Then, in a forest on the Lebanese border, we discovered this amazing place

At the far left of the country is Kibbutz Hanita in the Western Galilee.

On the face of it, I did not think there was much to find in it.

But then I went into Tambouria which is basically a cafe in a forest and got a map.

From here, everything changed.

A tour of the most surprising place on the Lebanese border

Ziv Reinstein

04/05/2022

Wednesday, 04 May 2022, 16:07 Updated: 19:52

• Share on Facebook

• Share on WhatsApp

• Share on Twitter

• Share on Email

• Share on general

• Comments

  Comments

Amazing trip to Kibbutz Hanita (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)

It was about two years ago, my soul with my family in the Western Galilee and after visiting the "Wall and Tower" museum in Kibbutz Hanita, we were looking for something to eat.

I checked what's in the area and arrived at "Hanuta" - a cool cafe located in ... Tambouria.

Yes, you enter a building materials and plumbing store and suddenly, as if behind a secret door, we will discover an opening leading to a lovely courtyard, shade of trees and tables with tablecloths.

We ordered the breakfast of "Hanuta" (the old name of Hanita in the Talmud) and some beers on tap.

At the end of the meal we were approached by a tall man, white hair on his head and a boy's smile on his face.

In his hands he held an aerial photograph of Hanita with 18 numbered dots on it.

"Want to hear a little about Hanita?"

He asked politely.

"Sure," I replied, and he sat down next to us and began to explain.

It turned out that this is Nitzan Aden, the owner of the place and the living spirit behind quite a few initiatives for the development of the kibbutz combined with nature.

For example, Nitzan (known by the locals as "Nitzi") in combination with a group that connects the community with nature called "Hanita and Nitik", broke six paths in Hanita and its surroundings: "Mish'ol Hashomerim" Others were added: "the Pole Trail", "the Stair Trail", "Paradise Trail", "Ein Hur Spring Trail" and recently also the "Cliffs Trail" which passes by a local cliff.

"All the routes are going to be on a map that we are preparing soon," says Nitzan.

I asked Nitzan for the aerial photo he presented to us, and went to discover Hanita following the 18 points.

I passed one by one, some were adjacent, like the defense stand in the old rest house, or the laundromat that had become a post office, others needed a walk, like painted caves from the Byzantine period or a beehive from 1939 whose structure reminded me of altar horns.

These points revealed the history of the old kibbutz, which was founded as part of the "Wall and Tower" on March 21, 1938 - first in the Lower Hanita which is now in the Hanita Forest, where the spring that provided water was called "Ein Koveshim", and two weeks later in Hanita Illit To this day.

More on Walla!

The small village that branded itself as "Savyon in the Galilee"

To the full article

More on Walla!

• Rajar: The Israeli village in Lebanon

• We found a place for NIS 400 a night in the north, and there is also a cool tour

• Baqa al-Gharbiya: The fascinating city you missed on Route 6

• The smart test that detects an increased risk of having a stroke is currently in operation

The Tambouria is also a small and cool cafe.

"Hanuta" (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

On weekends there are performances and singing evenings. The yard of "Hanuta" (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Does not stop working.

Nitzan ("Nitzi") Aden at one of the points that broke in the ladder ridge (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Go out and learn.

The 18 points that Nitzan prepared on Hanita's IDF (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Hanita is one of the wall and tower settlements.

A square at the entrance to the kibbutz (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

What are you jar?

Yes!

I can go on and on about her historic spear endlessly.

On the stone bridge from the 1950s, on two tombs (by Aryeh Lusky and Ezekiel Monchik) in the yard of someone's house, on the rest house that was closed, on the Byzantine caves in one of which the body of a Turkish soldier in uniform was found, or on the Ladder Cave discovered in 1940.

But you will find out for yourself when you arrive at Hanuta and you will receive Nitzan's points map free of charge (just do not forget to return it at the end).

But let's move on to the present.

What is also interesting about the kibbutz is that it has slowly begun to develop private tourism initiatives - a fairly familiar process that has happened in quite a few moshavim and kibbutzim in recent years - thanks to the younger spirit of the residents that attracts people to try and make a living from their hobby.

So in the privatized Hanita where about 800 people live, they decided to show that they have something to offer and assigned the marketing task to Nadav Kamnir, a lieutenant colonel in the navy in the past and a small business and tourism coordinator in the kibbutz today.

Kaminer takes me to the "Jar Complex", named after a deli-cafe that started as a small cooperative opened about seven years ago by Meirav Ben Ezer and Uri Shaked.

"Uri gave the place its name thanks to the 'tanzon' of pickles, soups and even compotes," explains Meirav when she prepares health smoothies - the thing in which she specializes.

For example, an acai smoothie that includes acai, banana milk, cocoa and almond milk (NIS 28).

Since the jar was opened, the place has undergone several incarnations and has evolved into a business built by hand using recycled materials, and over time has crystallized into a community center for people aged 40 and under and young families.

The place hosts events, lectures and performances alongside light food, such as homemade chickpeas on Fridays, and on Thursday evenings a stew and cultural event.

And nearby there is also a small pub that is under renovation called "Hanita Pub", which is mainly used by the locals.

More on Walla!

Workers' Day, Celebrating at Night: We visited the first digital nomadic village in Israel

To the full article

Started as a small cooperative about seven years ago.

Ben Ezer in "The Jar" (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Over time, more businesses began to appear.

The jar compound (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Reminded me of the horns of the altar.

The old apiary from 1939 (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

The stone bridge from the 1950s, located next to the wall and tower museum in the kibbutz (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Babies parked on the stone bridge, as it appears in the book of the place in "Hanuta" (Photo: Walla !, Reproduction, Ziv Reinstein)

Peace ridge

Following the jar, other businesses also came to the complex, such as the "Border" Gallery for Contemporary Art and the painting studio of Rita Katz - artist and curator.

