Nes Harim

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Nes Harim
NesHarim02.jpg
Founded 1950
Founded by Jewish from Kurdish and Moroccan
Council Mateh Yehuda
Region Judean foothills
Affiliation Moshavim Movement
Coordinates 31°44′41.28″N 35°3′29.88″E / 31.7448°N 35.0583°E / 31.7448; 35.0583Coordinates: 31°44′41.28″N 35°3′29.88″E / 31.7448°N 35.0583°E / 31.7448; 35.0583
Nes Harim is located in Israel
Nes Harim

Nes Harim (Hebrew: נֵס הָרִים‎‎, lit. Mountain Miracle) is a moshav in Israel, eight kilometers from Jerusalem. [1]Located in the Judean foothills near Beit Shemesh, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 588.

The moshav was established in 1950 by immigrants from Kurdistan and Morocco,[2] on the land of the Palestinian village Bayt 'Itab, which was depopulated in the 1948 War.[3]

It is situated 2,275 feet (700 meters) above sea level. The early farmers planted orchards and vineyards, taking advantage of the fertile soil and unique climate.[4]

The ruins of a Byzantine monastery were discovered on a hill on the southwest side of the moshav.[5]

The Katlav winery is located in Nes Harim.[6]

Archaeology

During excavations in November 2008, archaeologists found the narthex of a church decorated with multicolored mosaics,and parts of a wine press. After the discovery, the mosaic was badly damaged by unidentified vandals.[7]

The mosaic includes an inscription in ancient Greek deciphered by Leah Di Signi of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem: "O Lord God of Saint Theodorus, protect Antonius and Theodosia the illustres [a title used to distinguish high nobility in the Byzantine period] - Theophylactus and John the priest [or priests]. [Remember o Lord] Mary and John who have offe[red - ] in the 6th indiction. Lord, have pity of Stephen."[8]

Horbat 'Itab, a 130-dunam national park on the outskirts of Nes Harim, contains the ruins of a Crusader fortress that overlooked the road from Emek HaEla to Jerusalem and the village of Bayt 'Itab. The site was surveyed in 1989 by Denys Pringle, a researcher of the Crusader period, who documented the remains of the fortress, vaults, a wall and towers, tunnels, a columbarium and an olive press. [9]

References

  1. ^ Farmers find monastery beneath Israeli soil CNN.com, 3/11/2009
  2. ^ Nes Harim history
  3. ^ All That Remains: The Palestinian Villages Occupied and Depopulated by Israel in 1948, Walid Khalidi, 1992, Washington D.C., Institute for Palestine Studies, ISBN=0-88728-224-5, p. 275
  4. ^ Nes Harim history
  5. ^ Farmers find monastery beneath Israeli soil CNN.com, 3/11/2009
  6. ^ Nes Harim history
  7. ^ Nes Harim church and wine press
  8. ^ Nes Harim church and wine press
  9. ^ Conservation-engineering stabilization



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