Kfar Menahem: History and nearby trails

Kfar Menahem brings together the story of its kibbutz founding with historic sites and trails in the surrounding area. The kibbutz founding ceremony took place on December 6, 1939, the first evening of Hanukkah. It was held at a “Tower and Stockade” site that members of the Irgun Menahem workers’ moshav had established two years earlier.

Kibbutz founding and earlier settlement history

Southeast of the kibbutz lies Tel Tzafit. Settlement there began in the Early Canaanite period, between 3000 and 1800 BCE, initially as a small settlement. With interruptions, it continued until the founding of the state in 1948. Along the hiking trail, twelve posts bearing verses from the Bible recall the site’s connection to biblical texts. The founding of Kfar Menahem and the long settlement history of Tel Tzafit thus offer different perspectives on the history of the surrounding area.

Views and trails nearby

At the David Karon lookout, on the ruins of Khirbat Damdam, the observation terrace offers views of Kfar Menahem and the coastal plain between Ashkelon and Rishon LeZion. The lookout commemorates Lieutenant Colonel David Karon, a member of Kibbutz Kfar Menahem and founder of Intelligence Unit 10. It also serves as a memorial to the fallen members of the unit.

In Warrior Park, the two trails differ mainly in their routes: the 1.5-kilometer Gat Trail is circular, while the 1.4-kilometer Sela'im Trail is linear. Their lengths are similar, so the trail shape is especially useful when comparing them for planning. Cyclamens and anemones adorn the trails in winter and spring.

Also take the conditions for getting around Warrior Park into account: slopes can make independent mobility difficult. At the same time, a central vehicle route has slopes suitable for wheelchairs. Parking areas provide access to numerous picnic tables, and the play and fitness garden offers activities for people with disabilities. Check current trail conditions before your visit.

More places to explore in the Southern District

Other places in the broader Southern District destination offer their own highlights. Avdat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along the ancient Incense Route in the Negev Highlands. The Ein Gedi Nature Reserve encompasses Israel’s largest oasis, with springs and waterfalls, ibex, hyraxes and flowing streams. A hiking trail runs along the perennial Nahal Arugot to a hidden waterfall and pools in its upper reaches; conditions on the routes may change after floods.

Masada represents the ancient Kingdom of Israel, its violent destruction and the last stand of Jewish patriots against the Roman army in 73 CE. The surviving sites include remains of Herod’s palaces and intact Roman siege works, among the most complete of their kind in the Roman world. These examples belong to the broader Southern District and complement the local themes of kibbutz history, Tel Tzafit and trails around Kfar Menahem with other historical and natural attractions.

Choose the focus that best fits your trip

When choosing a vacation rental, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on: Kfar Menahem and its surroundings offer opportunities to explore kibbutz history, viewpoints, seasonal blooms and trails with different routes. Avdat, Ein Gedi and Masada cater to other interests in the Southern District. Guide your search by which of these places and themes you want to shape your trip.

Discover more destinations: Elifaz, Arad, Revivim, Sede Boker, Idan, Midreshet Ben Gurion, Ein Tamar, Maslul.

See the broader travel guide: Southern District.