Kibbutz Maanit is located in the north of the country near the town of Pardes Hanna-Karkur. The Galam factory, which was owned by Kibbutz Maanit until 2016, produced, among other things, sweetening solutions for the food industry. But in the big depression of the 1990s, life in Maanit was far from sweet.
Maanit, which means the first furrow plowed in the field, suffered from debts, was plagued by the abandonment of many kibbutz members, and was one of the kibbutzim considered the weakest link in the movement. But then, thanks to a number of particularly talented kibbutz members, each in their own field, good decisions, focused and effective leadership, and a bit of luck, they turned Kibbutz Maanit into one of the most successful kibbutzim and an exceptional example of a kibbutz that managed to change from end to end.
Visit Kibbutz Maanit
The selling of two major companies brought economic well-being to the members of the kibbutz, but mainly a great pride that stems from the resilience of the community and the great preoccupation with culture, the environment and social involvement.
For those who want to delve a little deeper into its history, Maanit has a well-kept archive. A lot of material in the archive, commemorates the paratrooper from the Kibbutz Maanit, Haviva Reik. A nearby kibbutz, Lehavot Haviva, is named after her as is the adjacent educational institution Givat Haviva.
The official name of the kibbutz is Maanit-Narbata after the old city on which it is located (or not, there’s a debate about that) but many remains of an ancient settlement were discovered there and there and you can visit them at Tel Narbata, with a unique stone gate and an array of fortifications from the War of Independence.
On the kibbutz there is a Pilates Studio, a Chinese Medicine treatment clinic by Lilac Ginzburg, and Reflexology treatments by Rony Plis.
The kibbutz has an impressive community garden and around the kibbutz, during spring, there is an beautiful concentration of cyclamens. By the way, all the of the kibbutz gardening is sustainable and without pesticides.
Photos: Kibbutz Maanit
