Kfar Kama
Kfar Kama
כְּפַר כַּמָא كفر كما Кфар Кама | |
|---|---|
Local council(from 1950) | |
| Hebrew transcription(s) | |
| •ISO 259 | Kfar Kamaˀ |
| • Also spelled | Кфар Кама(Adyghe)(official) |
 | |
 Flag | |
  Kfar Kama  Kfar Kama | |
| Coordinates:32°43′19″N35°26′27″E/ 32.72194°N 35.44083°E | |
| Grid position | 191/236PAL |
| Country |  Israel |
| District | Northern |
| Founded | 1878 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8,854dunams(8.854 km2or 3.419 sq mi) |
| Population (2022)[1] | |
| • Total | 3,500 |
| • Density | 400/km2(1,000/sq mi) |
| Name meaning | The village of truffles[2] |
Kfar Kama(Hebrew:כְּפַר כַּמָא,Arabic:كفر كما,Adyghe:Кфар Кама) is aCircassiantown located in theLower GalileeofIsrael's northern district, located along road 767, that leads fromKfar Tavorto theKinneret.It is one of the only twoCircassiantownsin Israel, the other beingRehaniya.The residents of the town are descended from theShapsugtribe exilees fromCircassia.In 2008, the town had a population of 2,900.[3]
Name
[edit]The town's name has an uncertain origin, and several possible interpretations exist. It could potentially signify a heap of wheat, derive from "qama" meaning grain, or even have roots in Arabic, such as "kama," signifying a hilltop or a hilltop village, or "qama", denoting a fertile pasture for sheep and cattle.[4]
History
[edit]Antiquity
[edit]The modern village of Kfar Kama is built on an ancient site. Ruins and parts of five limestonecolumnswere found in addition to a circular basalt olive-press andcisterns.[5]In 2020, a team of archaeologists led by Nurit Feig of theIsrael Antiquities Authoritydiscovered 6th-century church remains. The excavators also revealed painted floor mosaics showing geometric shapes and blue, black, and red floral patterns. The dimensions of the main part of the church are 12 by 36 metres. Several other rooms were unearthed near the church. According to archeologist Shani Libbi, additional rooms in the area have been revealed by ground penetrating radar.[6][7]
Archaeologists have proposed that Kfar Kama was the villageHelenoupolisthatConstantineestablished in honor of his motherHelen.[8]Excavations carried out in 1961 and 1963 revealed 4th century tombs.[9]Two churches dated to the early 6th century, one dedicated to SaintThecla,were uncovered, with multicolored mosaics of floral, animal and geometric patterns.[9]
Middle Ages
[edit]In theCrusaderperiod it was known asKapharchemmeorCapharkeme.[10]
Ottoman Empire
[edit]
In 1596, Kfar Kama appeared inOttomantax registersas a village in theNahiyaof Tiberias in theLiwaof Safad. It had a population of 34Muslimhouseholds and paid a fixed tax rate of 25% on agricultural products, which included wheat, barley, summer crops, cotton, and goats or beehives; a total of 5,450akçe.[11][12]
In 1838, it was mentioned as a village in the Tiberias district.[13]
In 1870s, the village was described as having basalt stone houses and a population of 200 Moslems living on a plain of arable soil.[14]
In 1878, a group of 1,150 Circassian immigrants from theAdyghetribeShapsugswho were exiled from theCaucasusby the Russians to theOttoman Empiredue to theRussian-Circassian Warsettled in the village. Initially they made their living by raising animals, but later became farmers. The first school was established about 1880.[15]
