A WALK THROUGH HISTORIC ROSH PINA:

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• As you go up the hill towards the Artists' Village, Derech Shuv St. merges into HaHalutzim St. The cobbled pavement indicates that you are now in the historic part of Rosh Pina. After passing Gan HaBaron (the Baron's Garden) on your left, turn left onto HaBoulevard to view buildings of historic interest.

 

• The first house on the left is the home of Professor Gideon Mer (A) who moved to Rosh Pina in 1929. His home and workshop can be entered.

 

Dr. Mer moved to Rosh Pina in 1929. Born in Lithuania, then part of Russia, he studied medicine in France, but in 1914 gave up his studies to immigrate to Palestine where he engaged in farming. Like many other Jews in Palestine, he was expelled from Palestine by the Turks during World War 1 as an enemy alien and moved to Egypt. Here he responded to Joseph Trumpeldor’s call for the founding of a Jewish brigade for the British and he served in the Jewish Mule Corps. After the war he returned to Europe to complete his medical training. On his return to Israel, he created a laboratory in his home for the study of mosquitos and malaria eradication. Malaria from mosquitos was then a major problem from the swamps in the Hula Valley. He was not averse to experimenting on himself and his family with his mosquitos. The cages for the mosquitos are still in his office. In 1927, he founded the Malarial Research Station of the Hebrew University in Rosh Pina. He also held various military positions. His work on malarial control won him international recognition.

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• The next building on your left is the House of the Clerks (Beit Hapikud) (B). This is where the Baron’s clerks supervised Rosh Pina and other settlements in the Galilee.

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Inside this building is a visual display in Hebrew about the development of Rosh Pina. There is also a movie that can be viewed in Hebrew, English or Russian. (The movie is more of a play than a documentary, and its full significance is difficult to appreciate without some knowledge of the history of Rosh Pina). There is an admission charge. The movie is shown at regular intervals on Friday and Saturday (11.00 am, 12.00 pm and 1.00 pm) and no reservation is needed (but check on these times). On other days a reservation is required. Their phone number is 04 693-6913.

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• You can also enter Gan HaBaron from the side of the House of Clerks. Planted in 1884, this garden was intended to resemble the famous garden in Versailles, although it is not in quite the same league.

 

• The street turns to the right as Rishonim St.  The second house on your left after the turn belonged to Simha Vilkomitch, the principal of the settlement school (C). His school was the first in the world to teach all subjects in Hebrew and it became an educational model throughout the country. His home is now an art gallery and store. Opposite this, on the other side of the street, is the Alter Schwartz Hotel, the first hotel constructed in the Galilee (D). It was built at the end of the 19th century by Altar Schwartz, who was the first postman for the moshav.

 

• At the end of the street on the left is the Synagogue (E), the first public building erected in Rosh Pina. By the 1930s it was no longer in use, but recently it has been holding services. The interior décor is reputed to be impressive, although the building is usually closed to visitors.

 

• A visit to Nimrod Lookout, an observation point and memorial to a soldier who died in the Lebanon War, is worthwhile. Turn right at the synagogue onto Hanadiv St. and at the end of this street turn left onto HaHalutzim. Then take the first left to the observation point.

 

From Nimrod Lookout you can see the often snow-covered Mount Hermon, the Golan Heights and the Jordan Valley. The chain of hilltops seen on the Golan Heights are a chain of extinct volcanoes. The Hula Valley is just beyond your view on your left.