What to do in “Hurfeish”, Israel

Hurfeish is a Druze village, the northernmost of the Druze villages in Israel. The village is located east of Ma’alot-Tarshiha, north of Beit Jann in the northwest of the Meron Nature Reserve at the foot of Mount Adir, which is 1,008 meters above sea level near Mount Zevul.

The origin of the name Hurfeish is from the tribe of Al-Harfush who lived in the region in the 5th century CE. The name is also associated with a common plant, whose name is Arabic Khurfeish.

The settlement was declared a local council in 1967. The settlement is located at an altitude of 700-854 meters above sea level; it enjoys cool, clean mountain air typical of a high mountain climate. From the settlement, you can see the Carmel, Hermon, Lebanon, and the Mediterranean Sea.

Events & Attractions:

Near the settlement is the Tomb of Nebi Sablan, sacred to the Druze community.

A memorial room was set up in the settlement for Colonel Nevia Mari, a resident of the settlement who fell in the Gaza Strip in clashes that were part of the Western Wall Tunnel riots.

In Hurfeish you can visit the Amir Ghanem Museum: The museum is built of two rooms that deal with the history of the Druze community. The museum displays pictures of work tools and other related topics related to daily life of the Druze, their main occupation, agriculture, and more.

Also, you can find the “lace embroidery house” in the village – a building from the beginning of the 20th century, which is now used as a unique initiative by women from the village for traditional and ancient Druze handicrafts.

As a part of the Kfar Bikartem events, there are two main festivals in the village, the “Taste of the Village” festival – a culinary event that focuses on flavors and aromas of the authentic cuisine, and the olive branch festival that offers guided tours of olive groves, olive picking, and more.

Transportation:

Transportation in the area is based on private vehicles, inter-city buses, and taxis.

Useful information for Hurfeish:

• Attractions in Hurfeish
• Where to stay in Hurfeish (Hotels and Hostels)
• Restaurants in Hurfeish

Regions

• North (Haifa and Galil)

Location