El Rom
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El Rom
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|---|---|
| Country | Israel |
| District | Northern |
| Council | Golan Regional Council |
| Region | Golan Heights |
| Affiliation | Kibbutz Movement |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Founded by | Members of the Zionist youth movement |
| Population (2006) | 274 |
| Website | kfar-elrom.com |
El Rom (Template:Lang-he-n, lit. To Height) is an Israeli settlement, kibbutz, in the northern Golan Heights which lies in the municipal territory of the Golan Regional Council.
Geography
The settlement is located about two kilometres west of Mount Hermon, at an elevation of Template:M to ft above sea level. Both El Rom and the nearby moshav Odem are the two Jewish settlements in Israel with the highest elevation, after Nimrod.
History
The kibbutz was founded in 1971 by a core group of settlers from the Machanot HaOlim Zionist youth movement. Although they had intended to settle in Beit HaArava in the southern Jordan River Valley, they were eventually persuaded to move to the Golan Heights. The original settlement was located in the vicinity of the occupied Syrian town of Quneitra, however, this settlement was destroyed during the Yom Kippur War, and an enormous tank battle was fought in its fields.
Population
El Rom has a population of approximately 350 (2005). They have adopted a liberal Zionist philosophy, focusing on tolerance and an ecologically sound integration into the surrounding environment. This is expressed in a local pre-school system developed specifically for the kibbutz's children. The kibbutz is planning (as of 2005) to establish a new neighborhood of one-story homes to the north, which will significantly increase its population.
Economy
The economy is based primarily on agriculture. Crops include apples, pears, strawberries, grapes for wine, cotton, and mushrooms. They also raise cattle for food, and chickens. In 1984, the kibbutz established El Rom Studios to provide an alternative employment opportunities and revenue stream. The studios command a large share of the market for adding subtitles as well as other translation services for film and television. In Israel, since foreign language movies and tv programs are rarely dubbed, there is a constant need to provide these services.