Visitors to Kibbutz Beit Hashita have always been enamored by the natural beauty of its surroundings; Beit Hashita is located in the lush Agricultural heartland of the Jezreel Valley, just north of Mt. Gilboa and 20 kilometers west of the Gilad Mountains, the Jordanian Hills. This area was part of the cradle of ancient Jewish history, but more recently has been a central player in the making of the modern Jewish state.
Visitors to the area are welcome to stay at Nof Hashita, the kibbutz Country Lodging. During their stay, visitors will be able to make use of the kibbutz's strategic location for sightseeing in the area. For their convenience, they will also have access to many kibbutz facilities in order to make their stay more comfortable. Visitors are invited to use our SWIMMING POOL in season (May thru October), TENNIS COURTS, EXCERCISE ROOM and GYMNASIUM.
"Nof Hashita" visitors can eat breakfast and lunch in the kibbutz DINING ROOM along with kibbutz Members, or eat at picnic sites and restaurants in the area. For dinner, the area offers a wide-variety of great restaurants, including fish, Chinese, Italian, Argentinian, French, Middle Eastern and special local cuisines. Most restaurants are located in the Jezreel Valley or in Afula, and are only a short drive from the kibbutz.
In the evenings, "Nof Hashita" visitors are welcome to take part in the cultural life of the kibbutz and the surrounding area. This includes movies, concerts, pubs, restaurants, and holiday celebrations. For those who crave a city night-life, Haifa or Tiberius are less than an hours drive by car, and offer a wide-variety of restaurants, clubs, movie houses and other attractions.
Visiting Beit Hashita's MEMORIAL ROOM is a must. This room, dedicated to kibbutz members who have died on the kibbutz or in service of the country, will give a rare, vivid insight into Israel's History, as well as the history of the Kibbutz and the Jezreel Valley.
Beit Hashita is the home of the INTER-KIBBUTZ INSTITUTE OF JEWISH HOLIDAYS. This center provides comprehensive documentation of Jewish ceremonies, festivals and holidays, as celebrated and observed by the secular Kibbutz Movement. The Archives utilize written and visual presentations to illustrate the evolution of traditional holiday celebration on kibbutzim in Israel. For a complete understanding of Jewish holidays, we invite you to explore the significance of celebrations in "Eretz Yishael" (the Land of Israel), and how Jewish festivals are tied to the Land itself.
The view from the top of MT. GILBOA sets the scene for this region, which has experienced so many changes throughout history. From the mountain's top, you will be mezmerized by the beauty of the Jezreel and Jordan Valleys, the green of lush fields and orchards, a number of agricultural settlements and the cities of the north that have been described in writings of the past: Beit Shean, Nazareth and Zafed. To the north, you will look upon beautiful Mt. Tabor, and to the east you will see the modern city of Afula, known throughout Israel and the Zionist world as the home of the best falafel in Israel!
The area surrounding Mt. Gilboa is rich in ancient history, with many sites dating back to the beginning of recorded history. Once a strategic point along the caravan route from Egypt to Damascus, the area is filled with numerous sites and artifacts that tell the story of earlier times. One example is the ANCIENT SYNAGOGUE at kibbutz Beit Alfa, which lies just a couple of kilometers south of Beit Hashita. The Beit Alfa Synagogue includes an exceptionally well preserved mosaic floor that reflects the great historical significance of the area.
The ten minute drive to Beit Shean will bring you to one of the one of the largest archeological finds of the past decade: the ANCIENT ROMAN CITY built on cities from earlier periods, dating back to the beginning of recorded history. It includes the Roman amphitheatre that has been revitalized as a stage for performers from all over the world. According to experts, the natural acoustics of this amphitheatre are among the finest existing in the world.
Five kilometers to the south of Beit Shean is the EL HUSSIENI BRIDGE that facilitates free passage to and from the Kingdom of Jordan on the other side of the Jordan River. Aside from serving as the renewed physical connection between the two countries, the bridge is a modern day symbol for the peace that was achieved between Israel and Jordan just a year ago. The El Husseini Bridge is one of the three crossing points into Jordan and is equipped with a modern terminal for tourists awaiting their turn to cross the Jordan River.
Just a five minute drive from the Beit Hashita, at the foot of Mt. Gilboa, is the Biblical site MAYAN HAROD. "Ma'ayan" is the Hebrew word for a "natural spring"; and the Spring of Harod is a national park site with swimming, hiking, a picnic area and restaurant.
NAZARETH is located only half an hour from Beit Hashita. This picturesque city, with its winding roads and Middle Eastern atmosphere, is the home of representatives of the three major western religions, Islam, Christianity and Judism. Nazareth has a flourishing Arab market (shuk) and houses the largest Christian church in the Middle East.
HAR MEGGIDO (often referred to as Armageddon) is an archeological dig, 25 minutes from the Beit Hashita. Meggido's archeological site goes through the ruins of 22 recorded civilizations and served as the inspiration for James Mitchner's novel "The Source".
The BELVOUR Crusader castle is a must-see attraction in the area, providing us with a look into an extremely important era in Middle Eastern history. Located just 14 kilometers north-east of the Kibbutz, Belvoir sits at KOCHAV HA'YARDEN (the star of the Jordan), a point high above the Jordan Valley, the Jordanian Hills, the settlements in the area, and the international border between Israel and Jordan. In ancient times, it was part of the chain of fires that signalled in the beginning of the Sabbath and Jewish religious holidays.
In short, no site-seeing tour of Israel would be complete without exploring the sites of the Jezreel Valley and the surrounding area, and Kibbutz Beit Hashita is a great base for such a tour! Short day trips can be made to Tiberius, Haifa, the Golan Heights, and the Dead Sea. Even the city of Jerusalem is only a scenic, 2 hour drive through the Jordan Valley.
Please e-mail any comments, suggestions or inquiries to: info@bethashita.org.il
This page is maintained by Joe Rein .