We can’t help linking to this most recent story on Amirim, a vegetarian village founded in the 50s by Moroccan immigrants, at the top of the Sea of Galilee. The village offers guesthouses and lodging for out-of-towners and extols the virtues of vegetarianism and veganism.
The village (moshav in Hebrew) is belonging to the Merom HaGalil Regional Council. It is located 650 m. above sea level in the hills on the picturesque road to Safed, facing the view of Yam Kinneret (Sea of Galilee).
Historically, several attempts to establish a settlement under the name Shefer Bet on that location were made since its early beginning. These attempts failed until in 1958 a group of Holocaust survivors decided to establish a moshav built on vegetarian ideology.
As the moshav would not agree to support itself by becoming a part of the meat industry like other Israeli villages, it was decided to establish guest houses for tourists; this idea proved to be successful and today Amirim is a unique tourist attraction in Galilee.
The folks from Amirim also fancy themselves as the artsy-fartsy/healer types and open their homes and galleries as artists’ studios; they practice alternative medicine; there are also plenty of walking and jeep tour guides, and sellers of organic foodstuffs and wines. In short, lots of great treats and gifts to bring your family and friends.
Not sure if it’s a rumor or not, but we heard once that members of the ethnic band Sheva also live up in those parts. We participated in a post-wedding party for one of them and had the time of our life at a restaurant nearby. Singing, celebration, soulfulness. Good people.
For starters on where to stay link to Honny Guesthouses; Ohn Bar.
Author: Karin Kloosterman
Karin Kloosterman is an award-winning journalist and publisher that founded Green Prophet to unite a prosperous Middle East. She shows through her work that positive, inspiring dialogue creates action that impacts people, business and planet. She has published in thought-leading newspapers and magazines globally, owns an IoT tech chip patent, and is part of teams that build world-changing products to make agriculture and our planet more sustainable. Reach out directly to [email protected]
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