Yifat
Encyclopedia
Yifat is a kibbutz
in Galilee
, northern Israel
. Located adjacent to the town Migdal HaEmek and short distances from the cities of Afula
and Nazareth
. It falls under the jurisdiction of Jezreel Valley Regional Council
. In 2006 it had a population of 717.
t HaSharon who previously lived in Ramat David
, as well as former residents of Gevat
, including Haim Gvati, later a government minister. It was initially named Ihud HaSharon - Gevat, but was later renamed after the biblical
town of Yefia, as does the name of the Arab
town of Yafa an-Naseriyye
.
of Yifat is based on light industry
, agriculture
, greenhouse
s, plant nurseries, cattle
, sheep, and chicken
s, as well as some hospitality industry
. The sixth-grade school “Western Valley” and a performing arts complex are located within the kibbutz, as is a museum dedicated to pioneer settlers.
Yifat houses a Hebrew ulpan
for immigrants and would-be immigrants. Furthermore, Jewish and Gentile
“volunteers” from many countries have served on the kibbutz. In earlier days, Yifat welcomed non-Jews from Germany
among its visitors when most kibbutzim discriminated even against those born after World War II
.
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
in Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
, northern Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Located adjacent to the town Migdal HaEmek and short distances from the cities of Afula
Afula
Afula is a city in the North District of Israel, often known as the "Capital of the Valley", referring to the Jezreel Valley. The city had a population of 40,500 at the end of 2009.-History:...
and Nazareth
Nazareth
Nazareth is the largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...
. It falls under the jurisdiction of Jezreel Valley Regional Council
Jezreel Valley Regional Council
Jezreel Valley Regional Council is a regional council in northern Israel that encompasses most of the settlements in the Jezreel Valley. It includes 15 kibbutzim, 15 moshavim, 6 communal settlements and two Bedouin villages...
. In 2006 it had a population of 717.
History
The kibbutz was established in 1954 by members of KvutzaKvutza
Kvutza or kevutza can be used as:*A definition of an organized group of children consisting of boys and girls graded by age, as used in modern Israel.*It can also refer to any other type of group of individuals...
t HaSharon who previously lived in Ramat David
Ramat David
Ramat David is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located in the Galilee near Ramat David Airbase, it falls under the jurisdiction of Jezreel Valley Regional Council...
, as well as former residents of Gevat
Gevat
Gvat or Gevat is a kibbutz in northern Israel near Migdal HaEmek in the Jezreel Valley. It falls under the jurisdiction of Jezreel Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 670...
, including Haim Gvati, later a government minister. It was initially named Ihud HaSharon - Gevat, but was later renamed after the biblical
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
town of Yefia, as does the name of the Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
town of Yafa an-Naseriyye
Yafa an-Naseriyye
Yafa an-Naseriyye is an Arab local council located in the Lower Galilee, Israel. It forms part of the metropolitan area of Nazareth, also an Arab locality...
.
Economy
Nowadays, the economyEconomy
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
of Yifat is based on light industry
Light industry
Light industry is usually less capital intensive than heavy industry, and is more consumer-oriented than business-oriented...
, agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
s, plant nurseries, cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
, sheep, and chicken
Chicken
The chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
s, as well as some hospitality industry
Hospitality industry
The hospitality industry consists of broad category of fields within the service industry that includes lodging, restaurants, event planning, theme parks, transportation, cruise line, and additional fields within the tourism industry. The hospitality industry is a several billion dollar industry...
. The sixth-grade school “Western Valley” and a performing arts complex are located within the kibbutz, as is a museum dedicated to pioneer settlers.
Yifat houses a Hebrew ulpan
Ulpan
An ulpan is an institute or school for the intensive study of Hebrew. Ulpan is a Hebrew word meaning basically studio or teaching, instruction....
for immigrants and would-be immigrants. Furthermore, Jewish and Gentile
Gentile
The term Gentile refers to non-Israelite peoples or nations in English translations of the Bible....
“volunteers” from many countries have served on the kibbutz. In earlier days, Yifat welcomed non-Jews from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
among its visitors when most kibbutzim discriminated even against those born after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.