Rehovot Vicinity: Hulda Forest and Herzl House

HERZL HOUSE. Inside you can see agronomist Louis Barish's desk, and a fascinating display showing how potential donors were persuaded to contribute to the JNF.

AFTER HULDA kibbutzniks left the forest, and until the recent $2 million renovation, Herzl House stood alone and neglected.

WATCH OUT for oak, South American pepper, eucalyptus, Australian casuarinas, cypress trees and almond blossoms in the spring.

THE FOREST dates back to 1905, when a company called [Geula], or "Redemption," purchased 500 acres of land from the Arabs of [Hulda] village. The grave of Ephraim [Sara Chisik]. Chisik, whose sister was killed at Tel Hai, left the Galilee to help defend Hulda in 1929. A PAVED path lined with Washingtonia trees leads you to the gracious staircase of Herzl House.

OVER THE decades everything from the roof and the floor were stolen as vandals took all they could carry.

IF YOU WILL IT. A large photograph of the Zionist leader greets visitors at Herzl House. The visionary was never here; the house was built for the farm coordinator and the settlers. POT LUCK. Pictures of early Hulda pioneers, seen in the Herzl House exhibit...

Source: Aviva Bar-am. Hulda Forest and Herzl House (includes 9 photos) Jerusalem Post Weekend Edition (26 April 2007) [FullText]