Beit HaEmek
בֵּית הָעֵמֶק | |
---|---|
Etymology: House of the Valley | |
Coordinates: 32°58′16″N 35°8′42″E / 32.97111°N 35.14500°E | |
Country | Israel |
District | Northern |
Council | Mateh Asher |
Affiliation | Kibbutz Movement |
Founded | 1949 |
Founded by | British Jews |
Population (2021)[1] | 730 |
Beit HaEmek (Hebrew: בֵּית הָעֵמֶק, lit. House of the Valley) is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located in the western Galilee, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Asher Regional Council. As of 2021 it had a population of 730.[1]
Kibbutz Beit HaEmek was established in 1949, in part by members of the British Habonim movement.[2] Its name is derived from that of the nearby village of Amqa and the Biblical city of Beth-emek "included in Asher tribal allotment"[3] mentioned in the Book of Joshua 19:27,[4] which was located 5 kilometres north-east of the kibbutz. The kibbutz was built on the land of the depopulated Palestinian village of Kuwaykat.[5][6] In addition to agricultural activities, the kibbutz has scientific industry activities, such as Biological Industries, one of the world’s leading and trusted suppliers to the life sciences industry.[7][8]
At around 2000, the kibbutz voted to privatize itself.[9]