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Afik


Kibbutz Afik was the first Israeli settlement to be established in the Golan after the Six Day War in 1967. Situated in the southern Golan, Afik is located near the site of Fiq, an abandoned Syrian village . Afik is mentioned a number of times in the Bible; in the Book of Kings, and this biblical city is thought to be located close to modern-day Afik.
The Kibbutz is located 355 meters above sea level and looks out over the Kinneret and Mount Hermon. This location promises amazing sunsets, with a 360 degree panoramic scenic view.
Afik is located in a government-defined preferred zone, and residents receive from various building discounts and other benefits.


Afik Stats
Region: North - צפון Climate: Mountain
Demographics: Young couples/Young families, Families, Retirees Medical care:
Clalit
City Type: Moshav/Kibbutz מושב / קיבוץ Affordability: $$
Number of families: 80  
Sectors:
Secular		  
Number of English speakers: 5%
Community contacts:
Nava Caldwell
amrvnava@gmail.com
054-666-7015
Married, Traditional, school aged children
Shoshi
shoshi@afik.org
04-676-1211
Kibbutz Secretary
Website: http://www.weekend.co.il/ramatg/orhan/
Listserv: GoNorthGolan@yahoogroups.com

Local Employment
The Kibbutz branches include agriculture (seasonal vegetables, pulses, and fruit orchards), dairy cattle and chicken coops. Yifat partners with a number of factories, including Afic Printing Solutions, producing toners and ink cartridges. Together with three other Kibbutzim, Afik also shares ownership of Hamat Gader, a hot mineral springs health resort, and on Yom Ha’Atzmaut, each member of Afik is given free entrance to the resort.

Another major source of employment on the Kibbutz is the tourist industry, including the Orhan Afik, a guest house that offers a full range of activities and entertainment.


Accessibility to Employment
Kibbutz residents travel to Tiberias, Katzrin and other nearby Kibbutzim for employment. There are a number of doctors living on the Kibbutz who work in nearby hospitals and clinics.

Education / Youth
All the children travel outside of the Kibbutz for school. The preschool is located in nearby Kefar Haruv, a 3-minute drive. The elementary school is located in Bnei Yehudah, which is a 2-minute drive. High school children travel by school bus either to Nofei Golan in Katzrin (30-minute drive) or to Beit Yerach in the Jordan Valley (20-minute drive). School buses take the children to school and bring them home each day. All of the schools are viewed as being of excellent quality.

For university students, the Jordan Valley College (a branch of Bar Ilan University) is an 18-minute drive from the Kibbutz, and offers a wide range of studies.

The Kibbutz also offers a wide range of after-school activities for the children, as well as activities during school vacations. In the words of one of the Kibbutz members, Afik is truly Gan Eden for children.


Transportation
There is limited Egged bus service from the Kibbutz to Tiberias or Katzrin (in the Golan), and a bus travels twice a day to Jerusalem. A car is definitely useful.

Olim Services
The Kibbutz extends a genuine and open welcome to all Olim. There are a number of veteran Olim, English-speaking families, currently living on the Kibbutz. The community prides itself on the warm embrace it extends to its large variety of members.

Nearby Tiberias (a 30-minute drive) offers all of the municipal services that an Oleh needs, and an Ulpan is offered at the Jordan Valley College (Tzemach), a 20-minute drive.

Amenities / Services
The Kibbutz is fully privatized. The dining hall, however, is run by the guest house for vacationers, and all Kibbutz residents can eat their (kosher) lunches in the dining hall for an inexpensive price.

Kibbutz has a swimming pool, minimarket, playgrounds, health clinic and a dentist.


Community and Religious Life
Afik has sports courts for ball games such as soccer and basketball, and the courts have lights enabling night play. The Kibbutz celebrates holidays and memorial days together, as a community.

Real Estate
The Kibbutz is expanding, and is currently in the middle of developing a new neighborhood. Seven of the 14 houses planned for the new neighborhood have already been built. These new homes are unique in that they are environmentally and ecologically friendly. Built by Greenvillage, Dorel, the houses offer a full rooftop system that generates solar energy (3 kilowatts, 30 square meters of solar panels). After subtracting the homeowner’s monthly electricity bill, the Electric Company issues a check each month to the homeowner, providing payment for the amount of electricity that the rooftop system has generated. The houses have also been built in a way that enables the possibility of installing a water system (that recycles and reuses grey water) as well as thermal insulation. More details about these unusual construction methods can be obtained from the Kibbutz and the developer.

Updated: 1.2.10

Tags: North Moshav - Kibbutz $$ Young Couples & Families Families Retirees Secular