Hibat Tzion

Hibat Tzion חִבַּת צִיּוֹן
Hibat Tzion
Coordinates: 32°23′55.31″N 34°54′49.31″E / 32.3986972°N 34.9136972°ECoordinates: 32°23′55.31″N 34°54′49.31″E / 32.3986972°N 34.9136972°E
Council	Hefer Valley
Region	Coastal plain
Affiliation	Hitahdut HaIkarim
Founded	1933
Founded by	Agricultural Estate of the Russian Zionist Centre

Hibat Tzion (Hebrew: חִבַּת צִיּוֹן, lit. Fondness for Zion) is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the coastal plain near Hadera and covering 4,500 dunams, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 492.

The moshav was founded in 1933 by the "Agricultural Estate of the Russian Zionist Centre" organization. It was named after the Hovevei Zion organization (also known as Hibbat Zion in Hebrew). The founders were later joined by immigrants from Central Europe.

It had the first organic Annona grove in Israel, and it remains the country's largest. It also had the country's first crematorium, which was operated by Alei Shalekhet. It was burned down by protesters in August 2007.^[1]

References

1. Crematorium burned down after Haredi paper reveals exact location Haaretz, 24 August 2007