Ma’ayan National Park

March 22nd 2011

The Ma’ayan National Park is located near Afula in the Bet She’an Valley. Its main claim to fame is a spring of water that desends from a rocky cave down the slope of Mount Gilboa. The water then flows into the stream that surrounding the park’s lawn. This historical national park commemorates the time when the biblical Gideon was chosen to fight the Midianites. It is written that Gideon’s small band drank from the water to gain strength while they were on guard, and brought victory to the Israelites. On the slope, you’ll also find the Hankin Museum, an audiovisual presentation about the story of Yehoshua Hankin, one of the first Zionists to purchase land. You can also visit the tombs of Hankin and his wife Olga.