Continuity of Jewish PresencePeki'in

Peki'in is a little city with a big history. Located in the Northern District of Israel, in the Upper Galilee, Peki'in is known as a city where, for hundreds of years, Jews and Druze have lived together peacefully. Peki'in has an important place in Jewish tradition, famous for its cave which housed Mishnah-era scholar Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, and his son, Rabbi Elazar ben Shimon, for thirteen years after they escaped the Romans following the Bar Kokhba revolt in 132 CE. During this time, legend tells of how the two men lived off a miraculous spring of water and the fruit of a carob tree, and spent their time writing books on Jewish mysticism, most notably the Zohar, a central work of Kabala. Visitors to the cave today can still see the spring and the tree.

Peki'in also plays an important role in Jewish continuity in the Holy Land. From the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, until only a few years ago, there had been a continuous Jewish presence in the city. An ancient synagogue found there dates back to the Roman period. Over time, the Jews adopted the dress and language of their Arab neighbors, in order to blend in, though keeping their own religion. However, life became increasingly difficult for the Jews of Peki'in in the early part of the 20th century.

Arab riots in 1936 caused most Jewish families to flee; only a few returned. At the end of 2007, following more riots, Israeli news media reported that the last Jewish family was forced to flee, after their car was torched. A single Jewish resident, whose family has lived in the city for centuries, remains in Peki'in.