Galilean Village Where Ben-Gurion Labored to Be Restored

Nestled in the Lower Galilee’s rolling hills, above the Sea of Galilee and along the historic route from Tiberias to Haifa, the village of Ilaniya is reclaiming its powerful legacy. One of the earliest modern Jewish agricultural communities, Ilaniya is not only a place of remarkable history it’s also where a young David Ben-Gurion once toiled as a farmhand, decades before becoming Israel’s first prime minister.

Now, over 120 years since its founding, this village is embarking on a comprehensive restoration of its original homes and historic sites. The effort comes at a time of national reflection, following the traumatic October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks, prompting renewed focus on the country’s heritage and identity.

“This is an untouched historical site of the Jewish people,” said Arieh Raf, a 69-year-old farmer whose family has lived in Ilaniya since its early days. “We need to pass on this history to the next generation those who don’t understand what it means to be without a country so they know why we are fighting for the Land of Israel.”

Ilaniya, originally known as Sejera, was established in 1902 with support from Baron Edmond de Rothschild, a devoted advocate of Zionist agricultural settlement. The land held immense strategic and historical value, with nearby ruins from the Talmudic era built over by later villages. It was here that pioneers both Jewish immigrants and Christian converts founded a community grounded in hard work and education.

Among them was David Grün later Ben-Gurion who taught Hebrew and worked the land as part of a Zionist training farm. His early experience in Ilaniya would echo throughout his leadership in the establishment of the Jewish state decades later.

Today, a 3 million shekel (approx. $900,000) project is underway to restore two of the village’s original houses and build a museum and visitors center near where Ben-Gurion lived and worked. A boutique winery and art gallery are also planned for the site of the former barns. Project manager Oz Gino noted that the restoration is already partially funded and is expected to be completed within three years.

Haifa University historian and Ilaniya resident Estie Yankelevitch described the village as “2,500 years of Jewish settlement in one place.” Scattered throughout the area are archaeological treasures ancient burial caves, red-painted menorahs, Roman columns, and remnants of a Second Temple-era synagogue. A future archaeology garden is envisioned to showcase these artifacts.

“When you come to this community,” Yankelevitch said, “you see the essence of the existence of the Jewish nation.”

This restoration isn’t just about bricks and history it’s about roots, purpose, and continuity. As Raf noted, “Without our history, there is no future.”

Israel’s story is one of revival of land, language, and legacy. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for more stories celebrating the people and places that make Israel thrive.