Rekhaniya
The
charming Upper Galilee village
of Rekhaniya is home to some 1,200 Israelis
of Circassian descent.
Their ancestors, like those of Israel’s
other Circassian village, Kfar
Kama in the Lower Galilee, came from
the northern Caucasus Mountains, the region
where Europe meets Asia. Following defeat
in the 19th century in a long war against
the Russian Empire, the Circassians, who
converted from Christianity to Islam in
the 17th century, were exiled to Ottoman
Turkish areas, including the Mediterranean.
Rekhaniya,
located in the rugged mountains north of Safed,
was founded in around 1880. Its people
proudly celebrate their traditional culture,
crafts, martial arts and culinary skills
by welcoming visitors to tour their village,
enjoy a meal specializing in Circassian
goat-cheese delicacies, and stay overnight
at their country-style accommodations.
After learning about Circassian customs
and history at the museum, you can take
a guided walking tour of the village to
see traditional architecture, including
the restored old village gate-arch. The
museum sometimes puts on a special treat:
a Circassian folklore show including music
and dancing in traditional costumes.
Sources: Israeli
Foreign Ministry |