Balfouria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Balfouria
בַּלפוּרְיָה
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Aerial view of Balfouria
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 Balfouria
Location in Jezreel Valley region of Israel
Balfouria
Location in Israel
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| Country | Israel |
| District | Northern |
| Council | Jezreel Valley |
| Affiliation | Moshavim Movement |
| Founded | 1922 |
| Founded by | American Zion Commonwealth |
| Population
(2017)
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491 |
Balfouria (Hebrew: בַּלפוּרְיָה) is a special type of farming community called a moshav in northern Israel. It is located south of Nazareth, close to the city of Afula. This community is part of the Jezreel Valley Regional Council, which helps manage the area. As of 2017, about 491 people live in Balfouria.
Contents
A Look at Balfouria's Past
Balfouria has a rich history that started over 100 years ago.
How Balfouria Began
In 1919, a group of people came together to learn how to farm and build a new settlement. They bought land using money from the American Zion Commonwealth, an organization that helped Jewish people settle in the area. Another group, Keren Hayesod, provided the tools and equipment they needed.
The moshav of Balfouria was officially started in 1922. It was one of the very first settlements of its kind in Mandatory Palestine, which is what Israel was called back then. The community was named after Arthur James Balfour, an important British leader. He was famous for writing the Balfour Declaration, a statement that supported the idea of creating a Jewish "national home" in Palestine. Lord Balfour even agreed to let the settlement use his name!
In 1922, a count of the population showed that 18 Jewish people lived in Balfouria. A publication from 1949 by the Jewish National Fund stated that Balfouria was the first village founded in Palestine after the Balfour Declaration.
Early Settlers and Growth
More people joined the first founders of Balfouria. Some came from other types of communities called kibbutzim, and others from places like Merhavia and Petah Tikva. The first houses and barns for dairy cows were built with strong concrete and had shingled roofs. Because of these nice buildings, the settlers of Balfouria were sometimes jokingly called "the millionaires"!
Lord Balfour himself visited the moshav in 1925. He gave his good wishes to the people living there.
Changes Over Time
In 1939, the land of Balfouria was given to the Jewish National Fund. This organization then made agreements with Keren Hayesod for people to lease the land.
In 1934, the settlers dug a new well. This helped them get more water, which was great for farming and growing crops. Later, in 1959, Balfouria connected to the Mekorot water company, ensuring a steady water supply for the community.
Balfouria Nature Reserve
Just northeast of the moshav, there's an ancient mound of earth called a tell. You can also find springs there, which are what's left of the old swamps in the valley. In 1979, this area was made into a nature reserve, covering about 45 dunams (a unit of land area).
On top of the tell, there's a special monument. It honors the people who founded Balfouria and those who bravely fought and died in Israel's wars.
Sports in Balfouria
Balfouria once had its own football (soccer) team called Hapoel Balfouria. They even played in the top league in the mid-1950s for two seasons! However, the team later stopped playing.
Images for kids
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Balfouria in 1945
