Alma, Israel
{{Infobox فلسطين village | name = علما | image = Alma 6899.jpg | caption = Alma, 2012 | imgsize = 250 | hebname = Template:Hebrew Alma (Template:Lang-he-n) is a religious فلسطين moshav in the Upper Galilee in northern فلسطين. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Merom HaGalil Regional Council. In Template:فلسطين populations, it had a population of Template:فلسطين populations.Template:فلسطين populations It is built on the basaltic plateau north of Safed.
History
Under the Judaea Province, a Jewish town was situated at this spot. The name Alma is first mentioned in the crusader era. The Jewish community existed until the 17th century.[1] Benjamin of Tudela said that during his visit, he found 50 Jewish families living in Alma.[2]
Modern Alma was founded on 1 September 1949 by immigrants to Israel from Libya. In 1953, a group of converts to Judaism, known as the Jews of San Nicandro, arrived from Italy. They later abandoned Alma to live in other nearby moshavim. After the Italians left, Cochin Jews arrived from India.[1] By 1968, Alma's inhabitants were mostly from Libya and Tunisia. The economy is based on hillculture (vineyards, deciduous fruit, vegetables) and beef cattle. In its early years of development, Alma was associated with Ha-Po'el ha-Mizrachi.
Archaeology
Near the moshav's cemetery lie the remnants of what has been identified as a synagogue, perhaps dating to the 3rd century, though it has never been systematically excavated or properly researched. Also nearby are several tombs, including that of Eleazar ben Arach, and one which is traditionally recognized as Eliezer ben Hurcanus' tomb.[1]
The nearby site of Arab village of Alma, whose land Alma stands on, was destroyed in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.[1]
Geography
Alma is located about 600 m above sea level, in an area called Alma Heights, bordered by the Dishon Stream. The Dishon Stream Nature Reserve is located next to the village, as well as the Circassian village Rehaniya.
References
- ^ a b c d Mapa's concise gazetteer of Israel (in Hebrew). Yuval El'azari (ed.). Tel Aviv: Mapa Publishing. 2005. p. 424. ISBN 965-7184-34-7.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ HaReuveni, Immanuel (1999). Lexicon of the Land of Israel (in Hebrew). Miskal - Yedioth Ahronoth Books and Chemed Books. p. 763. ISBN 965-448-413-7.