Hi,
We went to a small hike in and around Ilaniya, which is the first Jewish settlement in the lower Galilee. It was founded in 1902 as Collective, a pioneering method for the agricultural cooperative (which later led to the Kvutza and the Kibbutz) and had a major part in creating the self-defense HaShomer organization.
The place was founded in the nearby Sejera farm (founded in 1899), which is now inside the near by Havat HaShomer base. The farm was named Sejera after the nearby Arab village of Al-Shajara, which was evacuated during the War of independence. Now Ilanyia is a Moshav, which is an agricultural cooperative of invidual farm.
The name of the moshav comes from the near by village. Sejera in Arabic means a tree. Ilanyia is a version of one of the names of Hebrew for a tree (Ilan).
Nowadays the place a very quiet place with old stone buildings, many interest points, beautiful views and rich history.
Take Care
Gad
The water pool and the water trough attached to it
The other side of the water pool and a sign: The water pool was built on 1942 to ease the water shortage in Ilanyia. The water brought from Bir BaEin spring, 2 km away
The inside of the water pool, which still holds water inside it
The water through
The concrete post above Ilaniya from the Arab Revolt (1936-1939)
The view of fields below Ilanyia
Jannaeus and Mindal in front of Havat HaShomer base which contains the remains of Sejera farm (the base to Ilaniya). We asked to visit the remains, but they asked for to many approvals.
School, the school was built on 1922. Until then the Moshava children learnt in Sejera farm, where they study by the method of Hebrew in Hebrew. During the Arab Revolt (1936-1939) the school was used as a post that watched over the Arab village Sejera. the school was used until the mid 1960s
Sejera Ilaniya water system (1908)
Sejera spring that gives water in rainy years and was used by the Arab village and Ilaniya. It is fenced and you cannot go around it and down the stairs.
The big Cypress, about 500 years old and one of two in Israel.
Sejera farm from the big Cypress. You can find photos of the signs on it here, here and here
The Moshav original road now days
Some of the 6 original houses in Ilanyia, north of the road
Korkin house
Nissan Rogachevsky house, where David Ben-Gurion, Israel first prime minister worked. He used to say his happiest day in his life was the day he plowed and sowed in Sejera