Amirim facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Amirim אֲמִירִים‎
Moshav Amirim
Amirim Location in Northeast Israel
Country	Israel
Council	Merom HaGalil
Population  (2017)	813

Amirim (Hebrew: אֲמִירִים, meaning Treetops) is a special type of village called a moshav in northern Israel. It sits high up, about 550 metres above sea level, on a hill. From here, you can see the beautiful Sea of Galilee. Amirim is known for its focus on organic farming and vegetarianism. In 2017, about 813 people lived there.

A Look Back in Time

How Amirim Started

In the 1950s, some Moroccan Jewish immigrants tried to start a settlement here. It was first called Shefa Bet. However, their efforts were not successful.

Later, in 1958, a new group of people came together. They wanted to create a moshav based on a unique idea. This idea was all about living a vegetarian, vegan, and organic lifestyle. The people who founded Amirim were among the first to promote vegetarian living in Israel.

Early Challenges

In the early days, a group of families who followed a specific religious path also moved to Amirim. They started an organization to encourage organic farming. However, they found it hard to work with the moshav's rules. This caused some disagreements with other residents. Because of these difficulties, the group soon moved to Jerusalem.

Life in Amirim

Amirim is mostly a community of people who are not strictly religious, known as secular Jews. But, some religious Jewish families who are also vegetarian live there too. People often describe the residents of Amirim as "spiritually oriented." This means they care about their inner well-being and connection to nature.

Visiting Amirim

Tourism is one of the main ways people in Amirim earn money. The moshav has many guesthouses where visitors can stay. These guesthouses also have restaurants that serve delicious vegetarian and vegan food. In the early 1960s, a group called the Jewish Agency helped 10 families build the first guesthouses. These cozy guest chalets are known as zimmerim.

Art and Music

Amirim is also famous for its outdoor sculpture garden. This garden displays about 20 statues that belong to the Israel Museum. These artworks were made by artists from Israel and other countries. One of the sculptures is a steel statue by David Palombo.

The moshav is also known for its music. On Friday evenings, two residents, the couple Miki Shaviv and Mika Karni, often perform musical events.

Famous People from Amirim

• Mika Karni (a singer)
• Jonathan Skjöldebrand (a Swedish-Israeli basketball player)

See also

In Spanish: Amirim para niños