A population survey in 1887 found 1,150 inhabitants, all Circassian Muslims.[16]
British Mandate
[edit]
At the time of the1922 census of Palestineby theBritish Mandateauthorities, Kfar Kama had a population of 670 Muslims and 7 Christians,[17]decreasing slightly in the1931 censusto 644, one Christian and the rest Muslims, in a total of 169 houses.[18]
In1945 censusby the Mandate, the population was 660 people (all Muslims)[19]and the land area was 8,819 dunams.[20][19]Of this, 8,293 dunams were allocated to cereal farming,[21][19]while 108 dunams were built-up (urban) land.[22][19]
Israel
[edit]
Kfar Kama is one of twoCircassianvillages in Israel. The other one isRehaniya.The Circassians areMuslimswho, unlike the mainIsraeli ArabMuslim minority, are obligated to perform military service in theIsraeli Defense Forces.[23][24]The village school teaches in Circassian, Hebrew, Arabic and English.[25]
A Center for Circassian Heritage is situated in the village.[23]
Notable people
[edit]- Izhak Nash(born 1989), a Circassian Israelifootballercurrently playing forHapoel Ironi Baqa al-Gharbiyye
- Bibras Natcho(born 1988), a Circassian Israelifootballercurrently playing in Europe and the captain of theIsraeli national football team
- Nili Natkho(1982–2004), a Circassian Israelibasketball playerwho played forMaccabi RaananaandElitzur Ramla
Shapsug families
[edit]- Abrag (Adyghe:Абрэгь)
- Ashmuz/Achmuzh (Adyghe:Ацумыжъ)
- Bghana (Adyghe:Бгъанэ)
- Bat (Adyghe:Бат)
- Blanghaps (Adyghe:БлэнгъэпсI)
- Batwash (Adyghe:БэтIыуашъ)
- Jandar (Adyghe:Джэндар)
- Gorkozh (Adyghe:ГъоркIожъ)
- Zazi (Adyghe:Зази)
- Kobla (Adyghe:Коблэ)
- Qal (Adyghe:Къал)
- Qatizh (Adyghe:Къэтӏыжъ)
- Lauz (Adyghe:ЛъыIужъ)
- Libai/Labai (Adyghe:ЛIыпый)
- Nago (Adyghe:Наго)
- Natkho (Adyghe:Натхъо)
- Nash (Adyghe:Наш)
- Napso (Adyghe:Нэпсэу)
- Thawcho (Adyghe:Тхьэухъо)
- Hazal (Adyghe:Хъэзэл)
- Hutazh (Adyghe:Хъутӏэжъ)
- Hadish (Adyghe:Хьэдищ)
- Hako/Hakho (Adyghe:Хьэхъу)
- Shamsi (Adyghe:Чэмшъо)
- Choshha/Shoshha (Adyghe:Цушъхьэ)
- Shogan (Adyghe:Шэугьэн)
- Shaga (Adyghe:Шъуагьэ)
- Sagas/Shagash (Adyghe:Шъэгьашъ)
- Shhalakhwa (Adyghe:Шхьэлахъуэ).
Other families
[edit]- Abzah (Adyghe:Абзах)
- Boshnakh (Adyghe:Бущнакъ)
- Bazdug/Bzhedug (Adyghe:Бжъэдыгъу)
- Yadig (Adyghe:йадиг)
- Hatukai (Adyghe:Хьэтыкъуай)
- Tsai (Adyghe:Цэй)
- Shapsugh (Adyghe:Шапсыгъ).
- Zoabi (Adyghe:Зуабй)
- Masharqa (Adyghe:мэщаркъа)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Regional Statistics".Israel Central Bureau of Statistics.Retrieved21 March2024.
- ^Palmer, 1881, p.127
- ^"Population of Localities Numbering above 2,000 Inhabitants and Other Rural Population"(PDF).Israel Central Bureau of Statistics.2008-12-31.
- ^Hareuveni, Imanuel (2010).Eretz Israel Lexicon.CET. p. 507.
- ^Conder and Kitchener, 1881, SWP I, p.391
- ^"Sixth-century church found by Circassian village near Mount Tabor".Haaretz.Retrieved2020-08-16.
- ^Amanda Borschel-Dan."Large 6th century church compound uncovered near site of Jesus' transfiguration".www.timesofisrael.com.Retrieved2020-08-16.
