Menara, Israel

Menara
Hebrew	מְנָרָה
Also spelled	Manara (officially)
Founded	1943
Founded by	HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed members
Region	Upper Galilee
Affiliation	Kibbutz Movement
Coordinates	33°11′45″N 35°32′40″E / 33.19583°N 35.54444°E / 33.19583; 35.54444Coordinates: 33°11′45″N 35°32′40″E / 33.19583°N 35.54444°E / 33.19583; 35.54444
Menara
Website	www.manara.co.il

Menara (Hebrew: מְנָרָה‎‎), also Manara, is a kibbutz located in the Upper Galilee area of northern Israel, adjacent to the Lebanese border and overlooking the Hula Valley. It falls under the jurisdiction of Upper Galilee Regional Council.

History

The kibbutz was established in 1943 by members of the HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed youth group, and other young immigrants from Germany and Poland. At one point the kibbutz was renamed Ramim (Hebrew: רמים‎, lit. Tall ones) in an attempt to replace its Arabic name (Manara derives from Minaret) with a Hebrew one. However, the new name failed to take hold amongst local residents. The kibbutz then came to a settlement with the government whereby the name Menara, with an accent on the last syllable (a Hebraicized form of Manara, accented on the second syllable) would be made official.

Leon Uris visited the kibbutz while researching his novel, "Exodus", whilst Yitzhak Rabin's sister is a member.

As Menara lies less than 100 metres from the Lebanese border, problems have arisen during fighting between the two countries. The Menara bypass project was completed in 2005 to provide safe access to the kibbutz. Recent plans to build more than 80 homes in Menara, to take advantage of its scenic location, have been put on hold.

Menara is boasted to be 888 metres above sea level and is a rare style for a kibbutz, with apartments providing the accommodation, due to the limited space.

Economy

Menara's main industries are agriculture (primarily cotton fields, apples and chickens), tourism to the scenic cliffs via its cable cars descending to Kiryat Shmona in the valley below, and a technical glass manufacturing plant.

Gallery

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  Manara

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  The Manara Cable car (right)

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  View of Lebanon from Manara

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  The Cliffs around Manara

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  Sunrise at the Manara Cliff site

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  View from Manara toward Mount Hermon

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  Upper cable car station

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  View from the cable car station

External links

• Official website (Hebrew)
• Manara cable car website