Yodfat

Site of ancient Yodfat.

Ancient Yodfat (Jotapata), situated to the south east of the modern moshav, is mentioned in the Mishna as a fortified Jewish village dating from the time of Joshua, corresponding with the Iron Age.[4][5] "Jotapata may be the same as Jotbah which was the birthplace of Meshullemeth, ... the mother of Amon, King of Judah (2 Kgs. 21:19)."[6] Archaeological explorations of the site, however, have thus far revealed a modest village established some time during the Hellenistic period, between the 4th and 3rd centuries BCE. As the Hasmonean kings extended their influence into the Galilee during the last decades of the 2nd century BCE, a change of population occurred at Yodfat and the village was populated by Jews.[7]

According to the Mishnah, the town of Yodfat was encompassed by a wall before the Israelite conquest of Canaan under Joshua.[5]

Greeks called it Iotapata (Ancient Greek: Ἰωτάπατα).[8]

Memorial to the Jewish defenders of Yodfat, which fell to Roman forces on July 20, 67 CE

By the first century CE Yodfat had expanded to encompass an area of 50 dunams (13 acres).[9] Its siege and subsequent destruction in 67 CE are described in Josephus Flavius' The Wars of the Jews, his chronicle of the Revolt against the Romans. Led by future emperor Vespasian, three Roman legions — Legio V Macedonica, X Fretensis, and XV Apollinaris — besieged Yodfat, meeting strong Jewish resistance. After 47 days the city fell by treachery, and Josephus describes the death of 40,000 Jews and the enslavement of 1,200 women and children. Yodfat was razed and burnt on the first of the Hebrew month of Tammuz.[10] While a few dozen remaining fighters committed suicide, Josephus managed to survive this pact and was captured by the Romans.[11]

After its capture by the Romans, Yodfat was re-established at a nearby site by refugees from Jerusalem, among them the priestly family of Miyamin.[3][4] This town is mentioned in the Talmud as the home of Rabbi Menachem of Jotapata (Zev. 110b).[3] It flourished for another 300 years, before being destroyed once again.

Modern Yodfat was established in 1960 by graduates of the Hebrew Reali School of Haifa.[2] It is currently an agricultural Jewish community, located about 1 km north-west of the ancient ruins.

The modern village was built by traditional Jews, seeking to preserve traditional values in parallel to agricultural work. At first, the village was an observation site of the JNF, while its inhabitants were mostly the JNF employees. Later, the village became an agricultural society, with most of its residents working the nearby lands.[12] By the 1990s, the village turned into a larger communal center, with a larger variety of professions for its residents.[12] Today it includes 200 families.[12]