The name "Eilon" is derived from the Hebrew words Elah (pistachio) and Alon (oak), two tree species abundant in this heavily forested area of northern Israel, though specifically referred to the "remnants of ancient trees in the vicinity."[2] The Polish-Jewish immigrants cleared the forest and planted orchards for edible crops that would grow on a rocky hillside, to feed the small population .[3]
History
Eilon, ca. 1940
The kibbutz, situated a short distance from the Lebanese border, was established in 1938 on 400 dunams of land in Khirbet Samak, which had been purchased by the Jewish National Fund.[4] It was settled that year by a group of Polish immigrants and Palestinian Jews.[2] The inhabitants found themselves under constant fire in the wake of the 1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine.[2] Eilon was one of the early tower and stockade settlements.
By 1947 the kibbutz had a population of 350, successfully reclaiming rocky land that had been designated by the British Mandatory government as uncultivable. The kibbutz was initially affiliated with Hashomer Hatzair.[2] Calm was achieved after the Galilee was cleared of Lebanese troops and Kaukji's bands in November 1948. When the Israeli forces, having just occupied the town of Tarshiha appeared coming up the path the inhabitants defending the kibbutz could hardly believe their good fortune.[5]
Eshet Eilon is a privately-owned production plant which manufactures agri-industrial systems to sort vegetables and fruit.
There are a few small workshops in Eilon, among them: Eilon Mosaic which manufactures decorative mosaic;
A recording studio, A studio of traditional Japanese carpentry, and a studio for building Mizrahi (oriental) musical instruments.
A tourist resort is also located in the kibbutz.
Keshet Eilon is a world-renowned violin music center, known mainly for the master course that takes place annually, under the musical directorship of Itzhak Rashkovsky. Some fifty young violinists from around the world spend each summer receiving extensive violin instruction and performing concerts.
Volunteers
Between the years 1967-2000 Eilon used to accept a number of International Volunteers that in return for lodgings, meals and laundry, worked in a variety of locations on the kibbutz. One of the highlights of being a volunteer used to be the Vollies (Volunteers) Bar, which was situated close to the volunteers quarters.
Israel
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