Ramat Rachel
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| Ramat Rachel | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1926 |
| Founded by | Jerusalem Brigade of Gdud HaAvoda |
| Region | Jerusalem corridor |
| Industries | Agriculture, tourism |
| Affiliation | Kibbutz Movement |
| Website | www.ramatrachel.co.il |
Ramat Rachel (Hebrew: רמת רחל, lit. Rachel Heights) is a kibbutz located south of Jerusalem in Israel. Overlooking Bethlehem and Rachel's Tomb and situtated adjacent to the Green Line, it falls under the jurisdiction of Matte Yehuda Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 335.
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[edit] History
The kibbutz was established in 1926 by members of the Gdud HaAvoda labor brigade. Their goal was to settle in Jerusalem and earn their livelihood from manual labor, working in such trades as stonecutting, housing construction and haulage.[1] After living in a temporary camp in Jerusalem, a group of ten pioneers settled on a stony plot of land on a 803-metre high hill south of the city. The kibbutz was destroyed by the Arabs in the riots of 1929, but resettled soon after. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War it was cut off from the city.[2] In 1967 it was the target of intensive artillery shelling from Jordanian positions. As the borders of Jerusalem were expanded southward, the kibbutz was included within the city's municipal borders.
[edit] Economy
Today, the kibbutz economy revolves main around its hotel and banquet hall. Archeological excavations on the hilltop have unearthed major finds. The remains of a massive palace and waterworks have been discovered at the site, perhaps dating back to the early Israelite kingdom and showing occupation by the Babylonians, Persians, Romans and Hasmoneans. An archeology park is now under development.
[edit] Archaeological findings
Benjamin Mazar and Moshe Stekelis conducted the first scientific excavations at the site, known as Khirbet es-Sallah in Arabic, in 1930-1931. Yohanan Aharoni conducted a more thorough series of digs from 1959-1962, and tentatively identified it with biblical Beit Hakerem ("house of the vineyard"; Jeremiah 6:1). Yigael Yadin suggested that the palace excavated by Aharoni dated to the reign of Athaliah, and he identified it with the "House of Baal" recorded in 2 Kings 11:18.
One of many important artifacts are LMLK seal impressions found on broken jar handles,[3] most of which bear enigmatic words that continue to puzzle researchers. Gabriel Barkay, who worked at the site in 1984, claims that the ancient name of the site may have been MMST, one of the four mysterious words.[4] Supporting Barkay is a potsherd found by Aharoni that may contain a painted depiction of Hezekiah, the king reigning during the period these jars were manufactured. However, more handles with HBRN (Hebron) and ZYF (Ziph) inscriptions have been found at Ramat Rahel than MMST.[5]
Renewed excavations began in 2004 under the direction of Oded Lipschits and Manfred Oeming. According to Lipschits, the site may have been known as Gerut Kimham ("House of Chimham") per Jeremiah 41:17.[6] In 2006 it was announced that Ramat Rachel had been a "major royal site".[7]
[edit] References
- ^ About Us Ramat Rachel
- ^ The battle for Ramat Rachel: Southern gateway to Jerusalem Da'at
- ^ LMLK Seals from Ramat Rahel LMLK Research
- ^ Barkay, Gabriel (2006). "Royal Palace, Royal Portrait?". Biblical Archaeology Review 32:5 (September/October): 34–44.
- ^ Grena, G.M. (2004). LMLK--A Mystery Belonging to the King vol. 1. Redondo Beach, California: 4000 Years of Writing History. ISBN 0-9748786-0-X.
- ^ Fit for a king Jerusalem Post, 21 September 2006
- ^ Dig shows Ramat Rahel was royal Judean site Jerusalem Post, 21 August 2006
[edit] External links
