Kibbutz Tirat Zvi, the first religious kibbutz in the country, is located in the heart of the Springs Valley in the North East of Israel near the city of Beit She’an. Every day in Israel, even without going as far as the valley, you can get a taste of Tirat Zvi or rather from the delicacies of Tirat Zvi’s famous meat factory. But if you want a fascinating taste of this religious pioneering settlement, you should definitely visit this magical area and the kibbutz that for many years has opened its hospitality doors not only to humans, but also to…
The kibbutz’s fish ponds, water sources, agricultural fields and warm winter make Tirat Zvi a transit station for millions of birds that stop or pass over the kibbutz during the migration season. And along with the birds, there are also many stories you’ll learn about the kibbutz like, for instance, the tornado (yes, a tornado!) that hit the kibbutz in 1969.
The kibbutz, which was established as part of the Stockade and Tower settlements, is named after Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalisher, one of the forerunners of religious Zionism and one of the leaders of “Hovevei Zion” movement, who worked to encourage immigration and settlement in the land of Israel. In Hebrew, Tirat Zvi means “the castle of Zvi”. The castle was originally built by Musa al-Alami, sold to the JNF and served for the first years as the kibbutz’s beating heart when the members lived in tents and barracks set up in the castle courtyard.
The visitor center contains a variety of items from those days, and alongside the rural accommodation in Gan Eden – Kibbutz Tirat Zvi’s rural hospitality, tours are held with a variety of stories about the life of the kibbutz. An integral part of the kibbutz’s life is also reflected in the community values and in inspiring and heart-warming projects, such as a home for girls at risk called “The House in the Castle.”
