Heftziba () is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located on the boundaries of the Jezreel and Beit She'an Valleys between the cities of Afula and Beit She'an, it falls under the jurisdiction of Gilboa Regional Council. In it had a population of .
History
The kibbutz was founded in 1922 by Jewish immigrants from Czechoslovakia and Germany. It was named after the farm adjacent to Hadera, where the original settlers worked before they relocated and founded the community.Carta's Official Guide to Israel and Complete Gazetteer to all Sites in the Holy Land. (3rd edition 1993) Jerusalem, Carta, p. 195, The name, chosen by Olga Hankin, derives from the Bible, where God speaks about his love for Israel: "My delight in her." (Isaiah 62:4).Watt did you say? Jerusalem Post
According to the 1922 census of Palestine conducted in 1922 by the British Mandate authorities, Heftziba had a population of 125 inhabitants, consisting of 123 Jews and 2 Muslims.
On Thursday, July 31, 1986, at approximately 5:00 PM, nine teenage members of the kibbutz and their driver were killed following a head-on collision with a semi-trailer while driving back from a summer camp. The disaster left a mark of terrible sadness on the kibbutz, and a long-standing conflict between some of the kibbutz members.
Archaeology
The Beth Alpha Synagogue National Park is located in the kibbutz, not, as many assume, at the adjacent kibbutz with the same name, Beit Alfa. It contains an ancient Byzantine-era synagogue with a mosaic floor depicting the lunar Hebrew months as they correspond to the signs of the zodiac.Goldman, Bernard, The Sacred Portal: a primary symbol in ancient Judaic art, Detroit : Wayne State University Press, 1966. It has a detailed account and treatment of the mosaic at the Beit Alfa synagogue.
Makuya Makuya students have been sent to kibbutzim in Israel to study Hebrew and the biblical background. Some of them continue their academic studies in universities. The primary kibbutz the Makuya students stay at is Heftziba.Mukuya presence at Heftziba Dina Israel
Notable people Arthur Koestler was interested in joining the kibbutz, but his application was turned down.Koestler, Arthur Arrow in the Blue pp. 125–32 Keren Regal born in the Kibbutz, is the youngest Olympic participant ever for Israel.
References