Eshhar 3.33

Eshhar is a community settlement in northern Israel. Located in the Galilee to the south of Karmiel and north of Sakhnin, it falls under the jurisdiction of Misgav Regional Council. In it had a population of. It is adjacent to the Bedouin village of Arab al-Na'im, with which it shares an access road.HistoryIn 1979, a group of Jews in Chicago came up with a plan to establish a joint secular-religious community in Israel. Eshhar was established in 1986 by a gar'in comprising this group and other English-speaking and Israeli families.The community was named for the Rhamnus palaestinus (buckthorn), "eshhar" in Hebrew. Residents avoid driving within the village on Shabbat and public events are kosher. Beyond this, residents define their own lifestyles, without coercion.The local Tzofim scout group is open to both religious and secular youth.Plans for a pluralistic Meguvan-affiliated elementary school failed due to legal issues and opposition from the Ministry of Education and the Regional Council. An attempt to establish such a school in Moreshet failed for similar reasons. Children attend local religious or secular schools instead.