August Newsletter - Ein Gev

Ein Gev

Kibbutz Ein Gev came into being on 6 July 1937 during the 1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine as a "tower and stockade" settlement, a common debut for many kibbutzim during that era, and quickly established itself as a viable community. The original settlers were immigrants from Czechoslovakia, Germany, Austria, and the Baltic countries. Using intensive cultivation methods, they developed banana plantations. They also fished the nearby Lake Kinneret.

Before they built the kibbutz, the settlers underwent training in Beitania, Nahalat Yehuda, Afikim, Kfar Giladi and Givat Haim, and settled temporarily in the Kinneret Courtyard. The kibbutz was established on land which was purchased by KKL-JNF and financed by German Jewry. At the time of its establishment, the settlers numbered 10 women and 30 men, one of whom was the former mayor of Jerusalem - Teddy Kollek ?. By 1947 it had a population of 450. (Now almost 700 residents.)

During the War of Independence, the kibbutz was the only Jewish settlement on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The Syrian attack on the kibbutz began on the morning of June 10, 1948 and was halted. On June 11, 1948, Ein Gev was attacked again. This attack, too, was stopped. On June 12, 1948, a third attack was carried out by local forces from surrounding villages, which was also impeded. On the night of July 18, 1948, a platoon of Ein Gev members and members of the Jordan Valley left and captured Sussita.

The dangers to Ein Gev were only eliminated when Israel took over the neighboring Golan Heights in the 1967 Six-Day War.

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Today the kibbutz operates a holiday resort and a fish restaurant, and it built a 2,500-seat concert hall to accommodate the Ein Gev Music Festival, held annually during Passover. There are many other attractions in the kibbutz, such as the carpentry shop of Grandpa Yossi, a train tour around the kibbutz, and Sussita Beach.

We performed in the old, original moadon and heard a stirring speech from one of the original members – which you can see in the clip below. Lovely people – lovely place. ?