Birya בִּירִיָּה | |
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| Hebrew transcription(s) | |
| • standard | Biriya |
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  Birya  Birya | |
| Coordinates:32°58′48″N35°29′56″E / 32.98000°N 35.49889°E /32.98000; 35.49889 | |
| Country |  Israel |
| District | Northern |
| Council | Merom HaGalil |
| Founded | 1946 (original) 1971 (current) |
| Founded by | Religious Kibbutz Movement |
| Population (2022) | 872[1] |
Birya (Hebrew:בִּירִיָּה, also Biriya) is an agricultural village in northernIsrael. Located in theUpper Galilee nearSafed, it falls under the jurisdiction of theMerom HaGalil Regional Council. As of 2022 its population was 872.[1]
Biriya existed in the Classic Era, asJews lived in Birya and environs inTalmudic times. In earlyOttoman era, the village had a mixedMuslim and Jewish population. Jewish community abandoned the location in late 16th century. By late 19th century, the village of Biriyya housed an Arab Muslim community. The Jewish village was founded in 1946 on a site adjacent to the Arab town ofBiriyya. Both Arab and Jewish locations were depopulated during the1948 Arab-Israeli War. In 1971, Under Israeli governance, a Jewish agricultural village was re-established at the site.
The town of Birya is mentioned in theTalmud.[2] According to theJewish National Fund,[3] Jews lived in Birya and environs in Talmudic times.
In early Ottoman era, the village had a mixed Muslim and Jewish population. The author of theShulchan Aruch, RabbiJoseph Caro is said to have completed writing the volumeOrach Chayim at Birya. Jewish community abandoned the location in late 16th century.[4] By late 19th century, the village of Biriyya housed an Arab Muslim community. In 1908, Baron Rothschild purchased land in Birya for the farmers ofRosh Pina.
A group ofPalestinian Jewish pioneers settled there in 1922 but when their efforts failed, the land was transferred to theJewish National Fund and afforestation work began.[5]
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2018 street map overlaid on 1942 map
1942 map without overlayIn 1945, a group of pioneers affiliated with theReligious Kibbutz Movement settled at a site nearBirya Fortress.[6]
In February 1946, after an attack on anArab Legion camp in the area, theBritish army searched the village and found arms on the land. All thekvutza members were arrested and the village was occupied by the British military. In response thousands of young Jews from all parts of the country re-established the settlement not far from the original site.[3]
The British withdrew their troops two months later, although the villagers were not released until the following summer.[3] In 1947, Birya had a population of 150 Jews.[3]
Modern Birya was founded in 1971.[7] Birya was one of the settlements hit byKatyusharockets launched byHezbollah during theSecond Lebanon War in 2006. Efforts were made to resuscitate the forest on its outskirts, which suffered severe damage in the war.[8]
The forests were planted by the Jewish National Fund in the 1940s with contributions from within Palestine, as well as theMizrahi Organization ofGreat Britain, and the Mizrahi Women of Britain andAmerica.[3] Within the forest lies the ruins ofEin al-Zeitun, with structures and spring featured alongThe Fighter's Path trail.[9]
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