Hararit (Hebrew: הֲרָרִית; lit. "mountainous")[2] is a community settlement in the Galilee, Israel. In 2022 it had a population of 644.[1]
Hararit
הררית | |
---|---|
Etymology: mountainous | |
Hararit Hararit | |
Coordinates: 32°50′46″N 35°22′05″E / 32.84611°N 35.36806°E | |
Country | Israel |
District | Northern |
Council | Misgav |
Founded | 1980 |
Founded by | Shahaf Transcendental Meditation group |
Population (2022)[1] | 644 |
Hararit is located on the crest of Mount Netofa in the Lower Galilee. It was established in 1980 as part of a government-sponsored project initiated by Labor party member Nissim Zvili.[3] It was part of a plan to bring more Jewish residents to the Galilee area.[3] Initially it was supposed to be settled by a group of Rafael employees, but they rejected it, as it was too far from their workplace, and eventually it was settled by Shahaf ("Seagull"), a group of people dedicated to the principles of Transcendental Meditation (TM).[4][5] By the year 2000 the TM group was reported to be only half of its original population.[6] In 2008, there were 95 families living in Hararit.[7]
Archaeologists have discovered three large ancient water cisterns and the remains of agricultural terraces in the vicinity of Hararit.[8]
The economy is largely based on hitec, alternative medicine, tourism, with some of the residents operating bed and breakfast establishments.[6]