Dan, Israel

(Kibbutz) Dan
(Kibbutz) Dan
Coordinates: 33°14′25″N 35°39′11″E / 33.24028°N 35.65306°E / 33.24028; 35.65306Coordinates: 33°14′25″N 35°39′11″E / 33.24028°N 35.65306°E / 33.24028; 35.65306
Region	Upper Galilee Regional Council
Affiliation	Kibbutz Movement
Founded	1939
Founded by	HaShomer
Website	Kibbutz Dan website

Dan (Hebrew: דָּן) is a kibbutz in the northern part of the Hula Valley, at the foot of Mt. Hermon, in the Upper Galilee, Israel.

History

Kibbutz Dan was founded in 1939 by Jewish farmers from Transylvania.^[1] It is affiliated with the Hashomer Hatzair movement. In 1947, the population was 340.^[1]Dan was one of two villages established in honour of Menachem Ussishkin. It was named after the Israelite town of "Dan" mentioned in 1 Kings 12:29, 1 Samuel 3:20 and Genesis 14:14, and which has been identified with nearby Tel Dan. Kibbutz Dan is located in the territory of the Israelite tribe of Dan (Joshua 19:47). It suffered heavy losses during the 1948 Arab-Israel war, bearing the brunt of the Syrian invasion.^[1]

Economy

One of the first economic branches was a cooperative trout-breeding venture with nearby Kibbutz Dafna.^[1]

The Caviar Galilee Company, which exports caviar under the brand name "Karat Caviar," is based on the kibbutz. According to Eric Ripert, chef and proprietor of Le Bernadin, considered the leading seafood restaurant in New York, and Jean Francois Bruel, chef of Daniel, a Michelin 3-star rated restaurant in Manhattan's Upper East Side, the best caviar on the market today is produced by Kibbutz Dan.^[2] The kibbutz exports caviar to the United States, Europe, Russia, Japan, Singapore and Canada. In 2011, the company produced 3,000 kilograms. It has plans to increase production gradually to 8,000 kilograms a year.^[2]

Landmarks

Kibbutz Dan is the starting point of the Israel National Trail.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dan (Kibbutz).