"Thou Shalt be Built 1897-1920"

"Thou Shalt be Built 1897-1920"

“Again I will build thee up and thou shalt be built” [Jeremiah 31:4]

The life in Hadera during the transition period between the Turkish rule and the British mandate is demonstrated with the aid of artifacts and tools dating from the period.

Photographs portray Hadera as a thriving settlement in the first two decades of the 20th Century .Eucalyptus trees were planted in and around Hadera, in the expectation that they would drain the malarial swamps. It was a huge economic project but it did not solve the problem.
Four large figures represent the three groups of people who joined Hadera in this period. They were - Laborers, “Yemenites” and “Ha’Shomer” members.
Two girls represent the influx of single young socialists who joined the settlement, demanding that Jewish workers be given preference as laborers. After the murderous Arab riots of 1921, Hadera declared its preference for Jewish laborers over the Arab ones. However, with time, the decision was forgotten. As a protest, in 1922, all the Jewish farm laborers left Hadera demonstratively.

Jewish families from Yemen arrived in 1912, and established the Nahaliel quarter. Many became diligent laborers in the citrus orchards, and some turned to a new endeavor and raised bees for honey.

The 'mori' (teacher) with his Yemenite Pupils 1914

”Ha’ Shomer” Group which was founded in the Galilee, arrived in Hadera in 1911 and replaced the Arab watchmen. They believed that in wearing Arab clothing, and knowing the Arabic language and customs, they could better blend into the country. Whenever possible ,they tried to solve disagreements in peaceful ways.

Ha'Shomer Members in Hadera

Two miniature dioramas demonstrate the main branches of agriculture practiced in Hadera in the 1920’s : crop-farming and citriculture.
The threshing yard where the threshing of the grain took place during the daytime, served as a meeting place for young people at nights.
The orchard with the packing house demonstrates harvest time, when picking the oranges, packing the fruit and transferring it to the ports took place.
To the right is the farmer’s tool room with original agricultural implements, all of which belonged to Hadera’s founders. To the left, we see household utensils that were in use in the settlement during the early days.