PEKI'IN

'Peki'in' (), founded in 1952, is an agricultural settlement in the Upper Galilee region of Israel located eight kilometres east of Ma'alot-Tarshiha. The local council of Peki'in has a population of over 4000 people.
Recognized for hundreds of years as an area where Druze and Jews lived peacefully together, Peki'in is notable for its place in Jewish history. The Zohar - the most important book of the Kabbalah - was written by Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in a cave suspected to be in the town where he hid during the 2nd century to avoid persecution by the Romans.
Peki'in is frequently mentioned in historical sources, specifically in reference to its small Jewish community that has existed there almost continuously since the Second Temple period. Near the village, there are significant sites for Druze and Jews, including a restored Jewish synagogue dating back to the Roman Period. The oldest Druze school in the region was established in Peki'in by the Russian church at the end of the 19th century. Arab riots in 1936 forced the Jews of Peki'in to leave their homes for safer parts of the country; only a few of them later returned. Today Peki'in's Jewish population is 4 families, who live in close proximity to the ancient Peki'in Synagogue, which is still in operation.
New Peki'in was established as a Jewish community in 1955, very close to Old Peki'in.
In Jewish tradition, Peki'in is famous for a local cave in which Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son, Rabbi Elazar ben Shimon, hid from the Romans for 13 years after the collapse of the Bar Kochba rebellion against Roman rule. According to legend, Rabbi Shimon and his son lived off spring water and the fruit of a miraculous carob tree during their years of hiding, and passed the time by writing books about Jewish mysticism.
According to Galib Kheir, head of the town's tourism department, about 60,000 tourists visit Peki'in each year. The tourist trade supports local restaurants and specialty shops. The town also has a hotel and youth hostel.
Peki'in was one of settlements hit by Katyusha rockets sent by Hezbollah on July 14, 2006 during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict. On July 28, 2006 five Katyushas struck Peki'in and one directly hit a home next the yard where a family was preparing for an afternoon wedding. Ten people were lightly wounded and treated for shock.