Map of Galilee

Click on this map  to take you to the different regions on Israel.  Once there, click on Galil region

The Galilee, or Galil in Hebrew, Israel's northern region, is also its most fertile.  It is generally mountainous and is divided geographically into Upper Galilee in the north and Lower Galilee in the south. The mountains are covered with green bushes and water falls. There are also national parks, nature reserves, and mineral baths in this area. The valley of Yizrael is rich with green fields, and the mountains are covered with forest.  The Galil is filled with sites of great significance to the Jewish nation and other religions and it combines the lessons of the past with the promise of the future. At the basin of the Galil is the beautiful Kinneret, a violin shaped lake surrounded by the historical city of Tiberias on its west shores and the Golan Heights on the east.  The Kinneret is the main reservoir of water of the state. The Jordan River carries the water from the Kinneret to the rest of the country.

The Golan Heights, on the east of the Kinneret Lake became again a part of the State of Israel after the Six Day War, in 1967.  Until then it was part of Syrian territory.  From 1967 till today the Golan was developed into a flourishing region.

Kibbutz -  There are many ways people chose to live in the Galil.  There are towns, Moshavim (agricultural settlements) and Kibbutzim  (plural for Kibbutz). THE KIBBUTZ is a  communal way of living unique to Israel.  It was established by the Jewish pioneers who left their city homes in Europe and came to a desolate land in the turn of the 20th century to start a new life.  These city dwellers became farmers.  they built a society that believes in sharing everything-- from profits to decision making to living arrangements.  There are 270 Kibbutzim in Israel, many of which are in the Galil.  The first Kibbutz, Degania, is at the shores of Lake Kinneret and the Jordan River.

Hebrew -  Many languages are spoken in Israel, because most of its citizens have come to live there within the last 100 years.  However, Hebrew, the language of the Bible, is the official language.  What's unique about Hebrew is that it was a dead language for 2,000 years and it was revived by the people who came back to live in the land of Israel in the last one hundred years.  It's an ancient but at the same time a new language.  It's very phonetic, and it's easy to learn!
 
 
 

Teaching Activities:

Highlights of the Galil & the Golan - reasearch and discuss:

1) Even though the Galil is primarily a farming and agricultural region, Israel has encouraged and incorporated research, science and technology into the area.  The Sea of Galilee Ostrophysical Observatory on the Kinneret, (The Sea of Galilee) is an example.  What are the unique achievements of the Observatory  and its programs?

2) Look at the map and read some of the history of the city of Tiberias, and discuss why this location was such an important city throughout history.
 
 

3) In the mountains of the Galil, at the ancient cities of Meron and Tzefat (Safed) was the home of Kabbalah, Jewish Mysticism.  Once a year, on Lag Ba'omer, Jews from all over Israel flock into the area hoping for a special blessing from the spirit of the holy scholar Rav Shimon Bar Yocahi.  Read the story of Rav Shimon, look at the map and discuss why the heights of the Galil mountains became the home of Jewish Mystics.  Learn the words and melody of the famous traditional Bar Yochai song.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Student's Self-Guided Activites

Galil-Golan Activity:  Learn about the Galil and the Golan.
 
 
 
 
 

  Kibbutz Activity:  Learn about the life in the Kibbutz.
 
 
 
 
 

  Learn Ivrit (Hebrew) Activity:   Learn basic communication in Hebrew