HAREL, MENASHE

HAREL, MENASHE (1917– ), Israeli scholar in Ereẓ Israel studies. Harel is known for his field trips throughout Israel combining academic pursuits with hiking. Harel was born in Samarkand and immigrated to Israel in 1921. In 1941 he served as a Palmaḥ instructor in kibbutz Mismar ha-Emek. From 1943 until 1945 he was the Palmaḥ representative in Syria, engaged in education, teaching, and assisting Jews to immigrate to Israel. In 1948 he joined the idf, serving until 1952. Among his missions in the idf was the establishment of the Naḥal patrol. In 1955 he graduated in geography and historical geography of Ereẓ Israel from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 1957 he received his M.A. degree in historical geography and archaeology from the Hebrew University. In 1963 he received his Ph.D. from New York University. From 1952 until 1961 he was a teacher at the David Yellin teachers seminary. From 1964 until 1969 he taught the methodology of geography at the Hebrew University and the Technion, and the historical geography of Ereẓ Israel at the Technion. From 1969 until 1981 he served as senior lecturer for geographical history in the Department of Geography and the School of Education at Tel Aviv University. From 1982 until 1987 he served as professor in the Department of Geography at Tel Aviv University, becoming professor emeritus in 1987. During these years he was a visiting professor at New York University, Clark University, and Hebrew Union College. Harel was a member of various public institutions and produced 12 books and six monographs among other publications, including Travels in Israel (1960), Geography of Ereẓ Israel (1960); Sinai Journeys (1963); This is Jerusalem (1969); Journeys and Battles in Ancient Times (1980); Landscape, Nature and Man in the Bible (1984); and The Historical Geography of Ereẓ Israel (1997). In 2002 he was awarded the Israel Prize for historical geography.

[Shaked Gilboa (2^nd ed.)]