Margalit’s family never left the land of Israel

 Margalit’s family never left the land of Israel

The myths that Jews are ‘colonial settlers’ or that the Arabs are the indigenous inhabitants of the land  are belied not only by the millennial presence of Jews in the Middle East, but that Jews have lived continuously in the land of Israel. Margalit Zinati’s family never left the Galilee village of Peki’in. 

Margalit Zinati is not Sephardic, Ashkenazi, or Yemeni Her family has lived in the Galilee continuously for over 2,000 years. She comes from a family of Cohanim who left Jerusalem pon the destruction of the 2nd Temple and found safe haven in the town of Peki’in.

Peki’in was a Jewish village since the time of the Temple and is mentioned extensively throughout the Mishna and Talmud. It is recorded that the influential Sage Rabbi Yehoshua and his many disciples set up their Yeshiva in Peki’in.

The Jewish population of Peki’in saw a significant drop during the Crusader and Mamluk period. During the early Mamluk period documents show the growing presence of  Druze in the village. But Jews continued living in the village throughout, the majority of which were Kohanim.

Margalit Zinati’s family have been the caretakers of the ancient synagogue of Peki’in, believed to be the original site of Rabbi Yehoshua’s Talmudic yeshiva 2,000 years ago

The interior of the synagogue appears similar to other ancient synagogues in the Galilee; Large open space with “benches” built into the structure under the windows

Peki’in is also the site of the cave where Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his son hid from the Romans A common tradition cites this is the site of the cave. Druze and Christians of Peki’in also hold to such a tradition. They called this cave “The Cave of Jacob’s Children.”  https://www.jewishrefugees.org.uk/2023/11/margalits-family-never-left-the-land-of-israel.html