Ilaniya (formerly Sejera) is a small village in the lower Galilee with an outsized role in the history of Jewish settlement. Founded in 1899 as a Jewish farming colony, Sejera became the training ground for the Hashomer, the first Jewish self-defense organization, and the place where key figures of the Zionist movement, including David Ben-Gurion and Yitzhak Ben-Zvi (Israel’s second president), worked the land and learned to ride horses.
The Subbotniks
One of the most unusual chapters in Ilaniya’s history involves the Subbotniks, Russian Christian peasants who converted to Judaism in the 18th and 19th centuries. A group of Subbotniks settled in Sejera alongside the Jewish colonists, and their descendants remain part of the community today. The Subbotniks’ story, of Russian villagers who adopted Jewish observance, emigrated to Palestine, and became part of the Zionist project, is one of the most unexpected threads in Israeli history.
Hashomer
In 1909, the Hashomer (The Watchman) organization was founded at Sejera to provide Jewish self-defense against theft and attacks. The Hashomer replaced the practice of hiring Arab or Circassian guards and established the principle that Jewish communities would defend themselves. The organization was the forerunner of the Haganah, which in turn became the Israel Defense Forces.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
Ilaniya adds a pioneering chapter to any lower Galilee itinerary. Hoshen Tours connects it to the broader story of Jewish settlement and self-defense in the Galilee.