| Nes Harim | ||
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| Founded | 1950 | |
| Founded by | Kurdish and Moroccan immigrants | |
| Council | Mateh Yehuda | |
| Region | Judean foothills | |
| Affiliation | Moshavim Movement | |
| Coordinates | ||
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Nes Harim
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Nes Harim (Hebrew: נֵס הָרִים, lit. Mountain Miracle) is a moshav in Israel, eight kilometers from Jerusalem. [1]Located in the Judean foothills near Beit Shemesh, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 588.
The moshav was established in 1950 by immigrants from Kurdistan and Morocco,[2] on the land of the Palestinian village Bayt 'Itab, which was depopulated in the 1948 War.[3]
It is situated 2,275 feet (700 meters) above sea level. The early farmers planted orchards and vineyards, taking advantage of the fertile soil and unique climate.[4]
The ruins of a Byzantine monastery were discovered on a hill on the southwest side of the moshav.[5]
The Katlav winery is located in Nes Harim.[6]
During excavations in November 2008, archaeologists found the narthex of a church decorated with multicolored mosaics,and parts of a wine press. After the discovery, the mosaic was badly damaged by unidentified vandals.[7]
The mosaic includes an inscription in ancient Greek deciphered by Leah Di Signi of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem: "O Lord God of Saint Theodorus, protect Antonius and Theodosia the illustres [a title used to distinguish high nobility in the Byzantine period] - Theophylactus and John the priest [or priests]. [Remember o Lord] Mary and John who have offe[red - ] in the 6th indiction. Lord, have pity of Stephen."[8]
Horbat 'Itab, a 130-dunam national park on the outskirts of Nes Harim, contains the ruins of a Crusader fortress that overlooked the road from Emek HaEla to Jerusalem and the village of Bayt 'Itab. The site was surveyed in 1989 by Denys Pringle, a researcher of the Crusader period, who documented the remains of the fortress, vaults, a wall and towers, tunnels, a columbarium and an olive press. [9]
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