Amirim ( he, אֲמִירִים, ''lit.'' Treetops) is a

moshav A moshav ( he, מוֹשָׁב, plural ', lit. ''settlement, village'') is a type of Israeli town or settlement, in particular a type of cooperative agricultural community of individual farms pioneered by the Labour Zionists between 1904 an ...

in northern

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

. Located 550 metres above sea level on a hill overlooking the

Sea of Galilee The Sea of Galilee ( he, יָם כִּנֶּרֶת, Judeo-Aramaic: יַמּא דטבריא, גִּנֵּיסַר, ar, بحيرة طبريا), also called Lake Tiberias, Kinneret or Kinnereth, is a freshwater lake in Israel. It is the lowest ...

, it embraces organic farming and

vegetarianism Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slaughter. Vegetarianism may ...

. In it had a population of .

History

Early attempts by

Moroccan Jewish Moroccan Jews ( ar, اليهود المغاربة, al-Yahūd al-Maghāriba he, יהודים מרוקאים, Yehudim Maroka'im) are Jews who live in or are from Morocco. Moroccan Jews constitute an ancient community dating to Roman times. Jews b ...

immigrants to establish a settlement in the 1950s were not successful. The original name was ''Shefa Bet.'' In 1958, a group of people of various backgrounds banded together to create a moshav based on a vegetarian, vegan, and organic lifestyle and ideology. The founders of Amirim were among the pioneers of the vegetarian movement in Israel.Israel News : Jerusalem Post Internet Edition
/ref> A group of Branch Davidian Seventh Day Adventist families under the leadership of Ben and Lois Roden moved to Amirim in 1958 and established "The Branch Organic Agricultural Association," which encouraged organic agriculture. They had difficulties in cooperating with the requirements of the moshav, however, causing friction with other residents, and the group soon moved to

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

Spiritual Orientation

Amirim is mostly a secular Jewish community, but there are some religious Jewish vegetarian families who live there. Its residents have been described as "spiritually oriented."

Tourism

One of the moshav's main sources of income is tourism. The moshav runs guesthouses and restaurants featuring vegetarian and vegan food. In the early 1960s, the Jewish Agency helped 10 families build the first ''zimmerim'', as the guest chalets are known. The moshav has a sculpture garden which displays 20 statues belonging to the

Israel Museum The Israel Museum ( he, מוזיאון ישראל, ''Muze'on Yisrael'') is an art and archaeological museum in Jerusalem. It was established in 1965 as Israel's largest and foremost cultural institution, and one of the world’s leading encyclopa ...

collections. The works are made by Israeli and international artists, including a steel statue by

David Palombo David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

Arts

The moshav has been noted for its sculpture garden, which features sculptures donated by the Israel Museum, as well as for its music. Regular musical events include Friday evening performances by two of its residents, the couple

Miki Shaviv Miki may refer to: Places *Miki, Hyōgo, a city in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan *Miki, Kagawa, a town in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan *Miki, Azerbaijan, a village in Astara Rayon, Azerbaijan People *Miki (given name) *Miki (surname) *Miki Núñez (born ...

and

Mika Karni Mika Karni is an Israeli pop singer and trained violinist. Discography * ''Mika Karni'' (1997) * ''Sipur Amiti'' ("A True Story") (2000) * ''Another World'' (2001) * ''Mi'rega Le'rega'' ("Minute by Minute" / "Moment by Moment") (2002) * ''Light ...

Notable residents

Jonathan Skjöldebrand Jonathan Skjöldebrand ( he, יהונתן שולדבראנד; born August 2, 1983) is a former Swedish-Israeli professional basketball player. Early life Skjöldebrand was born in Amirim, Israel to Swedish parents, he played for Hapoel Sasa and H ...

, Swedish-Israeli basketball player

References

External links

Amirim
{{Merom HaGalil Regional Council Moshavim Vegetarianism and religion Vegetarian communities Populated places established in 1958 1958 establishments in Israel Populated places in Northern District (Israel) Moroccan-Jewish culture in Israel Jewish vegetarianism