- ^Tsafrir, Di Segni and Green, 1994, 142
- ^abDauphin, 1998, p. 727
- ^Pringle, 1997, p.117
- ^Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 190
- ^Note that Rhode, 1979, p.6Archived2020-03-01 at theWayback Machinewrites that the register that Hütteroth and Abdulfattah studied from the Safad-district was not from 1595/6, but from 1548/9
- ^Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, 2nd Appendix, p.131
- ^Conder and Kitchener, 1881, SWP I, p.360
- ^Nirit Reichel (2010). "The role of the educational system in retaining Circassian identity during the transition from Ottoman control to life as Israeli citizens (1878–2000)".Israel Affairs.16(2): 251–267.doi:10.1080/13537121003643896.S2CID143844303.
- ^Schumacher, 1888, p.185
- ^Barron, 1923, Table XI, Sub-district of Tiberias, p.39
- ^Mills, 1932, p.84
- ^abcdDepartment of Statistics, 1945, p.12
- ^Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics.Village Statistics, April, 1945.Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p.72
- ^Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics.Village Statistics, April, 1945.Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p.122
- ^Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics.Village Statistics, April, 1945.Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p.172
- ^abGilad, Moshe (2012-07-05)."A Slightly Rarefied Circassian Day Trip".Haaretz.
- ^Muslim revivalism and the emergence of civic society. A case study of an Israeli-Circassian community
- ^Yulie Khromchenko (22 March 2005).מדברים פה בהרבה שפות? נקרא לזה "בית ספר רב לשוני[They talk a lot of languages? Called it 'a multilingual school'].Haaretz(in Hebrew).Retrieved25 August2014.
Bibliography
[edit]- Barron, J.B., ed. (1923).Palestine: Report and General Abstracts of the Census of 1922.Government of Palestine.
- Conder, C.R.;Kitchener, H.H.(1881).The Survey of Western Palestine: Memoirs of the Topography, Orography, Hydrography, and Archaeology.Vol. 1. London:Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund.
- Dauphin, C.(1998).La Palestine byzantine, Peuplement et Populations.BAR International Series 726 (in French). Vol. III: Catalogue. Oxford: Archeopress.ISBN0-86054-905-4.
- Department of Statistics (1945).Village Statistics, April, 1945.Government of Palestine.
- Hadawi, S.(1970).Village Statistics of 1945: A Classification of Land and Area ownership in Palestine.Palestine Liberation Organization Research Center.
- Hütteroth, Wolf-Dieter; Abdulfattah, Kamal (1977).Historical Geography of Palestine, Transjordan and Southern Syria in the Late 16th Century.Erlanger Geographische Arbeiten, Sonderband 5. Erlangen, Germany: Vorstand der Fränkischen Geographischen Gesellschaft.ISBN3-920405-41-2.
- Karmon, Y. (1960)."An Analysis of Jacotin's Map of Palestine"(PDF).Israel Exploration Journal.10(3, 4): 155–173, 244–253. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2019-12-22.Retrieved2015-04-22.
- Mills, E., ed. (1932).Census of Palestine 1931. Population of Villages, Towns and Administrative Areas.Jerusalem: Government of Palestine.
- Palmer, E.H.(1881).The Survey of Western Palestine: Arabic and English Name Lists Collected During the Survey by Lieutenants Conder and Kitchener, R. E. Transliterated and Explained by E.H. Palmer.Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund.
- Pringle, D.(1997).Secular buildings in the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem: an archaeological Gazetter.Cambridge University Press.ISBN0-521-46010-7.
- Rhode, H.(1979).Administration and Population of the Sancak of Safed in the Sixteenth Century.Columbia University.Archived fromthe originalon 2019-04-20.Retrieved2017-11-02.
- Robinson, E.;Smith, E.(1841).Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838.Vol. 3. Boston:Crocker & Brewster.
- Schumacher, G.(1888)."Population list of the Liwa of Akka".Quarterly Statement - Palestine Exploration Fund.20:169–191.
- Tsafrir, Y.;Leah Di Segni; Judith Green (1994).(TIR): Tabula Imperii Romani: Judaea, Palaestina.Jerusalem: Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities.ISBN965-208-107-8.
External links
[edit]
- Kfar Kama local council
- The World Circassian Heritage Center
- Survey of Western Palestine, Map 6:IAA,Wikimedia commons
- Welcome To Kafr Kama
