The Galilee

The Galilee

Sunset over the Sea of Galilee from Kibbutz Nof  Ginosar Hotel

Mountains, fertile valleys, water sources, and green landscapes, make up the scenery  of the Galil, the northern part of Israel. It is traditionally divided into two geographical units. The Upper Galil and the Lower Galil with the Bet Hakerem Valley running between them. In the Lower Galil, the mountain peaks reach a maximum height of 600 m (1968ft) The upper Galil has peaks reaching double that height with the tallest mountain, Mount Mernon measuring 1200 m (3937ft) The region borders the Mediteranian Sea to the west and thee Jordon Valley to the east. The northern part of the Galil borders Lebanon and the southern parts run along the Jezereel valley.

Humans have settled in the Galil since prehistoric times. The Galil has always been a prominent stage for Jewish history, at times even more than Jerusalem. When Jews were exiled from Jerusalem and its environs at various times in the past, Jewish settlements flourished in the Galil. Jews settled in the Galil ever since the conquest of the Land of Israel by the twelve tribes in the days of Joshua and the judges. Important Biblical battles were fought in the Galil, such as the battle of Deborah and Barak against Siserah, the battle of Gideon against the Medianites, and the fateful battle of King Saul against the Philistines in which he was killed. After the destruction of the Second Temple, the Jewish governing body, the Sanhedrin, moved its center to the Galil. During the , Arab and Crusader periods, the pulse of the Jewish world moved to Babylon and Jewish settlements dwindled. Only small communities of Jews existed in and around Zefat and Tiberias. Only in the 16^th century, after the Spanish Inquisition and subsequent expulsion did Jews come back to Eretz Yisrael. Many settled in Zefat, making it the first city and the Galil as a whole a Jewish center again. It is no wonder that the settlers of the First Aliyah in 1882 chose to live in the Galil, establishing Rosh Pina (the cornerstone). It was also in the Galil that the first Kibbutz, Degania, was established in 1910 and the first Moshav, Nahalal, founded by pioneers of the Second Aliyah, is also located here. Even today the Galail remains the home of the pioneering spirit and new settlements are continually forming.

In the Galil you will meet diverse types of people such as Hassidim and Kaballists inZafat, secular farmers on different kibbutzim, new immigrants from Ethiopia and the former Soviet Union in the development towns Kiryat Shemona and Carmiel, as well as Sabras whose families originate from the four corners of the world. Christianity was born in the Galil and many Christian holy sites attract thousands of pilgrims every year. Christian and Muslim Arab villaes dot the Galil. Other minorities also live in the Galil – the Druze and Bhai, both breakaway religions from Islam, settled in the mountains in order to escape the scrutinizing eyes of the Muslim rulers.