THE HIKE:

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• Opposite to the entrance to the parking lot of Yardenit and on the other side of the road, look for a green sign to Motor House and a larger purple on white sign indicating the Kinneret Scenic Bike Trail. Turn onto the bike trail. You will soon come to a eucalyptus grove.

 

This eucalyptus grove was planted in 1912 and is one of the oldest in the country. These are the trees that Naomi Shemer would see on her way to school and which she incorporated into her famous song "The Eucalyptus Grove." In the grove is a restored building called Beit HaMotor. It was built in 1910 and was the first agricultural pumping station built in this country.

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This pumping station brought water from the Jordan River for agricultural use and was run by Kinneret Courtyard. This was an experimental training farm founded in 1908 for agricultural workers who intended living in permanent settlements. Key figures in the Labor Zionist Movement and Second Aliya trained here or attended its seminars. Its socialist pioneers founded in 1910 nearby Kibbutz Degania, the first kibbutz in the country, and the moshav Nahalal.

 

Not mentioned on any sign is anything about the 10 Yemenite families who worked for Kibbutz Kinneret draining the swamp. During this time, some of the adults and their children died of malaria. They lived in storage rooms in this pumping station and were driven from their homes after 18 years of working here. This kibbutz was obviously selective in its socialist ideals.

 

• From the door of Beit HaMotor continue along the bicycle trail. At the T-junction turn left in the direction around the lake. You may well see interesting birds and ducks here depending on the season and how much water is in the lake.

 

• Just before the first footbridge at the T-junction turn left to go around the second lake.

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• Just before the second footbridge and before the amphitheater on your right take the left fork onto the Schvil Yisrael trail. This particular trail will take you past the headstone of Booba (A), a much-appreciated horse who toiled for decades doing agricultural work before mechanized ploughs were common. She was buried at this spot.

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• Continue along this gravel path as it curves to the right and meets the main footpath. Go through the open gate. You will pass to the right of a grove of established date palms called Gan Rachel. This date grove was dedicated in 1933 to the memory of Rachel, Israel’s national poetess. The stone memorial is at the far end of the grove.

Rachel Bluwstein (1890-1931) is considered to be the founding mother of Israeli poetry, a field until then only occupied by men. She was known simply as Rachel or Rachel the Poetess. She trained here for a while in agriculture. She also worked in Degania, but was asked to leave because of the tuberculosis she contracted while in Europe. She is buried in the Kinneret Cemetery. 

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• Opposite the memorial stone to Rachel turn right towards the main road and go through the open grey gate. At the main road turn left and continue the short distance along the shoulder until you see the entrance to Kinneret Cemetery on the other side of the road. Cross the road with care and cross at the curve in the road from where you can see traffic coming from both directions.

 

• Opposite the memorial stone to Rachel turn right towards the main road and go through the open grey gate. At the main road turn left and continue the short distance along the shoulder until you see the entrance to Kinneret Cemetery on the other side of the road. Cross the road with care and cross at the curve in the road from where you can see traffic coming from both directions.

 

• From the cemetery entrance, go straight ahead to the graves of Rachel and Naomi Shemer; they are close to each other and overlook the lake.

 

This cemetery has become very well-known because of these two women and influential figures in the Labor Zionist Movement who are buried here. It is still used by Kibbutz Kinneret. There is a recording about Naomi Shemer in Hebrew and also a recording of one of her songs. Note the beautiful view of the lakeshore and lake.

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• Go up the hill to the monument to Theodor Herzl.

 

On the fourth anniversary of Herzl’s death, pioneers from the nearby Galilean settlements gathered here for a memorial service. A memorial was created by placing stones brought from their settlements one on top of another. The memorial service was discontinued after a few years, but has been renewed again, together with competitions etc. A recording can be heard in English in front of the stone memorial.

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• As you continue along the path you will see the archeological ruins of part of the large Tel of Beit Yerach.

 

The importance of Beit Yerach relates to it being situated overlooking major ancient highways. It was a Chalcolithic city from as far back as the 5th century BCE, then a Canaanite city, and was also inhabited during the Hellenistic, Hasmonean and Roman periods. The first caliphs of the Muslim Umayyad Dynasty built a palace here, the ruins of which can be seen. This palace was used by this dynasty for almost 100 years.

 

• On leaving the cemetery, turn left and continue carefully along the left side of the road, sometimes on the shoulder of the highway and at other times on its sidewalk, for another 15 minutes or so until you come to the turnoff to Yardenit and your car.

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OTHER NEARBY ATTRACTIONS:

 

The hike above starts from the same area as the hike The Jordan River for swimming, canoing and hiking. Both are great hikes and not that long - so why not do the two of them?

 

Galita Chocolate Farm is located near the entrance to Kibbutz Degania Beit. Kids (and adults) can participate in a workshop making their own delicious creations. There is also an adventure activity in the Chocolate Garden. Their chocolate products are available for sale. There is movie on the preparation of chocolate. Directions: Enter “Galita Chocolate Farm” into Waze and click on “Galita Chocolate Farm, 10, Degania Bet.” The cost is 99 NIS per participant. A workshop needs to be booked in advance and can be done through their website. The chocolate farm in Degania is open on Saturday and holidays and therefore does not have a kashrut certificate. However, all the products and raw materials are Kosher Lemehadrin Halav Israel. Their phone number is 072 392-2340. This is their website.

 

Yardenit Jordan River Baptismal Site is an alternative baptismal site to El Yehud, which is close to Jericho. It contains 12 baptismal pools, a riverside promenade, gift shop, restaurant, restrooms and showers. There is no charge for admission. White robes can be rented or purchased. Directions: Enter into Waze “Yardenit Baptismal Site.” Their phone number is 04 675-9111.​ This is their Website. 

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The Museum in the Pioneers Courtyard at Degania Alef. The first kibbutz in Israel was formed in Degania Alef by settlers of the nearby moshava of Kinneret, except no one then knew exactly what a kibbutz was. This museum tells the story of how it happened. The museum is open from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. at no charge, although there is a small charge to watch the movie. However, all the explanations are in Hebrew and there is probably a limited amount one can glean from this site without a guide. A 1½-hour guided tour is offered for groups at a charge, and can be in English. The guided tour shows an authentic pioneer courtyard, provides a guided tour of the museum, and shows the movie about Deganyia's beginnings. Their phone number is 04-660 8641.

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Kinneret Courtyard has been restored and is next to Moshava Kinneret (note that Moshava Kinneret is a different place from Kinneret Kvutsa (also known as Kibbutz Kinneret). This was an agricultural and social laboratory for the Second Aliya (1904-1914) and formulated such ideas as kvutza (e.g. Degania), kibbutz and moshav. Key figures in the Labor Zionist Movement and Second Aliya attended its seminars. It has a permanent exhibit and tours in Hebrew. Call 04-670 9117 for times. Click here for its English website.