District Northern Affiliation Kibbutz Movement Local time Sunday 5:48 PM | Council Valley of Springs Population (2015) 431 Founded 12 December 1938 | |
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Founded by Bulgarian and Polish Hashomer Hatzair members Weather 17°C, Wind W at 8 km/h, 53% Humidity | ||
Messilot (Hebrew: מְסִלּוֹת, מסילות, lit. Tracks) is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located in the Beit She'an Valley near the city of Beit She'an, it falls under the jurisdiction of Valley of Springs Regional Council. In 2015 it had a population of 431.
Contents
Map of Mesilot, Israel
History
The community was initially formed as an urban kibbutz in Givat Michael near Ness Ziona by immigrants from Poland (who were members of the "BaMesilah" group from which the kibbutz takes its name) and Bulgaria (members of the "Bulgaria - Tel Hai group"), with both groups belonging to the Hashomer Hatzair movement.
The kibbutz itself was established on 22 December 1938 as a tower and stockade settlement. During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the kibbutz was bombed by an Iraqi aeroplane. One member of the kibbutz was killed in the bombing, and some other members were injured. On 16 April 1957 two guards of the kibbutz were killed by Palestinian terrorists who came from the West Bank, then part of Jordan.
Economy
Mesilot is the home of Wire Ropes Works Messilot Ltd., one of the largest producers of wire rope in Israel and the Middle East. The kibbutz also engages in various forms of agriculture, including livestock (milking cows and raising chickens), a fishery, an orchard, plantings of olives and dates, and other vegetables.
Education
The children of the kibbutz are educated in the regional school within the kibbutz, which also serves children from the nearby kibbutzim Reshafim, Nir David, Beit Hashita, Sde Nahum and Beit Alfa. Next to the elementary school, based on the donation of Yehudit ben Moshe (who was a member of Mesilot and the first principal of its school), a special school was founded for children with autism. Healthy children from grades 7 through 12 used to be educated at the Gilboa School, which was founded next to the Beit Alfa kibbutz and was run jointly by Mesilot, Reshafim, Nir David and Beit Alfa. In 2005 this school was closed, so the students of Mesilot transferred to the regional school at Neve Eitan.