Merhavia, a moshava and kibbutz in the Jezreel Valley, is where a 23-year-old schoolteacher from Milwaukee named Goldie Mabovitch came to live in 1921. She would later be known as Golda Meir, Israel’s fourth Prime Minister and one of the most formidable leaders of the 20th century. Merhavia was where her Zionist idealism met the reality of chickens, malaria, and communal kitchens.
Golda’s Merhavia
Golda arrived at Kibbutz Merhavia with her husband Morris and threw herself into kibbutz life. She worked in the fields, managed the chicken coop, and was elected to the kibbutz committee. Morris, who was less enthusiastic about communal living, eventually convinced her to leave. But Merhavia shaped Golda’s political character: the directness, the pragmatism, and the ability to get things done in difficult circumstances.
The Moshava
Merhavia Moshava, adjacent to the kibbutz, was established in 1911 and has historical buildings from the early settlement period. The watchtower at the entrance is one of the landmarks of the valley, and the surrounding agricultural landscape has been farmed continuously for over a century.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
Merhavia connects the pioneering story of the Jezreel Valley to one of Israel’s most iconic leaders. Hoshen Tours includes it in itineraries that trace the path from pioneer to prime minister.