Historic Events at Kibbutz Yagur Highlight Jewish Resistance Against British Mandate

Kibbutz Yagur, established in 1922 by ten pioneers from the "Achva" group, holds significant chapters in the history of the Jewish settlement and the State of Israel. Located along the old Haifa-Nazareth road and the Turkish railway line from Haifa to Damascus, Yagur was central to many key events, including the drying of the Jezreel Valley swamps, the murder of three kibbutz members in 1931 by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam gang, and British military sieges.

One of the most notable episodes was "Black Sabbath" on June 29, 1946, when 4,000 soldiers from the British Sixth Division raided Yagur and 26 other settlements in Operation Agatha. This operation aimed to confiscate illegal weapons and arrest leaders of the Haganah and Palmach following the sabotage of bridges by Palmach fighters two weeks earlier. During the raid, British forces uncovered a large Haganah arms cache hidden underground in Yagur, along with 33 other smaller caches throughout the kibbutz. Despite arrests and confiscations, the Haganah managed to recover about 80 percent of the seized weapons through bribery.

The "Black Sabbath" became a symbol of the Jewish community's struggle against British rule, with Yagur playing a central role due to the scale of the weapons found. The event resulted in eight deaths, many injuries, and approximately 2,700 arrests nationwide.

Currently, the "Yagur Story" Visitor Center, housed in the renovated old Jezreel Valley railway building, presents the kibbutz's rich history from its founding through these pivotal moments. Exhibits include the drying of the swamps, the 1931 murders, the "Black Sabbath," the liberation of immigrant ships at Atlit, the Palmach's presence, and the destruction of British radar installations. A special exhibition titled "Revolt-Testimony-Struggle," running until July 7, 2024, focuses on the June 1946 events, including the "Tzvia Conference," where Warsaw Ghetto uprising leader Zivia Lubetkin gave the first public testimony in Israel about the Holocaust atrocities and Jewish resistance.

Visitors can also enjoy a kosher lunch in the kibbutz dining hall by prior arrangement. For tours and more information, contact Yiftach Shahar at 054-6797087 or the visitor center at 054-6833075.