Beit Zayit
Beit Zayit | |
|---|---|
| Country | Israel |
| Council | Mateh Yehuda |
| Region | Jerusalem corridor |
| Affiliation | Moshavim Movement |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Founded by | Jewish immigrants from Yugoslavia, Hungary, Romania and Egypt |
| Website | www.beit-zait.org.il |
Beit Zayit (Template:Lang-he-n, lit. House of Olives) is a moshav in Israel located seven kilometres west of Jerusalem. Beit Zayit is under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In 2007, it had a population of 1,300.
The village was established in 1949 by Jewish immigrants from Yugoslavia, Romania and Hungary. Later, olim from Egypt also settled in the village. The economy was based on fruit orchards, vegetables, poultry and other farm products.[1]
Beit Zayit lies on the edge of the Jerusalem Forest and operates a public swimming pool. Nearby is the Ein Kerem dam, built to store winter flood waters.[1]
A village named Beit Zayit is mentioned in the book of the Maccabees, but it is believed to have been further north, possibly at the site of the Arab village of Bir Zeit, north of Ramallah.[1]
Dinosaur footprints discovered in Beit Zayit are on display at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. [2]