Amirim

Early attempts by Moroccan Jewish 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.[http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1196847380136&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Israel News : Jerusalem Post Internet Edition]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

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.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YE8TDAAAQBAJ|title=The Branch Davidians of Waco: The History and Beliefs of an Apocalyptic Sect|last=Newport|first=Kenneth G. C.|date=2006-04-13|publisher=OUP Oxford|isbn=9780199245741|language=en}}

Amirim is mostly a secular Jewish community, but there are some religious Jewish vegetarian families who live there.{{Cite web|url=https://our-compass.org/2013/05/30/amirim-israel-the-worlds-first-vegan-village/|title=Amirim, Israel: The world's first vegan village|last=Stacey|date=2013-05-30|website=Our Compass|language=en|access-date=2019-04-14}} Its residents have been described as "spiritually oriented."{{Cite web|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/israel/moshav-amirim|title=Moshav Amirim travel {{!}} Israel|last=Planet|first=Lonely|website=Lonely Planet|language=en|access-date=2019-04-14}}

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 collections. The works are made by Israeli and international artists, including a steel statue by David Palombo.{{Cite web | url=http://www.amirey-hagalil.com/en/galilean-attractions/amirim-village/ |title = Galilee Attractions - Amirey Hagalil Hotel}}{{Cite web | url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:David_Palombo,_sculpture,_1966.jpg |title = עברית: פסל מאת דוד פלומבו, 1966, בגן הפסלים של מושב אמירים|date = 2011-10-15}}

The moshav has been noted for its sculpture garden, which features sculptures donated by the Israel Museum, as well as for its music.{{Cite web|url=http://www.moshav-amirim.co.il/odot|title=אודות אמירים|website=אתר הבית של מושב אמירים|language=he-IL|access-date=2019-11-27}}{{Cite web|url=https://outpostmagazine.com/welcome-amirim-israels-vegetarian-haven-hill/|title=Welcome to Amirim, Israel's Vegetarian Haven on a Hill|date=2017-05-16|website=Outpost Magazine|language=en-CA|access-date=2019-11-27}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.amirim-home.co.il/Music-at-Sunset|title=אמירים|last=www.catom.com|first=Minicy Catom Software Engineering Ltd|website=www.amirim-home.co.il|language=en|access-date=2019-11-27}} Regular musical events include Friday evening performances by two of its residents, the couple Miki Shaviv and Mika Karni.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mako.co.il/music-Magazine/reviews/Article-d9ec940a7353521006.htm|title=מיקה קרני ומיקי שביב באמירים - סיקור הופעה|date=2009-11-27|website=mako|access-date=2019-11-27}}

• Mika Karni
• Jonathan Skjöldebrand, Swedish-Israeli basketball player

• Jewish vegetarianism

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{{Wikivoyage|Amirim}}

{{Commons category|Amirim}}

• [http://www.moshav-amirim.co.il/ Amirim] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921131748/http://www.moshav-amirim.co.il/ |date=2013-09-21 }}

{{Merom HaGalil Regional Council}}

Category:Moshavim

Category:Vegetarianism and religion

Category:Vegetarian communities

Category:Populated places established in 1958

Category:1958 establishments in Israel

Category:Populated places in Northern District (Israel)

Category:Moroccan-Jewish culture in Israel

Category:Jewish vegetarianism