The beginnings of the kibbutz were in December 1941, with the formation of a work company near
Kiryat Haim by
Jewish refugees from
Czechoslovakia and
Germany. The meaning of the name HaHotrim (The Rowers) is symbolising the wishes of the founders to engage in fishing. The kibbutz was established in 1952 on land that had belonged to the
depopulated Palestinian village named
al-Tira. ==References==