Balfouria

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Balfouria (Hebrew: בלפוריה) is a moshav (communal agriculture settlement) in Northern Israel that is part of the Jezreel Valley Regional Council. It was the third Moshav to be established in Israel. The moshav was named after the English Lord Arthur James Balfour, writer of the Balfour Declaration, which embraced Zionist plans for a Jewish "national home" in Palestine. It has a population of 250.

[edit] History

Though founded in 1922, its initial core of settlers had already assembled in 1919 and began training for the establishment of an agricultural settlement. The land was purchased with the funds of the American Zion Commonwealth, and Keren Hayesod acquired equipment. Only in 1922 did the members of the Commonwealth establish themselves there permanently. With them also came former Kibbutz residents, a number of people from the cooperative in Merhavia, as well as many settlers from Petah Tikva. The houses and dairy barns built with the funds of the Commonwealth were of concrete and had shingled roofs, thus earning the the settlers of Balfouria the sobriquet "the millionaires". Lord Balfour visited the moshav in 1925 and gave the settlers his blessings.

In 1939, the lands of the moshav were transferred to the Jewish National Fund and leasing agreements were signed with Keren Hayesod. In 1934, the settlers completed the digging of a new well which increased agricultural activity in the area. In 1959, the connection with the Mekorot water company was sealed.

[edit] Surrounding Area

North-east of the moshav are an ancient tell and springs - remnants of the Valley's swamps - that have been declared a nature reserve, the Balfouria Reserve. Atop of the tell, a monument was erected in honor of the moshav's founders and those who fell in Israel's wars.