This photo collection is a continuation of collection YBZ.0142 that portrays the beginning period of the nursery and the "Workers Farm" founded by Rachel Yanait Ben Zvi in Rehavia, Jerusalem at the beginning of the 1920's. The nursery and the farm were moved from Rehavia to an area east of the Talpiot neighborhood, on lands purchased by the JNF. During the 1929 Arab uprisings the "Workers Farm" was destroyed . Rachel Yanait Ben Zvi managed to raise funds, through contributions, to construct a permanent two story building, designed by the architect Ricard Kaufman. The construction took about two year, between 1930-1931. During the 1932 'Workers Convention' it was decided to convert the Workers Farm into a teaching farm for young women. Rachel Yanait understood that such a change warranted adaptation of the organization regarding syllabus, teaching staff and budget. Some of the needed funds were raised by the opening of a Guest House in conjunction with the "Hasneh" Company. It was decided to have a two-year program for girls between the ages of 15-17, from Israel and girls who arrived through 'Aliyat Hanoar'. In 1933 the Workers Farm officially became a teaching farm for Young Women. In 1936 another building (the Northern Building), designed by the architect Leopold Krakauer, was completed. The two buildings were joined together by a hall in such a way as to make them look like one building. In April 1934 a group of immigrant girls from Germany went straight from the boat to the Farm. With time the number of immigrant girls goming to the farm grew and was higher than the number of girls born in the Land of Israel. This was primarily because of the need to save them from the war in Europe. Therefore, in 1939 the number of students in the Farm doubled and was close to 90. In 1941 the educational program was extended from two years to a three year program and the Farm became an agricultural high school and admitted boys as well. From the start of the Teaching Farm, Rachel Yanait gave serious consideration to the security aspect of the project. There were lookout posts on the buildings, a 'slik' (stash for hiding ammunition) and a presence of the Haganna. Another precaution was training the students in self defense. During the first break in the fighting in the War of Independence (June 1948) it was agreed to include the Teaching Farm in the demilitarized area under the jurisdiction of the Red Cross. Due to an unseuccessful attempt of the Etzioni Division, to capture the area of Armon Hanatziv during the second respite of the war (16-17/7/1948), the UN Comission ordered Israel to withdraw from the demilitarized zone and at the beginning of Septemer 1948 the Teaching Farm in Talpiot was closed. The girls were moved to the Carmit boarding School near Ein Kerem in the Western part of Jerusalem. The buildings that were left in the demilitarized zone between Israel and Jordan were passed to the Hebrew University. In 1954 they opened the "Center for Research of Mountain Agriculture" in an experimental agricultural station established there. It operated until 1967. In addition to experiments to aclimatize certain plants (spices, medicinal plants, etc.) they conducted experiments in an attempt to acclimatize the mink rodent for its fur. The place was damaged during the Six Day War and a few months later it stopped functioning. These pictures were saved by Rachel Yanait Ben-Zvi and upon the opening of Yad Ben-Zvi she gave them to the archives.
Language:
שפה נוכחית
