Kfar Ruppin

Kfar Ruppin
Region Valley of Springs
Affiliation Kibbutz Movement
Founded 1938
Founded by Massad members
Website www.kfar-ruppin.org.il

Kfar Ruppin (Hebrew: כְּפַר רוּפִּין, lit. Ruppin Village) is a kibbutz in the Beit She'an Valley about 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Beit She'an in northern Israel. A member of the Kibbutz Movement, it falls under the jurisdiction of Valley of Springs Regional Council. In 2006, the population was 450.

History

The kibbutz was founded in 1938 by the "Massad" group as part of the tower and stockade enterprise. The first residents were immigrants from Germany, Bohemia and Austria.[1] It was named in honour of Arthur Ruppin, who helped to develop Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel.

Economy

Aside from agriculture and fish farming, the kibbutz has a factory that produces plastic managed by an external company.[2]

Birdwatching

The area is known for birdwatching due to its location on one of the most important bird migration flyways between Europe and Africa.[3] A bird ringing station is also located there.[4]The kibbutz culture hall, built in 1965 on a hill near the original tower and stockade structures, is being converted into a birdwatching observatory and research center.[5]

Landmarks

Kfar Ruppin gardens is a 50 acres (200,000 m2) public garden on the grounds of the kibbutz.[6] Near the kibbutz is an archaeological site called Tel Tsaf, a 7,000 year old prehistoric village which has produced the largest database of materials from the Neolithic to the Chalcolithic periods.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ p. 211, Gavron, Daniel, The Kibbutz: Awakening from Utopia, Rowman & Littlefield Pub. Inc., 2000, ISBN 978-0-8476-9526-3.
  2. ↑ p. 215, Gavron, Daniel, op. cit.
  3. ↑ Leiah Elbaum's Israeli Birdwatching site. Retrieved on 25-08-2009.
  4. ↑ International Birdwatching Center of the Jordan Valley. Retrieved on 25-08-2009.
  5. ↑ Disused kibbutz hall gets new life as birdwatching center, Haaretz
  6. ↑ Kfar Ruppin Gardens
  7. ↑ The Guide to archaeological fieldwork opportunities outside the UK Archaeology Abroad

External links

Coordinates: 32°27′27″N 35°33′21.96″E / 32.45750°N 35.5561000°E