Amirim

Amirim
View from Amirim
Amirim
Coordinates: 32°56′17.67″N 35°27′6.24″E / 32.9382417°N 35.4517333°E / 32.9382417; 35.4517333Coordinates: 32°56′17.67″N 35°27′6.24″E / 32.9382417°N 35.4517333°E / 32.9382417; 35.4517333
Council	Merom HaGalil
Population (2015)[1]	789

Amirim (Hebrew: אֲמִירִים‎, lit. Treetops) is a moshav in northern Israel. Located 650 metres above sea level on a hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee, it was established by vegetarians. In 2015 it had a population of 789.

History

Early attempts by Jewish immigrants from Morocco 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. Among them were numerous Branch Davidian Seventh Day Adventist families under the leadership of Ben and Lois Roden. The founders of Amirim were among the pioneers of the vegetarian movement in Israel.^[2] The Rodens established "The Branch Organic Agricultural Association," one of the first organizations to encourage organic gardening in Israel, which produces an abundance of crops for the area and for Europe.

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.^[2]

The moshav has a sculpture garden which displays 20 statues belonging to the Israel Museum collections. The works are made by Israeli and international artists, including a steel statue by David Palombo.^[3][4]

Notable residents

• Mika Karni

See also

• Jewish vegetarianism

References

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Amirim.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Amirim.