Beit Hashita’s early Kibbutz history can be explored through tangible traces: a preserved barracks hut, a cowshed, a communal shower house and a security building. Built between 1935 and 1938, these structures reflect different aspects of life at the time—housing, provisions, communal use and protection. Their varied functions make the site especially interesting to travelers who want to explore early Kibbutz history through its buildings.
Buildings and Everyday Life in the Early Years
The First Barracks Hut dates to 1935 and is the last surviving barracks hut from the Kibbutz’s early days. It is located near the spring. Its construction date provides an early historical reference point, while its preserved status connects it to the Kibbutz’s first phase. Its location adds a specific local context to this historical setting.
The first cowshed dates to 1936. The group brought its first 35 cows from near Ma'ayan Harod. Thus, the early building history includes not only housing and communal spaces, but also the livestock that provided for the Kibbutz. Building A also dates to 1936: it was built entirely of concrete and was the Kibbutz’s first security building. A security post stood on its roof. The cowshed and the security building represent two different functions within early Kibbutz life.
The large communal shower was added in 1937. It was the only shower in the Kibbutz and was divided into areas for boys and girls. This specific arrangement makes communal use tangible without conflating it with the residential functions of the other buildings.
Housing and Architectural Forms
The Two-Storey Position dates to 1938. Built of reinforced concrete, it had two floors because of its location in a wadi and served as living quarters. Here, the building material, form and purpose are connected: its two floors were related to its location in the wadi, and the building served a residential function. This distinguishes it from both the cowshed and the security building in terms of its stated purpose.
The “Hayu Zmanim” exhibition also explores the theme of housing. It is intended to preserve a model of the living quarters of the first pioneers. In contrast to the Two-Storey Position, the focus is not only on a specific building used as a residence, but also on a model that represents early living quarters. Together, these offer different ways of exploring the history of everyday life.
Landscape and Regional Historical Context
In the wider region, the Tzva'im Trail scenic road runs through the southern part of the basalt-formed Issachar Heights. Here, the focus differs from that of the Kibbutz buildings: the landscape connects the route of a road with the geological formation of the hills. For trip planning, these are two distinct subjects—early Kibbutz history in Beit Hashita and the landscape of the Issachar Heights in the surrounding area.
In the wider Northern District travel area, Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo are among the archaeological sites. A visit to Tel Hazor focuses on the Upper City. One feature of the site’s archaeological record is an underground water-collection system, considered an ingenious, geographically adapted engineering achievement for water storage. An excavated shaft is 45 meters deep, with steps three meters wide cut into its vertical walls.
Tel Hazor is also home to Solomon’s Gate, a six-chambered gate with two towers dating to the 10th century BCE. A Canaanite palace was used by the kings of Hazor in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE. The Late Bronze Age palace is described as the most elaborate in Israel and one of the most significant in the Levant. Tel Hazor’s fortifications are also considered an outstanding example of their kind in the area stretching from southern Turkey to the northern Negev. To reach Tel Hazor National Park, directions are given from the north and south via Highway 90 toward Ayelet Hashahar; check your navigation before setting out.
Tel Megiddo offers another archaeological highlight in the Northern District. Its Early Bronze Age temple complex is exceptional for the number of its temples, the continuity of cult activity and its documented ritual practices. The orthogonal city plan dates to the Iron Age and has few parallels in the Levant. Tel Megiddo is also one of three tels that preserve significant remains of cities with biblical associations and are closely connected to events in the Bible. Thus, the buildings of Beit Hashita and the archaeological remains in the Northern District represent different historical periods and themes.
Discover more destinations: Mikhmanim, Shomera, Nahariyya, Kidmat Tsvi, Chadera, Nir Dawid, Sde Yoav, Moshav Ramot
For the full travel overview: Israel.
