Bethlehem of Galilee

Location and Geography

Bethlehem of Galilee (Jewish: בֵּית לֶחֶם הַגְּלִילוֹת; Beit Lechem Haglilit) is a semi-cooperative moshav located in northern Israel, approximately 10 kilometers northwest of Nazareth and 30 kilometers east of Haifa. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Jezreel Valley Regional Council.

History

The village was first mentioned in the Book of Joshua as one of the cities of the tribe of Zabulon. The name "Bethlehem" caused a problem due to its similarity with another Jewish city, a bread house south of Jerusalem. To resolve this issue, the Galilean Bethlehem was referred to as "A House of Bread in the Zambulon River", distinguishing it from the other location.

Ancient History

The area had been inhabited by Jews until after the destruction of the Second Temple. Archaeological evidence suggests that there was a Jewish settlement present until then. In 1906, two-day burial caves were uncovered in the forest surrounding the village.

Modern Establishment

In 1906, German Protestant settlers from the Haifa settlement, founded almost forty years earlier by the Templar Society, purchased land near the ancient Bethlehem of Zebulon, which had been abandoned by its inhabitants when they were expelled in 70 AD. The Crusaders also left their mark on the area.

Population and Economy

As of 2006, the population of Bethlehem of Galilee was 651 residents. The village is a semi-cooperative moshav, indicating that it has some characteristics of a cooperative community but also operates independently to some extent.

References

Note: This article synthesizes information from three different sources in Hebrew, French, and Italian, providing a comprehensive overview of the history, geography, and modern establishment of Bethlehem of Galilee.