This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in She'ar Yashuv.
Sheʼar Yashuv is a small moshav in the Upper Galilee region of northern Israel. The original settlement was founded by Zionists before World War One. After the Arab-Israeli War, the village was abandoned due to Syrian bombs, but resettled a few years later by surviving members of the original moshav. She’ar Yashuv was on the original cease fire line, and as a result hey were besieged by the Syrians until the late 1950s when the Golani Brigade captured Tel Azaziat; today the cease fire line is farther east.
The next closest village is Dafna, a kibbutz. She’ar Yashuv is two and a half hours from Jerusalem, an hour and twenty minutes from Haifa, and an hour from Tiberias. There are buses from Haifa, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv. The nearest large town is Kiryat Shmona; you’ll connect here with any long-distance buses.
Moshavim are similar in a way to kibbutzim, in that they are based on an agricultural and communal style of living, but in a moshav, farms and livestock are individually owned rather than community owned. In She’ar Yashuv, many of the residents work in orchards or in the forest. Several residents run hostels and guesthouses. These are not traditional European or Australian-style hostels; instead they cater to mainly families and couples. The hostels do have kitchens, so you can cook. Solo travellers may find accommodation here difficult, as its not traditional budget accommodation; if you prefer a true hostel, you should consider looking in Kiryat Shmona.
In 1997, She’ar Yashuv made international headlines when two Israeli helicopters collided overhead; there is a memorial in the moshav’s forest. The Israeli National Trail, a cross-country hiking trail, is close by. You could also explore the nearby Golan Heights or go kayaking. Your hostel staff will be able to arrange Jeep tours or kayaking trips.
Written by local enthusiast for She'ar Yashuv hostels
Jakob Lombardi
