Kabri, Israel

Kabri כַּבְרִי‎
The kibbutz's dining room was designed by the architect Hanan Havron
Kabri Kabri
Coordinates: 33°1′15″N 35°8′56″E
Country	Israel
District	Northern
Council	Mateh Asher
Affiliation	Kibbutz Movement
Founded	14000 BCE (First settlement) Post-Crusader period (Arab village) 1949 (Israeli kibbutz)
Founded by	Beit HaArava Residents and Youth Aliyah Refugees
Population  (2022)	1,120
Website	www.cabri.org.il

Kabri (Hebrew: כַּבְּרִי, also transliterated Cabri) is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located in the Western Galilee about 4 kilometres (2 mi) east of the Mediterranean seaside town of Nahariya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Asher Regional Council. In 2022 it had a population of 1,120.

The kibbutz was founded in 1949 by a group of members who, during the War of Independence, were forced to abandon their kibbutz, Beit HaArava, north of the Dead Sea and to look for a new place to settle.

Nowadays, Kibbutz Cabri has defined itself as a kibbutz in a process of renewal and has initiated a process of change and redefinition.

In 2006, a more inclusive community was established, comprising 300+ kibbutz members, together with some 100 second and third generation offspring who have chosen to build their homes in Cabri.  The balance of the population of 730 adults is comprised of temporary residents and candidate members.

History

Prehistory

Further information on the early history of Kabri: Tel Kabri § History

The area of Kabri Springs was first settled 16,000 years ago , during the Neolithic period. Permanent structures appeared around the year 10000 BCE . Archaeological digs uncovered the remains of an ancient city. The city was built around the year 2500 BCE and its territory ranged over 32 hectares (79 acres), which were surrounded by dirt embankments 7 metres (23 ft) high and 35 metres (115 ft) thick, on which were built guard towers.

The ancient city that existed 1 km to the southwest is known to archaeologists as Tel Kabri, though its Canaanite name is not known. It was a city-state in the heart of which was placed by the palace of the ruling monarch. The two-story palace was decorated with colourful frescoes and ornaments in Minoan style. Residents of the city (their number is estimated at 5,000) earned their living through agriculture and international commerce. Leftover bits and pieces of merchandise whose origins lay in Egypt, Turkey and Crete were found in the ruins and graves during the excavations. The city was connected to a port on the coast, apparently under Achziv. The city-state was completely abandoned around the year 1600 BCE for unknown reasons.

Ancient history

Further information on the history of Kabri in this time-period: Tel Kabri § Post-palatial

After a few generations, the Phoenicians established next to the abandoned city a fortress town on 1.5 hectares (3.7 acres), in which were found the weapons and kitchen equipment of Greek mercenaries, as well as a scarce bowl, in which was prepared the colour Tekhelet and Argaman (Purple) the Phoenicians' main export. The dye is created from a gland found in three kinds of sea snails, commonly called rock snails or murex, found along Israel's coast. The dye likely created both the argaman (purple) and techelet (blue) referred to in the Hebrew Bible. It was part of the jewish temple color ritual. That settlement survived from the 9th century BCE until the end of 7th century, at which time it was destroyed by the Babylonians.

Modern history

In 1949 a new kibbutz was founded on the site of the village by displaced members of the kibbutz Beit HaArava and young refugees from the Youth Aliyah. Beit HaArava was located along the Jordan River near Jericho, and had been evacuated during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, was subsequently destroyed by the invading Jordanian forces. Beit HaArava's children and noncombatant women members had been evacuated to the kibbutz Shefayim during the War of Independence. The members subsequently divided in 1949 into two groups. One became the founding member of Kabri and the other joined Gesher HaZiv, another kibbutz in the Western Galilee.

Kibbutz Cabri continues to seek out young families interested in joining as kibbutz members, a process which takes several years.

The economy of Cabri is built upon the income of its members, working on the kibbutz or outside of it, and on the income of its various branches:

• Agriculture:  bananas, avocados, poultry and dairy farming.
• Industry:  Cabiran, producing precision aluminum castings. Rion, producing plastic components for industry and agriculture, electro-fusion components for polyethylene pipes, and plastic greenhouses.

• Service branches: mini-market, laundry, insurance,  personal services – cosmetics, hairdressing, alternative medicine, gift shop and picture-framing workshop.
• Art:  The Gottesman Etching Center, a central art gallery, and several artists’ studios.
• Tourism:  Adelina – a Spanish-style gourmet restaurant, Cabri Horse Farm – horse tours and riding lessons, etc.

Education: The Day Care Center enrolls children from infancy through kindergarten, from Cabri as well as from other nearby towns and settlements.

Ma’ayanot, our regional primary school, is located in Cabri.

Our regional middle-school, is located in Kibbutz Eilon.

“Manor-Cabri” high school, specializing in music and art, is also located in Cabri.

Our school-age children, together with others from the region, enjoy an after-school enrichment program and participate in sports and music activities organized by Matte Asher.

For adults, Cabri supplies a variety of cultural activities, including lectures and enrichment classes in a wide variety of subjects; day-trips and evening outings; sports; folk-dancing; an active senior citizen’s center; library; health clinic; etc.

Shortly following the breakout of the Iron swords war, Kabri was evacuated due to its proximity to the Lebanese border, and both of the regional schools in the kibbutz were converted into military bases.

Geography

The kibbutz is situated near four natural springs, which provide water to it and the neighbouring moshavim of Ben Ami and Nativ HaShayara. There are also two archeological sites within its boundaries: Tel Kabri and a Byzantine well and mosaic floor. It commands a view of the Mediterranean and is within sight of the Lebanese border.

Economy

The kibbutz supports itself from a successful banana plantation and from the avocado groves where most of the archaeological excavation has taken place through the ongoing archaeological expedition at Tel Kabri. The kibbutz also runs a metal and wax casting factory (Cabiran), a plastics factory (Ri'on), a restaurant, a regional auditorium, and a vacation village.

Educational institutions

Two schools are located on the kibbutz grounds—the "Maayanot" regional elementary school and the "Manor-Kabri" regional high school, where children and youth of the kibbutz and nearby settlements receive their education. The high school particularly emphasizes education in the arts, offering majors (Grades 10–12) in music, visual arts, drama, and cinema/video. Owing to the educational programs offered in the performing arts and academic subjects from the state curriculum, it attracts pupils from all over the area. Former Knesset member and Kabri resident Daniel Rosolio taught at both schools.

There is also a childcare system for infants, toddlers, and kindergartners, and adult education with many cultural activities Including The Gottesman Etching Center. The Gottesman Etching Center - Kibbutz Cabri, is a venue for artists from Israel and abroad to produce etchings.

Notable people

• Yardena Arazi, singer and entertainer
• Avishai Cohen, jazz bassist, composer, singer and arranger
• Elam Rotem, Early music expert, especially of the Jewish-Italian Baroque composer Salamone Rossi, attended High School here
• Eival Gilady, general
• Ori Reisman, painter
• Daniel Rosolio, politician and member of the Knesset
• Aviva Rabinovich-Vin (אביבה רבינוביץ'-וין), professor of botany, chief scientist at the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and an environmental activist, lived and was buried here

External links

• Kibbutz website
• The Gottesman Etching Center -  Kibbutz Cabri, Israel