Na'an

Na'an (Hebrew: נַעַן‎) is a kibbutz near the city of Rehovot in Israel. Located within the Central District, it falls under the jurisdiction of Gezer Regional Council and borders the villages of Ganei Hadar, Ramot Meir and Sitria. Founded in 1930, it is the first kibbutz established by Jews born in Eretz Israel. Kibbutz Naan is the largest kibbutz in Israel in terms of population.[2]

For other uses, see Naan (disambiguation).
Na'an

נַעַן‎
Na'an
Coordinates: 31°53′01″N 34°51′28″E
CountryIsrael
DistrictCentral
CouncilGezer
AffiliationKibbutz Movement
Founded1930
Founded byNoar HaOved
Population
 (2019)[1]
1,717
Websitewww.naan.org.il

History

Classic era

The name of the village and the kibbutz derives probably from the Biblical town of Na'amah (Joshua 15:41).[3]

Na'an was the headquarters of Simon bar Giora, one of the Jewish leaders during First Jewish-Roman War in late 60s of the common era.

British period

The Na'an kibbutz was founded in September 1930 by 42 members of the Noar HaOved youth group, on lands purchased from the Palestinian village of Al-Na'ani. This is the first kibbutz founded by members of Noar HaOved, as well as the first kibbutz established by Jews born in Eretz Israel.

Naan 1935
Kibbutz Na'an orange groves, 1938

Before the establishment of the state of Israel, the people of Na'an were active in both the British Jewish Brigade (two members of the kibbutz died in service during World War II) and the Haganah. Prominent Haganah leader and later Israeli parliament member Yisrael Galili was a member of the kibbutz and a large Haganah weapon cache was stored in a hidden cellar under one of the kibbutz houses. That cache was the largest cache not caught by the British Mandatory forces during Operation Agatha and kibbutz elders claim that Yisrael Galili (who evaded capture by the British) was spirited out of the kibbutz in the guise of a pregnant woman set to give birth.

In 1948, Kibbutz Na'an became the newly formed IDF's headquarters for the operation to capture Jerusalem and the elders of the then-Arab city Ramla signed the formal surrender of the city on the kibbutz grounds. Arab Al-Na'ani became depopulated on May 14, 1948.[4]

Na'an 1945 1:250,000
Na'an (No'ar Oved) 1948 1:20,000

Economy

Agriculture

Over the years, Na'an's economy flourished. At first Na'an sustained itself mainly through agriculture, growing fruits and vegetables and boasting a successful large dairy farm and sheep farm.

Irrigation technology

As time progressed, Na'an went into field irrigation technology, as irrigation equipment has been high in demand in arid Israel. What began as a workshop has flourished and by the late 70s was one of the most successful factories in the Kibbutz Movement, producing sprinklers, micro-irrigation and other related equipment. Na'an Irrigation Systems is renowned for developing the underground sprinkler system. By the mid 1980s, growing competition and decrease in demand forced the factory into a considerable slowdown. After roughly 20 years of struggles, Na'an Irrigation Systems merged with Indian conglomerate Jain Irrigation in 2007. The new merged company,NaanDanJain, Irrigation Ltd., aimed to become the largest irrigation manufacturer in the world. After having acquired 50% of the company for $25 million in 2007, Jain Irrigation acquired the remaining 50% from the kibbutz in 2012 for an estimated $35 million. The sale of NaaDanJain to Jain Irrigation was criticized by the general manager of the Kibbutz Industry Association on account of worries that NaanDanJain would transfer its Israel-based operations outside of the country.[5]

Privatization

During the 1980s, the kibbutz embarked on a process of privatization. Income is based on salaries paid directly to members of the kibbutz and gains from joint assets such as the irrigation factory are given as dividends (as the members of the kibbutz are considered stock owners despite not actually possessing stocks of the company). The kibbutz bases its own budget on community taxes paid by the members.

Railway

Na'an is also known for being the namesake for a nearby railway junction marking the branching point of the Railway to Beersheba from the Jaffa–Jerusalem railway.

Notable residents

References
  1. "Population in the Localities 2019" (XLS). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  2. beto, בטו בסודו-. "מספר שיא של נקלטים בנען הקיבוץ הגדול בארץ". www.kibbutz.org.il. Retrieved 2016-10-24.
  3. Carta's Official Guide to Israel and Complete Gazetteer to all Sites in the Holy Land. (3rd edition 1993) Jerusalem, Carta, p.343, ISBN 965-220-186-3 (English)
  4. Morris, Benny (2004). The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem Revisited. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. xix.
  5. Azulai, Yuval (14 May 2012). "Kibbutz Naan sells NaanDanJain Irrigation". Globes. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
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