Mishmar HaEmek
| Mishmar HaEmek | |
|---|---|
|
A tree house in the forest near Mishmar-Haemek | |
  Mishmar HaEmek | |
| Coordinates: 32°36′34.91″N 35°8′30.48″E / 32.6096972°N 35.1418000°ECoordinates: 32°36′34.91″N 35°8′30.48″E / 32.6096972°N 35.1418000°E | |
| Council | Megiddo |
| Region | Jezreel Valley |
| Affiliation | Kibbutz Movement |
| Founded | 1922 |
| Founded by | Polish immigrants |
| Website | http://mh.kibbutz.org.il/ |
Mishmar HaEmek (Hebrew: מִשְׁמַר הָעֵמֶק, lit. Guardian of the Valley) [1] is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located in the western Jezreel Valley, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council. In 2006, it had a population of 964.
History
Mishmar Haemek was officially founded on January 21, 1922, to mark the birth of its first baby. Mishmar Haemek's members lived in Haifa and then in Afula, before settling at its current location in 1927.
_-_Kibbutz_Mishmar_Haemek.jpg)
In the fall of 1942, when there were fears of a German victory in the Middle East, Mishmar HaEmek was used as a training camp by the British army. 160 Jewish volunteers, who later were to become members of the Palmach branch of the Haganah, were trained by Royal Engineers in sabotage and wireless operation. Several tons of explosives were hidden in caches in case the area came under German occupation. This program was terminated immediately upon the training of the volunteers, and orders issued for the collection of all equipment and explosives to be returned to the British. [2]
In 1947, Mishmar HaEmek had a population of 550.[1] The Jewish National Fund and Worton Hall Studios made a 1947 movie called The Great Promise (Dim'at Ha'Nehamah Ha'Gedolah), and a number of the scenes were filmed here. [1] [3]
On 4 April 1948, the kibbutz came under full scale attack by the Arab Liberation Army.[4] The attack began with an artillery barrage from seven artillery pieces supplied by the Syrian Army.[5] In the following counter-attack the Haganah destroyed eight neighbouring Arab villages.
Economy
The main source of income is Tama, a plastic factory based on the kibbutz with additional plants around the country and the world. The kibbutz also raises chickens and farms about 7,000 dunams. Idea, a high-tech company based in Mishmar HaEmek, is responsible for the database system of the Holocaust museum Yad Vashem.
Notable residents
- Eli Amir, author
- Mordechai Bentov, government minister and signatory of the Israeli declaration of independence. Member of the Mapam political party.
- Yaakov Hazan, member of Knesset. (Mapam, Alignment)
- Amnon Linn, member of Knesset. (Mapai, Alignment, Likud)
- Hillel Omer, poet and writer
- Emry Ron, member of Knesset (Alignment)
- Moshe Shamir, author and playwright
- Mordechai Shenhavi, one of the founders of Hashomer Hatzair
- Adin Talbar, athlete and sports official
- Emma Talmi, member of Knesset (Mapam)
- Zellig Harris, linguist
- Bruria Kaufman, physicist
See also
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mishmar HaEmek. |
- 1 2 3 Jewish National Fund (1949). Jewish Villages in Israel. Jerusalem: Hamadpis Liphshitz Press. p. 122.
- ↑ Naomi Shepherd, "Ploughing the sand - British rule in Palestine 1917-1948".ISBN 0 7195 5707 0. Pages 215-220.
- ↑ Internet Movie Database
- ↑ Benny Morris, "The Birth of the Palestinain Refugee Problem". ISBN 0-521-33028-9. page 115.
- ↑ Larry Collins/Dominique Lapierre, O Jerusalem. History Book Club, London, (1972) (hb). p.281. They count seven 75 millimeter and three 105 millimeter guns.
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