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Tania Shalom Michaelian
Writer, story-teller, educator

Reopening of One Museum with a Message of Unity Is the Galilee’s Comeback Story

Metzudat Koach, Upper Galilee Credit: Zvi Henry Cohen, Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites SPIHS
Metzudat Koach, Upper Galilee Credit: Zvi Henry Cohen, Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites SPIHS

On the night of May 16, 1948, under the soft glow of the moon, a Palmach infantry brigade moved silently up the hill toward the Nabi Yusha police fortress. It was their third, desperate attempt to capture this strategic stronghold that controlled the vital road to the Upper Galilee. As the British Army left the Galilee earlier that year, Arab forces quickly took over key points like the fortress, cutting off Jewish settlements in the area.

Nabi Yusha (Metzudat Koach) Credit: Palmach archive Yiftach 3rd battalion Volume 1 album 12/22/Wikipedia

The first two assaults on the fortress had ended in heartbreak and defeat, with 26 brave Palmach fighters falling under relentless enemy fire. On this third attempt, another two gave their lives, but the fortress was finally seized. In memory of the 28 soldiers who perished in these battles, the site was renamed Metzudat Koach, (“strength” and also representing the number 28 in gematria).

Their comrades, arriving to collect the fallen, found them lying in pairs—signifying their final moments, trying to save one another. This sight deeply impacted fellow fighter Yehuda Dekel, inspiring his dream of a museum dedicated to the spirit of camaraderie. Though Dekel z”l didn’t live to see it come to life, his vision was fulfilled by his family and friends, the Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites – SPIHS (which he helped found), and other entities such as Jewish National Fund-USA, and the Ministry of Culture and Sport, who established HaReut Museum in 2014, on the sixth anniversary of Dekel’s passing.

For the past decade, HaReut Museum has welcomed thousands of people each year – families, tourists, soldiers and youth groups, drawing visitors with its historical significance, state-of-the-art exhibits, and the sweeping vistas of the Hula Valley. The theme of camaraderie permeates the museum, highlighted by a moving video of poet Haim Guri, who recalls how the Battle for Nabi Yusha inspired his timeless poem “HaReut,” which became the Israeli anthem of friendship and sacrifice. Nearly 80 years later, the words of the poem still hold true (“Because friendship like this will never/Permit our hearts to forget/Love sanctified with blood/will once more bloom among us).

Exhibits suited for all age-groups at HaReut Museum. Credit: Zvi Henry Cohen/Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites

After Hezbollah’s devastating attack on northern Israel after October 7, HaReut Museum, like many heritage sites in the Galilee, was forced to close. The region became a closed military zone, the museum was scarred by missile fire, and the surrounding forests burned. For over a year, it stood empty, a witness to the turmoil and loss of community and life that gripped the Galilee.

With the fragile ceasefire in November, SPIHS and museum staff returned, determined to restore what had been lost. They faced the daunting task of repairing the damage, but their resolve mirrored the spirit of those who once fought on that hill. Last week, HaReut Museum reopened, and over 100 people climbed the hill to celebrate not just the reopening of a museum but the revival of a region steeped in history, heritage and hope.

Visitors return to HaReut Museum after it was closed for over a year. January 2025. Credit: Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites – SPIHS

The reopening of HaReut Museum marks the beginning of a larger comeback story for the Galilee. As one heritage site comes back to life, it signals a hopeful resurgence for the entire region. The north, scarred but unbowed, is reclaiming its place in the heart of Israel’s historical and cultural landscape, showing once again that resilience and unity can triumph against all odds.

HaReut Museum manager, Ido Kahat, raises the flag at the newly reopened HaReut Museum. Credit: Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites SPIHS

The Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites – SPIHS is the umbrella organization for over 200 sites across Israel which tell the story of our pathway to independence, including the Ayalon Institute Bullet Factory, Atlit Detention Camp, Ammunition Hill, Ben Gurion’s Desert Home, Yellin House in Motza, Kinneret Courtyard, Miveh Israel Agricultural School and Kibbutz Kfar Masaryk.

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About the Author
Grew up in South Africa. Found a home in Israel. Mom to three adult sabras. Writer on topics that inspire me - history, Israel and social justice. English tutor.
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