha Glilit
  Also spelled Hatzor HaGlilit (unofficial)

Logo
Hatzor HaGlilit
Coordinates: 32°58′46.1″N 35°32′36.51″E / 32.979472°N 35.5434750°E / 32.979472; 35.5434750Coordinates: 32°58′46.1″N 35°32′36.51″E / 32.979472°N 35.5434750°E / 32.979472; 35.5434750
District Northern
Founded 1953
Government
  Type Local council
  Head of Municipality Shimon Swisa
Area
  Total 5,170 dunams (5.17 km2 or 2.00 sq mi)
Population (2008)
  Total 8,700

Hatzor HaGlilit (Hebrew: חָצוֹר הַגְּלִילִית) is a town in northern Israel near Rosh Pinna and Safed. In 2008, Hatzor HaGlilit had a population of 8,700.[1] It is named for the nearby biblical site of Tel Hazor.

History

Hatzor HaGlilit overlooking Hula Valley and Mount Hermon

Hatzor was a Canaanite and later Israelite city within the tribe of Naphtali (Joshua 19:36)[2] during late Bronze and early Iron Ages, which was conquered by Assyrian ruler Tiglath-Pileser III in 732 BC and its population was deported,[3] while the city was burnt to the ground.[3][4]

Hatzor HaGlilit was founded in 1952–1953 as a transition camp.[5] The new founded camp was located on the land of the depopulated Arab village of Mughr al-Khayt, 1 km southeast of the village site.[6] The two adjacent transition camps were initially named "Hatzor A" and Hatzor B", named for the nearby biblical site of Tel Hatzor, and housed immigrants and refugees, primarily Jews from North Africa.

In 1956, Hatzor HaGlilit was given the status of local council. By 1958, Hatzor HaGlilit had a population of 4,000 and received development town status.[7] Over time, the city preserved its Jewish religious-traditional demographic status and later a Jewish ultra-orthodox neighbourhood was also established, housing Gur Hassids.

In December 2011, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics, the town was populated by 8,705 residents, with 0.0% population growth.

Landmarks

One of the town's most well-known landmarks is the tomb of Honi the Circle-Maker, adjoining the burial sites of two of his grandsons, Abba Hilkiyah and Hanan HaNihba. According to Jewish legend, Honi HaM'agel had the power to bring rain through his prayers.[8] The presence of this shrine attracted a large Gerrer hassid population to the town.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hatzor HaGlilit.
  1. "Table 3 - Population of Localities Numbering Above 2,000 Residents and Other Rural Population" (PDF). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 2009-06-30. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  2. It has to be distinguished from Hazor within the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:23), after which Hatzor Ashdod was named.
  3. 1 2 Israel Finkelstein, The Bible Unearthed
  4. "However, the correlation between the destruction of Stratum V with Tiglatpileser III's campaign has been challenged"; cf. P. James, "The Alleged 'Anchor Point' of 732 BC for the Destruction of Hazor V", AntOr 6 (2008).
  5. Vilnay (1976), p. 2489
  6. Khalidi, 1992, p479
  7. HaReuveni (1999), p. 327
  8. "Chatzor Ha-Gelilit – Tomb of the Circle Maker". OHR. Retrieved October 16, 2009.

Bibliography

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, January 11, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.