Tirat-Zvi ( טירתצבי ) is the first Kibboutz religious created in Israel.

Historical context

At the time of the bloody events of 1936, whereas the rumors on a future division of the Palestine start to bore, the organizations in charge of repopulation in Israel accelerate the installation of establishment on the grounds acquired by KKL. Thus approximately 50 points of installation are created within the framework of the program of " Turn and Muraille ". The characteristic of this program holds in the speed with which the bases of the future establishments are installation; a surmounted tower of a lighting headlight surroundings, and the construction of a barrier of protection against the potential attacks. Under the pressure of Moshé Shartock, general secretary of the Jewish Agency, grounds of the farm " Zar' a" are placed at the disposal of kvoutzot (" groupes") nuns. At the place firm Arabic is held then, cultivating the bananas, but of which the major part of the grounds, left with the abandonment, was gradually drained.

Tirat-Zvi is founded on June 30th 1930, in the South of the valley of Beït-Shéan. The kvoutza which settles there is made up of approximately 80 members (girls and boys) of the movement Hapoel Hamizrahi, old from 20 to 25 years; a half originating in Germany, and the other of Eastern Europe. They result from three distinct groups, before formed the work of the ground in the towns of Petah Tikva for the first, Shahal close to Rehovot for the second, and Kfar-Yavetz for the last.

The name of Tirat-Zvi

The word " Tira" (" château") refers to the house on two floors built in cob, property of the effendi Moussa el Almi and built on the spot.

The word " Zvi" homage to the rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Kalisher (1795-1874) returns, one of the first rabbis to support the return towards the Ground of Israel.

After their installation, the members arrange the ground and domesticate the sources of water, which gradually made of many marshes, causes various diseases of which the malaria.

Several attempts are committed in order to establish good relationships of vicinity with the Arab neighborhood. For that, the majority of the members of Tirat-Zvi learn Arabic, the doctor of the community their exemption of the medical care and of the efforts for commercial exchanges are implemented. Despite everything, the community installs turns of duty, day and night, made up each of 30 members, in order to prevent any dispute.

The first attack on Tirat-Zvi

The Arabs, opposed to this establishment, attack for the first time the kibbutz on February 28th 1938. With 22:30, benefitting from the half-light, the Arabs advance in direction of Tirat-Zvi and succeed in making an opening in the barbed wires installed around the wall. Located by the guards, once entered the enclosure of the kibbutz, the exchanges of gunfire take place. It is the launching of a grenade which moves away the attackers. The echoes of the shootings is perceived by the whole of the pioneers installed in the valley, but the headlight surmounting the tower of guard, which is used then as means of communication, having been destroyed as of the first shootings, any contact with the other establishments proved to be vain.

The details of the events of the night quickly make the turn of the establishments of the country. From its resistance, Tirat-Zvi becomes a symbol of bravery then. The members of Tirat-Zvi bring the proof thus that, while being monk, they can as well be defended as their laic brothers.

The British officer Wingate, which, called " the ami" , takes in heart the cause Sioniste, is him also informed of the recent events. It is in Tirat-Zvi that it organizes its first Jewish force of combat. Arrived at the kibbutz, it gains the confidence of the pioneers and installs night turns of duty while inculcating the idea that " any position must be defended of the interior like outside ". After three months, Wingate passes to the kibbutz Eïn-Harod, where it founds the " special battalions nocturnes".

The security of the access roads

Tirat-Zvi, because of its isolated geographical location faces big problems of circulation. The dirt track which carries out to the kibbutz becomes each winter a muddy, and almost impracticable alley.

September 14th, 1938, the Arabs mine the way. The vehicle of the officer of the district, in way towards the kibbutz, explodes on a mine and causes the death of three of its occupants; Haïm Sturmann, representing KKL in the valley of Beït-Shéan, Aharon Atkin, person in charge for the valley of Beït-Shéan of the relationships to the British authorities, and Dr. David Musinson, veterinary surgeon.

During the winter 1939, the rains are such as the kibbutz remains paralyzed during several weeks. March 8th, 1939, the pioneers send a vehicle, drawn by a tractor, at the station Beït-Shéan to recover provisions and some of the members of the kibbutz. On the road of the return, not far from an orchard cultivated by the Arabs, with the site where some time later the kibbutz Eïn-Hanatziv is born, the convoy essuie shootings of a ambush. The attackers escape, but two of the members of Tirat-Zvi lose the life there; Aryé Weill and Yaakov-Yossef Milioner.

Permanent tension

At the beginning of the summer 1939, the KKL repurchases surrounding grounds the kibbutz with the German of the Société of Templiers, installed in the valley of Beït-Shéan. Tirat-Zvi aggrandit thus its agricultural domain and it is on these same grounds that on May 7th, 1939 is founded the kibbutz Sdé-Eliahou. The safe situation however slows down the discounted development. When the Arabs are informed purchase of the grounds, it destroy the plantations, uproot the orchards, and set fire to the fields. This tension is perceived daily, around disputes relating to the places of pasture and of the exploitation of the sources of water.

The guard of the agricultural land causes a new victim. April 21st 1943, keeps it Shlomo Shehter is killed while trying to protect the grounds from pasture of the kibbutz. The members of Tirat-Zvi then ask for repairs, which shows an agreement with the Arabs, concluded inside kibbutz.

