- December 20, 2025
- 7:39 am
- Israel
Jews from Ukraine, including from Galicia, played a significant role in the formation of modern Israel.
One of the iconic stories was the founding in 1920 of the first Zionist commune, Beitaniya Illit, associated with the Shomer HaTzair youth movement. This was not just an experiment, but a whole philosophy that formed the basis of many future kibbutzim.
Young Jews from Galicia, inspired by the ideas of returning to the Land of Israel, came here to build a new life. They were united by belonging to the Shomer HaTzair movement, based on the principles of collectivism, equality and labor.
The commune collapsed after 8 months of difficult trials, but gave birth to dozens of kibbutzim and leaders of Israel.
Commune Beitaniya Illit was located in the Lower Galilee, not far from the Kinneret, at the intersection of roads to Kibbutz Alumot.
In 1964, a memorial dedicated to the Shomer HaTzair movement and the 73 kibbutzim founded by members of this movement was opened here. that's where it is on the map.
The tent-like monument was designed by architect Yechiel Arad. From the top of the memorial there is a panoramic view of the Jordan Valley, Kinneret, Golan Heights and Hermon.
It was here, in 1921, that an experiment that became a legend in the history of Zionism was completed.
He told me about him in detail Shimon Briman for the website (Ukrainian) “Ukrainian-Jewish Zustricha”.
How it all began: the idealism of young Galicians
In the spring of 1921, the experiment, which went down in history as the “Galician project,” was completed.
In the summer of 1920, the “Galician landing” of 131 people arrived in Galilee. These were young men and women, many of whom left Lvov and other cities of Western Ukraine. Their main goal was to create a new type of Jewish society.
Problems and challenges of the commune
The youth faced many difficulties. Life in Betaniya was full of challenges:
- Harsh living conditions: tents and temporary shelters did not protect from strong winds and winter cold.
- Lack of food: food was meager, and physical labor was exhausting.
- Conflicts in the group: participants discussed each other's personal qualities, which often led to quarrels and tension.
Constant lack of resources, disease and internal conflicts eventually led to the collapse of the commune in the spring of 1921. However, its members became the founders of many kibbutzim in Israel.
Leaders of the “Galician wave” and their contribution
| Name | City of origin | Contribution to Israel |
|---|---|---|
| Dov Opper | Zolochev | Organizer of “Shomer Ha-Tza'ir”, died in 1920. |
| Arie Alweil | Bibrka | Artist, founder of the heroic style in art. |
| Meir Wald (Yaari) | Przemysl | Leader of the Shomer HaTzair movement, member of the Knesset. |
| Benjamin Freivogel | Stanislavov (Ivano-Frankivsk) | Founder of Kibbutz Beit Alfa, trade union leader. |
| David Horowitz | Drohobych | First director of the Ministry of Finance, head of the Bank of Israel. |
| Aba Khushi | Turk | Mayor of Haifa, leader of the Land of Israel Workers' Party. |
| Shmuel Golan | Pidvolochisk | Founder of the Israeli school of psychoanalysis. |
How it all ended
Beitaniya, the first commune of the world's first Zionist youth movement, Shomer HaTza'ir, disintegrated after eight months of difficult trials, but gave birth to dozens of kibbutzim and leaders in Israel. Almost all the leaders and participants in this experiment were Jews from the cities and towns of Galicia.
It was from this region of modern Ukraine that at the end of July 1920, an organized “landing party” arrived in the Land of Israel – 131 people, familiar from the meeting in the Shomer Ha-Tzair groups, all 18-20 years old. Most are boys, the rest are girls.
They left their parents and abundance to return from the diaspora to their land. They left the comfort of the city for hard work. They were inspired by the idea of creating a New Man – a free Jew in their ancient homeland.
After the collapse of Beitaniya Illit, its members descended into the valleys of Galilee and became the founders of many kibbutzim. Despite the difficulties, the experiment was not in vain – it laid the foundation for future Zionist settlements.
The kibbutzim created by these idealists became not only economic, but also cultural centers of young Israel. Their ideas of collectivism and work inspired new generations of Zionists.
Historical heritage
Betaniya-Illit remains a symbol of courage, self-sacrifice and faith in ideals. Today, when we talk about the relationship between Ukraine and Israel, it is important to remember how Jews from Galicia contributed to the building of the modern Jewish state.
Our website NANews – Israel News emphasizes that the story of Betaniya is an example of how courage and the desire for freedom can change the future of an entire people.
More in the section “Jews from Ukraine”.
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