Maoz Haim

Maoz Haim (Hebrew: מעוז חיים, lit. 'Haim's Fortress') is a kibbutz in Israel. It is located adjacent to the Jordan River in the Beit She'an valley and falls under the jurisdiction of Valley of Springs Regional Council. In 2023 it had a population of 548.^[1] Aside from agriculture, the kibbutz also has a plastics factory, "Poliraz".

Maoz Haim מעוז חיים
Etymology: Haim's Fortress
Maoz Haim Show map of Jezreel Valley region of Israel Maoz Haim Show map of Israel
Coordinates: 32°29′35″N 35°33′2″E
Country	Israel
District	Northern
Council	Valley of Springs
Affiliation	Kibbutz Movement
Founded	1937
Founded by	German and Polish Jewish refugees
Population  (2023)[1]	548
Website	www.maoz.org.il

History

The kibbutz was established in 1937 by immigrants from Poland and Germany within the context of Tower and Stockade initiative. The kibbutz was named after Haim Shturman, a member of the Hagana, who was killed there in 1938.^[2]

Maoz Haim was established on what was traditionally land belonging to the Palestinian village of Al-Ghazzawiyya.^[3]

Landmarks

Zakum nature reserve

South of the kibbutz is a small (11 dunam) nature reserve of Balanites aegyptiaca trees, called the Hurshat Zakum (Maoz Haim) reserve, declared in 1968.^[4] Zakum is the Hebrew name of the tree. This is probably the northernmost occurrence of these trees in the world.^[5]

Maoz Haim Synagogue

A 3rd-century synagogue was discovered in February 1974 during construction work near Maoz Haim. It is an unusual archaeological find in that it attests to a record of synagogue development from a time of otherwise sparse historiography, in times of anti-Judaic legislation.^[6] It is situated in a large settlement where it served as a center of worship for Jews until destruction by fire sometime in the early 7th century.^[7]

Notable people

• Rachel Liel, (born 1950), activist
• Asaf Lifshitz (1942–2025), sculptor.
• Dvora Omer (1932–2013), author.
• Ilan Shiloah (born 1957), businessman.
• Roni Daniel (1947–2021), journalist.

Gallery

• 
  Maoz Haim general appearance
• 
  Maoz Haim July 1937 arrival
• 
  Maoz Haim, 1938
• 
  Maoz Haim Settlement Police patrol, 1938
• 
  Members of kibbutz Maoz on a training field trip. 1947
• 
  Group from kibbutz Maoz Haim on a trek to Kaokab, 29 November 1947
• 
  Trek to Kaokab

See also

• Ancient synagogues in the Palestine region - covers entire Palestine region/Land of Israel
  • Ancient synagogues in Israel - covers the modern State of Israel