District Central Affiliation Kibbutz Movement Website www.maabarot.org.il Local time Thursday 10:18 PM | Council Hefer Valley Population (2015) 962 Founded 1925 | |
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Founded by Romanian Hashomer Hatzair members Weather 13°C, Wind SW at 14 km/h, 77% Humidity | ||
Ma'abarot is a kibbutz in Emek Hefer in central Israel. Established in 1933 and located to the east of Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2015 it had a population of 962.
Contents
Map of Ma'abarot, Israel
History
Ma'abarot was the third kibbutz established by the Kibbutz Artzi federation and is located in the Sharon Plain, near the old road from Petah Tikva to Haifa. It was founded by members of the left-wing Hashomer Hatzair Zionist youth movement in Romania who organized themselves as a settlement group, and immigrated to Mandate Palestine in 1924.
Upon their arrival in Palestine, the group waited several years until land for settlement was available. They worked as hired laborers in the meanwhile. In 1932, a large stretch of land in the Wadi Hawarith/Hefer Valley area was acquired by the Jewish National Fund of which a small part was given to the settlement group. Ten members established an initial presence on the land, constructing housing and farm buildings, and making a start in land amelioration, while the rest of the group continued its communal life in Hadera. In September 1933, they too moved to the site of Ma'abarot, which was located in a swampy area near Nahal Alexander.
Over the following years, the kibbutz membership was augmented by additional Hashomer Hatzair groups, from Bulgaria, Hungary, Germany (of which most members where Russian), and Chile.
Economy
Ma'abarot farms approximately 3,000 dunams (3 km²) of land. Cotton is the major cash crop, and other branches include subtropical orchard, fish-breeding ponds and a dairy barn. The kibbutz also operates two pharmaceutical factories:
In addition, Ma'abarot runs a drying plant that dehydrates a variety of foods. Foremost among these is Materna, a leading brand of infant formula.In 2017, the kibbutz sold its remaining 49% share in Materna to Osem-Nestle for $156 million.
Culture
In 1944, Nissim Nissimov, a composer with ties to the Labor movement organized a musical show inspired by the Song of Songs. In 1955, the French cellist Paul Tortelier, impressed by the ideals of the kibbutzim, spent a year at Maabarot with his family. He composed "Israeli Symphony" based on his experiences.
Maabarot remains a collective kibbutz despite the introduction of privatization on many other kibbutzim. There are no differential wages, the communal dining hall still operates, and the members do not receive any special compensation for work.
Archaeology
Burial caves and artifacts from prehistoric settlements have been found on the grounds of the kibbutz.