Bet Zayit
Bet Zayit is a moshav west of Jerusalem,
affiliated with Ha-Mo'azah ha-Hakla'it association. Bet Zayit was founded
in 1949 by immigrants from Yugoslavia, Romania and Hungary. Later, immigrants
from Egypt also settled in
the village. Its economy was based on fruit orchards, vegetables, poultry
and other farm products. Bet Zayit lies on the fringe of the Jerusalem
Forest Park and operates a swimming pool, which has made the area largely
a vacationing spot for families. Near the village is the Ein
Kerem dam built to store winter flood waters. The name literally
means "house of the olives," and refers to the extensve olive
groves on the slopes around the village. Dinosaur footprints were found
in the area. A place by the same name is mentioned in the book of the Maccabees, but it stood
further north, possibly at the site of the Arab village Bir al-Zayt,
north of Ramallah.
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