Broshim Hill Offers Nature, History, and Art Amidst Judean Foothills
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Broshim Hill, a 289-meter elevation near Jerusalem, offers scenic views, historical ruins, and a new art installation project. The site, once a vacation spot for the Husseini family and a military observation post, now features "Art Among the Cypresses" with 55 installations. The hill also includes biodynamic beehives and is covered in wildflowers during spring, making it a family-friendly hiking destination. The article explores its biblical and historical significance, referencing figures like Haj Amin al-Husayni and Arik Sharon.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Broshim Hill offers views of Jerusalem and Ayalon Valley, featuring historical ruins and art installations.
- The hill was a vacation spot for the Husseini family and a military post before 1948.
- Unit 101, led by Arik Sharon, launched operations from Broshim Hill.
- A new "Art Among the Cypresses" project displays 55 works by various artists.
- Biodynamic beehives have been established to support local bee populations.
- The easy, circular trail is suitable for family outings and wildflower viewing.
Broshim Hill, standing 289 meters above sea level, provides panoramic views of the northern Ayalon Valley, the Givat Ze'ev hills, and Jerusalem. At its summit lies Khirbet Umm Rojman, once the site of a vacation villa belonging to the Husseini family of Jerusalem. It is possible that Mufti Haj Amin al-Husayni, who initiated the 1929 riots, stayed there during his holidays. Adjacent to the villa was the family's tree nursery, and the cypress trees on the hill are remnants from after the 1948 Israeli conquest.
During the 1948 War, battles for the ridge took place as part of Operation Danny. Following the armistice agreements, the ruin remained in the demilitarized zone, with the Israeli front line passing just west of the hill. From this location, Unit 101 fighters, led by Arik Sharon, launched retaliatory operations across the border. Until the Six-Day War, the site served as an observation post and training ground. A prominent feature at the summit is an observation point named after former Chief of Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, who resided in the nearby town of Reut. An audio explanation at the site details his life and the surrounding landscape.
The nearby Arab village of Beit Sira is identified with the biblical "Uzzen Sha'erah." The article delves into biblical interpretations concerning the lineage of Ephraim and the settlement of the region, referencing scholars like Rabbi Yehuda the Pious and French researcher Victor Guérin, who visited Beit Sira in 1863 and noted a shrine to a holy sheikh named "Nabi Sira." Archaeological findings in the village suggest it was a center for pottery production.
Last year, Broshim Hill saw the addition of "Art Among the Cypresses," an urban initiative featuring 55 art installations and works by local and national artists, created from recycled materials. The project, curated by Adi Adar and led by the Multidisciplinary Center and the Hasmonean Heritage Museum, aims to boost tourism. Additionally, biodynamic beehives have been established to reintroduce honeybees to their natural environment, feeding on natural sources only.
During the blooming season, the hill is carpeted with anemones, tulips, lupines, daffodils, and cyclamens, with olive trees hinting at its agricultural past. The circular, easy trail is suitable for families. The author, historian Israel Shapira, conducted a tour there with students from a tour guide course he leads for the Ministry of Education, suggesting it's an ideal spot for evening contemplation, akin to Isaac's walk in the field described in the Torah portion of Chayei Sarah.