Ayalon Institute

Ayalon Institute

By: Sam Krystal

Today, we went the Ayalon Institute, in the outskirts of Rechovot. Based on Kibbutz Hill, the Institute was hidden under the Nes Ziona. The primary reason for the Institute's existance, was for secret bullet manifaturing durring a time when Palistine was still under British control, and the Zionists needed ammunition to protect themselves from the British and Arabs. There are two entrances to the Institute; one was coverd by the community's washing machine and the other was covered by the community's oven. However, not all of the inhabitant were involved with the production of the Ayalon bullets. Those people were call Jirafa, or Giraffes, because they did not set foot in the underground factory. Though it ceased operation in 1948, it only became known to the public in 1975. Eventualy though, in 1987, the factory was restored and turned into a museum. This museum was the highlight of my trip, because it was chock full of interesting history, and cool machinery.