The Circassian Heritage Center, Northern District, Israel
5.0 (25 reviews) Temporarily closed - Closed until further notice Spent 1-2 hours Ranking #1 in Kfar Kama Speciality Museums • History Museums
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The Circassian Heritage Center presents thousands of years of history of one of the indigenous peoples of the Caucasus. In the Center you can learn about the emergence of the Circassian people, and its exceptional culture and language. You will also hear of his constant defense of his homeland and of the tragedy experienced in the form of the Circassian genocide that took place at the end of the 19th century. The tour begins with a presentation in the flower mill hall, and continues with guided tour inside the museum rooms. Open Monday to Saturday 10:00 - 17:00 Sunday : only by appointment
Address
Hanlash Street House Of Shami, Kfar Kama 15235 Israel
Mobile
Website
http://www.chckk.org.il/
Working hours
Opening Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-17:00
Current local date and time now
Sunday, May 12, 2024, 21:56
User Ratings
5.0 based on (25 reviews)
Reviews
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5niloc36 5:00 PM Aug 9, 2014
An amazing story of ethnic perseverance and continuity.
I had long known of the tiny (4,000 person) ethnic Circassian minority in Israel, and when I noticed that our route north took us near it, I was determined -- in defiance of my uninterested family -- to visit. By the end of the visit even the children were fascinated. You should phone ahead to reserve and ask for an English tour. The visit consists of two parts -- a film about Circassian culture and customs and a guided tour through the museum proper. The film was a bit amateurish but nevertheless filled in the basics of the Circassian saga. What made the museum a five star visit was the tour guide (David) who,was informative, good natured, funny and accommodating. The story of how this tiny community has maintained its cohesion and identity over 150 year is truly amazing and inspiring. During their sojourn in Israel the Circassians have experienced 10 cases of intermarriage, and in 9 of these the non-Circassian partner assimilated into the community and learned the heinously difficult Circassian language. And speaking of languages, how's this: Circassians are quadrilingual, with Circassian as their native tongue, Hebrew as the main language in school, Arabic learned for religious literacy (they are Muslims) and English for obvious reasons. There are even Circassians with Ph.Ds who work in high tech in Haifa but still live in Kfar Kama and follow courting and other life-cycle customs developed in the Caucasus eons ago! If you have any interest In the Caucasus, ethnic continuity, unusual ethnic groups, Muslim minorities in Israel or in the delicious Circassian cheese ( readily available for purchase in the village). This museum is a must!
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5IndigoGrrl 5:00 PM May 21, 2018
Fascinating place that is easy to overlook
My family groaned when I told then that our itinerary up North included a stop at a cultural and ethnographic museum, but this was the highlight of our trip! Located in the quiet Circassian village of Kfar Kama near Mount Tavor, the Circassian Museum showcases the unique culture of one of Israel's smallest ethnic groups. A large portion of this Sunni Muslim mountain tribe formerly of the Caucus Mountains in Russia have settled in Israel, where they maintain their own villages, language, schools, and culture, yet fully integrate into Israeli society (attending Israeli Universities serving in the IDF, etc.). We arranged for an English tour (call to schedule ahead of time) and despite the fact that we went at the peak of tourist season (Sukkot), we had a private tour. Our guide was excellent, walking us through the cultural museum and providing a much richer context that what we would have seen if we just walked through the exhibits on our own. His insights into Circassian childrearing practices was particularly fascinating. It is also possible to arrange group visits with traditional dances and food (kosher available). Highly recommended.
