The Golan הגולן
The
Golan Heights needed to be included in this book. Not only is it Israel’s most
strategic piece of Land and crucial for its long term security but it is
literally a treasure still not yet discovered by the world. It is the story of
Jews turning waste Land into a flourishing
productive environment.
It
is located only 60 miles east of beautiful Haifa.
Our History in the Golan
We first learn about our ancient history in the Golan,
in the Torah.
“Then
Moses set aside three cities on this side of the Jordan toward the rising of the
sun….Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.”
D’varim
4:41, 43
Yes,
in ancient times the Golan located in the former Land of Bashan was inhabited by
Jewish settlers from the tribe of Manasseh and is mentioned 3 more times in the
Tanach.
In closer times we can also find a Jewish presence here. To
quote www.golan.org.il:
“At
the end of the Hasmonean period, King Alexander Yanai conquered the Golan and
settled it with Jews. Jewish settlement in the central Golan existed
continuously since then for a period of 700 hundred years. The district capital
was Gamla, which fought with supreme heroism in the Great Revolt, losing Ten
thousand of its fighting sons in battle in defense
of the Golan.”
King Alexander Yanai was a grand nephew of Judah Maccabi.
The long Jewish history in the Golan has given us the remnants of 25 synagogues from Talmudic times which have been discovered. In the late 1800’s Zionists began to move in. In 1891 Baron Rothschild purchased 18,000 acres in the eastern Golan. This was not the first Jewish Land purchased here in the 1800’s. Below is a photo from golan.org.il of the remains of an ancient synagogue.
Modern Day Golan
Israel captured the Golan in June 1967 in a defensive war in which Syria had intended to use this Land as a spring-board for an attack. On December 14, 1981, 7 days before Chanukah, the Knesset voted to extend Israeli rule over the Golan. They annexed this Land. “Baruch HaShem” The Land finally returned to the Jews.
Freshness and Life
Jewish settlers began to settle on the Land as the
morning dew settles on the grass, bringing a renewed freshness and life.
Today, a Land that appeared to be almost useless and used to attack Jews has now been turned into a rich Jewish region of agriculture and tourism where 2,000,000 people visit every year.
Our
G-d spoke to the prophet and said,
“And
I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and
Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon Mount Ephraim and Gilead.”…………….
Yirmeyahu.50:19
Take note that Bashan is the home of the present day
Golan Heights.
33 Jewish settlement communities now exist here and as you read on you will not be able to deny the Blessing of G-d is on this place which is now inhabited by about 18,000 Jews. Most are in kibbutzim and moshavim. Have a look.
Kibbutz Meron
Nov
Ani'am
Sha'al
Mevo Hama
From here you can view Lake Kineret down below from a beautiful park.
Matzok Korvim
Odem
Here kids come and pet the animals
Kibbutz Ein Gev
Kfar HaRuv
From the beautiful park min Kfar HaRuv one cane also have a great view of Lake Kineret looking down below.
Ne' ot HaGolan
is another delightful place. Stop spend the night or have a coffee at their splendid country Cafe.
Bnei Yehudah
Givat Yo'av
Moshav Yonatan
Eli Ad
What have the Jews accomplished here in the Golan with
G-d’s help since He brought Israel again to his habitation?
They have produced 4,000 acres of orchards, 5,000 acres
of agricultural Land with crops and a production of 35,000 tons of flowers.
There are 20,000 heads of cattle with 5,000 dairy cows producing an astounding
60 million liters of milk per year. Also there are thousands of Sheep, goats,
turkeys and ducks.
In the Golan Heights you will find cotton fields, apples, pears, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, avocados, plums, apricots, nectarines, mangoes, grapefruit, bananas, dates, tomatoes, corn, onions, vineyards, which are said to be among the finest in the world, and good wine.
Is this fulfilling
the prophetic word? Yes it is!
”The desolate Land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the site of all who passes by. So they will say,' This Land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden’….” Yechezk’el 36:34, 15
Mountains Shall
Drip With Sweet Wine
There are numerous industrial enterprises in the Golan. The Golan Heights Winery produces 5.4 million bottles of wine per year and exports to 25 countries.
This is what the they say about themselves,
The
Golan Heights Winery produces premium varietals, proprietary blends and
traditional method sparkling wines, marketed under the labels
"Yarden", "Gamla" and "Golan"...The winery was
founded in 1983 and is located in the small town of Katzrin, high up on the
Golan Heights...By combining state-of-the-art technology with traditional
vinification techniques, the company has succeeded in producing award-winning
wines, firmly placing Israel on the international wine map.
The above words you have read so far reveal undeniable
proof that G-d’s sovereign word is coming to pass.
