Welcome to Shorashim
Shorashim
More than a
community
Founded by immigrants from North America and native-born Israelis,
Shorashim (roots in Hebrew) is a community in the Misgav region of
Israel’s Western Galilee. We understand
what it means to be an “immigrant,” and work hard to make your landing in Israel
as soft as possible. Shorashim’s people
are truly special. People who care,
people who cooperate, people who understand what it means to be far from family,
people who understand what it takes to be a true community. If you are considering aliyah, consider
Shorashim.
LOCATION Shorashim sits nestled in the
rolling hills of the Western Galilee, just 4 miles south of Karmiel, a city of
approximately 50,000. Shorashim belongs
to the Misgav Regional Council. (A
regional council compares to a county.)
BUILDING & GROWTH Playgrounds, a basketball court,
scenic hiking and walking trails, and beautifully landscaped pathways planted
with indigenous trees such as olive and carob give Shorashim its Galilee
flair. With an eye on preserving the
environment, many plants and trees in the common areas do not require a great
deal of water.
We are
committed to growth and renewal. Our new
neighborhoods offer spectacular views of the hills of the Western Galilee, the
Hilazon valley, and the coastal plain to the Mediterranean Sea. We have made a decision to cap our population
at 240 families to maintain a “small community” atmosphere where life is quiet
and peaceful, a community where the individual can still have a say in community
matters.
HISTORY & DEMOGRAPHICS Founded by a group of North
Americans and Israelis in 1980, Shorashim began as a moshav shitufi, a
collective similar to a kibbutz. After
privatizing in 1992, Shorashim is now a yishuv kehilati (community settlement)
home to nearly 80 families, almost evenly split between native-born Israelis and
immigrants from all over the world, including North and South America, England,
South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
COMMUNITY LIFE For many of the immigrants,
neighbors are more than just neighbors.
They are friends, family, and support system. And for many native-born Israelis, Shorashim
becomes the gathering place for relatives from all around the
country.
Throughout the year there are events for the entire Shorashim “family,”
including the Memorial Day/Independence Day activities and picnic, winter
charity auction, and end-of-the-school-year party. Other ongoing activities
include tai chi, yoga, dance and movement, basketball, and lectures. Volunteerism is alive and well on
Shorashim. Committees take
responsibility for everything from overseeing community management to organizing
meals for new parents, to arranging youth activities and special events.
CHILDREN The Shorashim nursery, pre-school,
and kindergarten for children ages 3 months to 6 years have earned a very
distinguished reputation, attracting families from other communities in the
area. Optional extended day care is also
available.
YOUTH Schoolchildren of all ages enjoy a
range of activities throughout the year.
The youth advisor is assisted by junior and senior counselors (high
schoolers who are Shorashim residents).
The Regional Council offers a range of afterschool activities (sports,
crafts, and enrichment) for school-age children. Regional Council buses shuttle the children
to and from their activities throughout the afternoon and
evening.
EDUCATION There are a number of elementary
school options in the area, including an Arab-Jewish school and an
anthroposophic (Waldorf) school. Elementary
schools and the Misgav Regional Community High School campus are a short bus
ride away from Shorashim. The Misgav
Regional Community High School consistently receives high marks in Israel. It is
known for its outstanding robotics, music, and dance programs, in addition to
excellent academic courses.
SPIRITUAL LIFE Shorashim is affiliated with the
Masorati (Conservative) movement.
Religious services are led on a volunteer basis by the members of the
community every Friday evening, Shabbat mornings, and on all holidays. Religious services are egalitarian, with men
and women participating fully in all aspects of synagogue ritual. While not all residents participate in
religious services, we emphasize mutual respect of the practices of one’s
friends and neighbors.
To
complement holiday services and study sessions, there are a variety of social
and cultural activities such as potluck meals, family parties, carnivals, and
other celebrations.
THE
AREA AT LARGE The Misgav Regional Council, of
which Shorashim is part, consists of 35 Jewish and Druze villages sprawled over
approximately 5,000 acres of the Galilee.
In addition to supporting the complete educational system and operating
bus transportation, the Council provides trash collection and other municipal
services. The Regional Council houses
the Council offices, schools (elementary through high school), health clinics,
and a health/fitness club. A full range
of activities such as folk dancing, sports, lectures, and performances are held
at Misgav throughout the year. Shorashim
is conveniently located four miles north of the Regional
Council.
From
Shorashim, too, it is a quick “jump” into the city of Karmiel for stores and
malls, supermarkets, restaurants, government offices, and larger medical
clinics. Karmiel’s active cultural
center sponsors professional theater and the Israeli Philharmonic, and hosts a
popular dance festival every summer.
Although public transportation is generally accessible from Karmiel, all
families on Shorashim have at least one car.
There are tax incentives for new immigrants who purchase
cars.
If you
are considering aliyah, and looking to be a part of a truly outstanding
community, consider Shorashim. There is
no other place like it in Israel.
Shorashim | M.P. Misgav 20164 | Israel |Shorashim Absorption Committee