Mahanayim

Mahanayim ( ) is a kibbutz in northern Israel . Located around three kilometres north-east of Rosh Pina , it falls under the jurisdiction of Upper Galilee Regional Council .¹ In 2006 it had a population of 346.² The land on which Mahanayim stands was purchased in 1892 by the Ahavat Zion (Love of Zion) Hovevei Zion organisation with the aim of establishing a moshava in the area. In 1898 a number of families from Galicia settled in the area, naming it Mahanayim after the Biblical city in Gilead , where Jacob stayed before he met again with his brother Esau and saw angels, therefore calling it Mahanayim (camps) of God (Genesis 32,2). However, it was not a success, largely due to the settlers' lack of familiarity with the region, a shortage of money, and a lack of professionalism, resulting in the community disintegrating. The Jewish Colonization Association ran a trial of growing tobacco in the area, but it too was a failure, and the village was abandoned in 1912. In 1916 a kvutza of Poale Zion members arrived in the area, establishing the first working settlement in the Upper Galilee . In 1922 it became a moshav , but was abandoned in 1928. The village was established for a third time in 1939 by members of kibbutz "Yodfat" from Safed . The kibbutz' postal index is 12315. Ben Ya'akov Airport is located to the south of the kibbutz.³