Additional problems

The malaria

The big number of marshes and the profusion of Moustique S are the main causes of the propagation of the Malaria. Two thirds of the members of Tirat-Zvi contract the disease as of the first year of their installation, and the kibbutz then arranges a center of convalescence not far from the place. The disease kills one of the pioneers besides; the Rabbi Gdaliahou Ona. The kibbutz is however baited with the irradication of the disease by destroying all the located points of nesting. The pioneers owe each evening, with fallen the night and even with most extremely of the nights of summer, to adorn long shirts and pants in order to protect itself from the punctures, and daily, look after themselves by means of preventive pills. The problem of the malaria is solved only after the War of Independence and the departure of the Arabs, thus allowing the free access with the sources of water, which are arranged and the cleansing of the marshes.

Extreme temperatures

The temperatures in the area are particularly high in summer, and low in winter. The first times, the pioneers do not have any means available to protect themselves from heats of summer which can reach more than 40 degrees. These last reach even a year more than 50 degrees. The members of the kibbutz begin work then very early the morning, arrange a pause during heats of the middle of day, and take again their work in the afternoon. One in the manners of refreshing itself is to immerse itself in the marshes neighborhood. It should be recalled that at the time there exists only one common shower for the whole of the kibbutz. The nights of summer, parents as children sleep on mattresses outside the dwellings, covered with anti-mosquito nets. On the circumference of all the roofs, hoods are arranged and of the conduits are bored in the walls of the dwellings, allowing the fresh air to infiltrate. With time, one installs ventilators. Mattresses are installed on the part external of the windows and one just places above them pipes letting escape continuously from refreshing small drops of water.

In winter, the temperatures of the area can reach level zero. The members of Tirat-Zvi, having only little experiment in the agricultural domain, plant bananas, tomatos and sweet peppers. Very quickly it proves that these cultures do not resist cold. The first times, they light fires during the night, near to the cultures, in order to protect them from freezing.

Social problems

In spite of the fact that all the members of the kibbutz come from the same movement, the cultural differences between Juif S originating in Germany and those originating in Eastern Europe are felt first of all at the culinary level, then thereafter on the level of the religious rites. These tensions grow blurred gradually.

Education

The pioneers not having experience in the educational field, they make come a teacher who trains the mothers of the kibbutz. Counting rhymes are composed, and a school, where the first teachers come from the outside of the kibbutz, is created.

Thereafter a common school is open in the Sdé-Eliahou kibbutz, for all the children of the area of the valley of Beït-Shéan.

Tirat-Zvi like preparation center

In spite of the challenges, Tirat-Zvi accommodates many groups of young monks resulting from the movement " Bneï-Akiva " to remain, for one more or less long period, in order to familiarize itself with the life of pioneer.

To the War of Independence

During its first ten years of existence, Tirat-Zvi passes by periods of hesitation and groping, in the fields which are the social one, safety, agriculture and economy. In 1946 it creates a factory of pork-butchery, which will be the beginning of a true economic development.

The great attack

The Arabs, opposed to the plan of division of UNO, decides to attack the kibbutz under the control of the commander Kaoukji.

The attack, in which takes part of the hundreds of Arabs, begins on February 16th, 1948. The shootings start at 4 o'clock in the morning, and continue with attempts at intrusion in the kibbutz.

The defenders of Tirat-Zvi push back the attack, during which Naftali Friedlander loses the life on the roof of the " Tira". In the morning, the kibbutz is bombarded and the Arabs take again the attack. At this point in time a strong rain falls down, putting out of use the weapons of the two camps. The neighborhoods become suddenly muddy prevent any projection. The Arabs fold up themselves, leaving behind them, on the ground their casualties, their ammunition and even their shoes. The reinforcements arrive only after the exit of the engagements.

The victory of Tirat-Zvi makes great noise in the establishments of the country, owing to the fact that it is about the first Arab attack made up of organized military units. The combatants prove thus that eagerness with the combat bears its fruits. As of the following day, with back of ass, the Bedouins of the area leave the area for other bank of the Jordan.

The War of Independence

The Arabs will not try any more to attack the kibbutz, which makes it possible Tirat-Zvi to be used as reinforcement with the forces of Tsahal. During the summer 1948, forces Iraq iennes penetrate in the valley of Beït-Shéan. Their goal is then to seize Such Radra , which becomes later Such-Shalem, in the South of Tirat-Zvi. It is on it Such as Avraham Heber, formed in Tirat-Zvi, is killed, on September 27th, 1948. The place becomes a frontier strategic point, until the Guerre the Six Day old. The source with the feet of Such, " Maayan Avraham" point out the memory of Heber.

After the War of Independence, the kibbutz widens its activities.

In 1952, the road connecting Beït-Shéan and the kibbutz is asphalted.

The cultures of corn, cotton, vegetables, vines, olive-trees, grenades and date palms are also developed; in the same way for chickens and the cattle.

Following financial problems, the cattle breeding is stopped in 1959.

The Six Day old War

During the Six Day old War, the kibbutz is bombarded the first two days, without to cause major damage, if they are not some touched dwellings. With the catch of the Valley of the Jordan, the israélo-Jordanian border does not pass any more to the accesses of the kibbutz. Tirat-Zvi is again bombarded towards the end of the war, and the children of the kibbutz sleep a time in the shelters. It is at this period that many volunteers of Israel, like foreigner, come to carry their assistance to work of the kibbutz.

With the end of the war, Tirat-Zvi develops considerably its economic activities and its cultural life, and this, until our days.