Kibbutz Gan Shmuel is located in the north of the country, close to the city of Hadera. Thanks to industry, commerce and the values of hard work, conservatism and modesty that were assimilated in the early days, Gan Shmuel managed to establish itself as a kibbutz that to this day maintains a collective lifestyle, and invests in culture in art and sports.
Visit Kibbutz Gan Shmuel
The story of Kibbutz Gan Shmuel began in 1896, when land was purchased by “Hovevei Zion” for the purpose of planting a kosher Citron (Etrog) orchard in the land of Israel in honor of Rabbi Shmuel Mohliver. Next to the orchard, the first house in Gan Shmuel was built, with the first floor used for animal housing and the second floor for workers’ housing.
The orchard was not financially successful and was abandoned, and after a few years, Gan Shmuel, which started as an agricultural farm and turned into a group (kvutza) later became a kibbutz and joined the Hashomer Hatzair (The Young Guard) movement.
In the following years, Kibbutz Gan Shmuel grew, absorbed additional groups of sabras and new immigrants, and made a living from agriculture, mainly in the citrus field.
Prominent figures that can be mentioned in those years – Yohanan Simon the painter who was a member of the kibbutz and in his paintings told the story of life on the kibbutz, the famous architect Arie Sharon whose first building was the first two-story house on the kibbutz and later also the dining hall, and Feiga Ilanit who was an MK on behalf of the Mapam party.
In 1942, the citrus processing plant was built. This factory became the main economic source of the kibbutz, and in the 1990s the factory became a public company and issued shares on the stock exchange. In 1967, the “Gan Shmuel Stand” was established – a store for the sale of surplus agricultural produce. From here the subject of trade developed in Gan Shmuel and in the 1990s a commercial park was established at the entrance to the kibbutz. The economic and entrepreneurial head continued to develop new industries, and the kibbutz now operates, among other things, a factory for the production of vegan food products and a farm for growing and processing cannabis.
The Feast of the Firstfruits Ceremony (Shavuot) in Gan Shmuel is a very impressive production, with a choir and orchestra composed of members of the kibbutz playing and singing and dances from kindergarten children to eighty-year-olds. In the field of music, the kibbutz also houses Tomy’s recording studio.
In the field of sports, once a year during the Sukkot holiday, the Gan Shmuel Triathlon is held at the Maritime Center in Caesarea, one of the largest triathlons in the country, produced by a local sports event production company (Gan Sport) and based on dozens of kibbutz volunteers. The kibbutz also has two sports clubs in the fields of triathlon and a Pilates Studio.
The old barn building has been converted into a gallery that displays many exhibitions by kibbutz artists and guest artists. Among the artists in the kibbutz, you’ll find artist Amir Yitzhak’s studio (who is also a Feldenkrais instructor).
Phots: Kibbutz Gan Shmuel