“…,
the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with it. I
will bring back the captives of my people Israel; they shall build the waste
cities and inhabit them. They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them;
they shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them, I will plant them in their
Land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the Land I have given them,
says HaShem your G-d.” Amos
9:13, 14, 15
Below are a few of the Vineyards from the Golan settlements that contribute to this special wine.
Alonei Bashan
Ein Zivan
Ramot Naftali
Odem
Some
in the Golan call it “The
Land of Water and Wine.”
Today one third of Israel’s drinking water comes from this place. Of coarse
the flourishing
wine industry has just been mentioned.
Why do so many tourists come here every year? Well, the mountain views are wonderful and of coarse there is Mount Hermon in the far north of the Golan. Lovers of nature flock here in the spring and summer and people ski here in the winter on Mount Hermon. It is capped with snow several months a year.
It surely has been written by King David,
“Behold,
how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity….It is
like the dew of Hermon descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there HaShem
commanded the blessing, life forevermore.”
Tehillim
133:1, 3
Below are some enjoying Mount Herman
On your way up to the mountain stop off or stay the night in Neve Netiv
An Example to the
World
A
large portion of the Golan is a nature reserve. In fact 246 of the 1,158 square
kilometers of the Golan is nature reserve. In all there are 13 nature reserves.
Come and see the wild life. The Golan Heights extends as far as the eastern edge
of Lake Kinneret. Visit the canyons and waterfalls, G-d’s Holy creations or
the archaeological sites.
Visit the El Al nature trail in Eli Ad
The accomplishments of the Jewish people of the Golan
are an example to the people of the world. Consider how far they have come even
though they live next to the hostile Syrian border. Surely G-d has commanded His
blessing and rewarded them for loving His Land.
Katzrin
Katzrin is a Jewish settlement city located in central Golan. It is the capital of the Golan region with over 6,000 good Jewish souls. It is clean, well groomed and has beautiful trees and pretty homes.
It is
a thriving place that one day will be known around the world. It is a youthful
young plant ready to sprout and show off its beauty. It is located near the
ancient Talmudic town of a similar name which was Kisrin. The ruins of that city
are visited by many.
In Katzrin you will find the Golan Archeological
Museum. You can learn a lot about ancient Golan including an audio visual
presentation of the heroic defensive battle of the ancient Hasmonean town of Gamla
which was attacked
by the Romans. It is presented in Hebrew,
English, French, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch.
Visit the new ultra modern Kessem HaGolan visitor center. Come here and watch the award winning video presentation
called “The Golan Experience” on a 75 foot long 180 degree 3 dimensional
panoramic screen. It was created using the latest technologies in photography,
sound and special effects. Produced by JSC-ID, it won the Gold Medal in its
category at the New York Festivals International Film and Video.
The Golan Heights Winery is located here and the city has become a hub
for tourism. Katzrin is an anchor for other near by settlements and therefore
provides many amenities they might not have.
In Katzrin one will find beautiful neighborhoods to raise a family.
Life is Flourishing
Yes, life is flourishing in the Golan Heights. There are about 2,000
antelopes that now roam the Land along with many other species of animals. The
rivers contain 15 varieties of fish. It is a sanctuary for many types of birds
and lies in the migratory path of millions of birds. In the Golan flies the
Mountain Eagle. Is it not written?
“Do
not be afraid you beasts of the field; for the open pastures are springing up
and the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their strength.”
Yoel 2:22
There
is much to do for the single and the family in the Golan. Pick your own fruit;
go on wagon rides, camping, safaris, bike trips, zoos, free concerts from
Israeli folk to Chassidic, excellent guest houses, special tours and Jeep rides.
Actually those things that have just been mentioned only touch the surface.
The Purity of Jewish Desire
The Golan is an Israeli National Treasure and a gift from above.
It is easy to see its magnetic attraction. The Golan is essential for
Israel’s security. This golden nugget of Land is precious to the state. It is
Holy! It has become an example of the Jewish spirit and the purity of Jewish
desire at work.
Now that the Golan is conquered again according to G-d’s will, His
people will remain here forever. The IDF was in a way doing a service for Joshua
when they captured this Land for the Jews.
“Now
Joshua was old, advanced in years. And HaShem said to him; ‘you are old,
advanced in years, and there remains very much Land yet to be possessed. This is
the Land that yet remains;….. all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan as far as
Salcah;’…” Y’hoshua 13:1, 2, 11
Remenber
Bashan includes the Golan with Mount Hermon. It is included in the covenant G-d
made with Avraham avinu. Lets give thanks to HaShem for all the good He is doing
for us.
All Israel is waiting for you!
So When are you coming Home!?
“Those
who trust in HaShem are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides
forever.” Tehillim
125:1
