Mazkeret Batya

Mazkeret Batya (Hebrew: מַזְכֶּרֶת בַּתְיָה‬) (lit. "Batya Memorial") is a toun in the centre o Israel locatit sootheast o Rehovot an 25 kilometres (16 mi) frae Tel-Aviv. Mazkeret Batya spans an aurie o 7,440 dunams (7 km²). In December 2008, it haed a population o 9,900. The mayor o Mazkeret Batya is Meir Dahan.^[1]

Mazkeret Batya wis established on November 7, 1883 bi 10 pioneers frae Roushie an 7 local Jews. It wis oreeginally cried Ekron, the first agricultural dounset o the Hovevei Zion muivement. The land wis purchased bi Baron Edmond James de Rothschild in an early attempt tae introduce Jewish fermin in Palestine. Rabbi Shmuel Mohilever wis instrumental in mobilizin fundin an organizin the settlers. Mohilever's remains wur later reinterred in the Mazkeret Batya cemetery. In 1887 the name wis chyngit tae Mazkeret Batya, in memory o Betty Solomon de Rothschild, mither o Baron Edmond James de Rothschild.

The economy o the veelage wis oreeginally based on dry fermin, which continued even efter the Mekorot Company constructit a pipeline tae bring watter frae Rehovot.^[2] In 1947, Mazkeret Batya wis hame tae 475 fowk.^[2]

Durin the Mandate era, a Jewish police station wis established in Mazkeret Batya tae safeguard the local roads. In the War o Unthirldom, convoys tae besieged Jerusalem left frae Mazkeret Batya. A field hospital operatit thare tae care for Haganah fechters woondit at Latrun.^[3]

Accordin tae ane soorce, at the end o the Breetish Mandate for Palestine, the Breetish tried tae haund the nearbi Aqir airfield an camp tae the Palestinian Arabs, apparently athoot success.^[2]

Due tae its proximity tae Tel Aviv, Mazkeret Batya haes recently experienced a growthe spurt. Mazkeret Batya is a mixed community o releegious an secular Jews. Historic laundmerks include Beit Ha'Itut (Signal House), the Great Synagogue, Beit Meshek HaBaron, the waterwheel an well, the reservoir an an auld fermyard.^[3]

Mazkeret Batya is twinned wi:

• Celle, Germany^[4]
• Calgary, Canadae^[5]
• Meudon, Fraunce

• The "Gesher" community o Mazkeret Batya Archived 2009-04-03 at the Wayback Machine
• Kehila Datit o Mazkeret Batya Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine

Wikimedia Commons haes media relatit tae Mazkeret Batya.

Coordinates: 31°51′16″N 34°50′31″E / 31.8545°N 34.842°E / 31.8545; 34.842