You will find other art in Liat Soto, whose studio, "One of 1", combines handicrafts and handicrafts by local artists, as well as decorative items and accessories for the final touch in home design.

“As an interior designer it is important to me to bring unique and artistic items that I carefully pick up to personal style in home decor and gifts,” she says.

Do not miss the charming and tiny shop of Yuval Wackert, a therapeutic yoga teacher, whose hobbies include creating wooden games in the studio at his home.

In the shop he opened, "Salamander" ("because there are quite a few in the area in the winter and that's also my daughter's nickname"), he presents special games he recreated from his childhood or invented himself, for example a memory game of walnuts or spinning top sticks.

Another project by Yuval and two other members of the kibbutz - Orly Solana Kadosh and Gilad Argaman - began in 2017 and brings together Jews and Arabs in the "Peace Ridge", as they call the ladder ridge on which Hanita is located and overlooks Lebanon and the border fence.

"There is tension on the border," they say.

"The thought that we were sitting on the border and not doing any meaningful discourse, made us start doing something, and we started with a music and theater event and thought there would be a response from Lebanon after 2006, but there was not, so we went for a discourse within our society, Arab-Jews, religious-secular-secular And the like. "

For the past five years, they have held over 50 events of various meetings on the subject of dialogue about neighborliness and rapprochement.

For example, of the children of the area together with children from Arab villages such as Jadeida-Makr, Fasuta, Kabiya and more.

In the various sessions, there is a joint creation such as drawing on a large canvas, writing wishes for the "wish tree", mandalas or release shouts in the "exit-aka" corner, where a shout (release, squeeze) is shouted and released.

And there are also outdoor activities, shows and more.

More on Walla!

From Basota to Fasuta: "Only those who want to come" come here "

To the full article

Inventes and manufactures wooden games from his childhood.

Yuval and his wares (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

"The thought of us being on the border made us do something."

Yuval and Orly in the Peace Ridge (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Rita Katz curates new exhibitions every time.

"Border" Gallery in Hanita (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

A collection of handicrafts and handicrafts by local artists.

Liat Soto in the "One in 1" studio (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Each season and its alcohol

Another person who came to the jar compound was Yuval Har Gil ("Job"), who was an alcohol reporter for years and "crossed the lines," he said, and opened an alcohol distillery called "Julius" at Kibbutz Beit HaEmek (in the area).

In 2017 he transferred it to Hanita and together with his partner, Ivan Sanchez, they produce alcohol from fruits grown in the area.

“Every season we produce a liqueur from fruits that are grown that season,” Job explains.

"Now it's dead and girls, in summer apricots and grapes."

What is even more important in the production of their alcohol, is that everything is made from local raw materials - from the fruit to the label for the bottles, and only the glass bottles are imported because there are no such products in the country.

In the visitor center below the distillery, which operates on electricity coming from solar panels, is the end result after distilling the alcohol from the fruit - different liqueurs at different levels of alcohol.

For example, old-fashioned grappa, which is the best-selling liqueur (NIS 175), or their premium drink "Pom de Galilei", which is a brandy of Jonathan apples, Pink Lady, Gala and Delicious with an alcohol level of 51.5 percent (NIS 300).

"The distillery is aimed at a niche audience that knows and loves alcohol and can come, drink and taste strong liqueurs on Thursdays and Fridays," Job explains.

The rest of the days by appointment (except Saturday).

A tour and tasting will cost a person NIS 50, but if you buy a bottle - the tasting is free.

More on Walla!

Ramat Rachel Hotel: Here the CEO earns like the maid

To the full article

Job and the distillery in "Julius", which was built to a special order in Germany (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

This is what comes out after refining.

A selection of Julius' liqueurs (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

At the Julius Visitor Center, you can taste various liqueurs (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Strawberries.

Who wants strawberries?

(Which grow in the air)

But it is not only bananas and other deciduous fruits that grow in the area, and the kibbutz has expanded in recent years to more crops, such as hydroponics.

"The advantage of hydroponic cultivation is that the water does not come out of the system, and it is clean and fertile water," says Kaminer, who also serves as the marketing director of the Radiant Crops company, which markets various sponsors, coriander, dill, baby leaves, beets, celery, rocket, spinach and onions. Green and buck choy as well as strawberries - all grown in air and water.

You can get their fresh produce at major writers in the area, such as Faisal Market and Dabah, but it can also be purchased on the site.

Another income for the kibbutz is its old dining room, which is run by Sigal Gozlan, and everyone will come to eat a varied lunch for NIS 35, including groups that travel in the area.

On the menu: schnitzels, salads, soup, couscous, rice and more.

For coordination: 052-6314275.

NIS 35 for lunch.

The dining room in the kibbutz (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Promotes small businesses and businesses in the kibbutz.

Nadav Kaminer in "Salamander" (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Grow on water that does not leave the system.

Hydroponics sponsorship of "The Radiant Crops" (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

It was discovered in 1940.

The Ladder Cave (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Swing in front of the Mediterranean.

One of the most spectacular observations hidden in the Ladder Ridge (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Yuval in a store he opened in his daughter's name. "Salamander" (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Will be happy to provide you with the map (just return it).

Nitzan Aden in "Hanota" (Photo: Walla !, Ziv Reinstein)

Hanita is, as mentioned, one big surprise.

One kibbutz that contains a variety of things: from history, nature, trips and observations, through culinary, art and alcohol to high-tech and innovative initiatives.

so what are we doing?

Start with the map of "hawks", and the rest - go out and learn.

• Tourism

• Excursions in the country

• Excursions in the north

Tags

• Spear

• Excursions in the country

• Western Galilee