Marjorie Kaufman

A rare double rainbow appeared on the road north from Jerusalem as we drove up to the Galilee on Sunday December 28, 2025 to visit the Galilee Culinary Institute (GCI) at Kibbutz Gonen and the Kares Medical Center in Kiryat Shmona.

Why develop a culinary center in the North of Israel? The Upper Galilee is known as the breadbasket of Israel. Its altitude, rainfall and volcanic soil conditions provide fertile conditions for a wide variety of agriculture, from orchard fruits, field crops, complex grape varieties, and seasonal vegetables, to pecan groves, wasabi roots and vanilla bean orchids. There are over 30 vineyards in the Golan, alongside numerous dairy farms producing artisanal cheeses.

And of course there is innovation, because Israel is StartUp Nation. The Upper Galilee region and Kiryat Shmona area have been officially declared the nation’s FoodTech Valley.  Local entrepreneurs are focusing on soil improvement, biodiversity, irrigation, sustainability and productivity. 

We had just been briefed on developments at GCI at the Global JNF Conference in October. Still, we were unprepared for what we saw – a stunning modern building, beautifully designed with sophisticated finishes that would not feel out of place in Napa.  

Amit Avishai took us into the impressive demo kitchen which is set up for both live and remote learning and features multiple screens and computer-controlled cameras focused on the chef’s actions. Imagine reality cooking shows, classes on healthy cooking for teenagers, students producing video content for social media. 

We walked through multiple state-of-the-art teaching and cooking kitchens equipped with high-end European chef’s gear – Rational professional ovens and sous-vide machines; Indian Tandoori and Italian pizza ovens; a huge Texas BBQ and shawarma rotisserie area; 20-qt Varimixers for the baking kitchen. 

There are separate meat and dairy kitchens. The meat kitchen alone has two Rational pro ovens (most top restaurants have only one) and workstations for 20. 

The second rainbow of the day emerged as we entered the exquisite 100-seat restaurant featuring panoramic views of Galilee farmland and mountains and a bar with wheelchair-accessible seating.  

GCI has lofty goals for this space: create the best farm-to-table dining restaurant in Israel, offering fish from the Dan river, meat from Golan cows, locally grown produce, Galilee truffles and handmade chocolate, and bread from local artisanal ground grains. 

More plans for the restaurant: weekly celebrity chef tasting menus for the evenings; cater daytime events like bar mitzvahs, weddings and business meetings.

Heading downstairs we found specialized classrooms for dairy cooking, meat butchering and milling grain; a huge refrigerated storage area and a lovely student lounge with a coffee bar. 

We were impressed by GCI’s planned emphasis on culinary quality. For example, to address the apparent low quality of Israeli flour, GCI has installed its own artisanal mill for wheat and “ancient”  locally sourced grains.

Similarly, the chocolate program will start with the basics of    cocoa bean grinding; most Israeli chocolate makers skip that step and use already-ground cocoa powder.

GCI’s outside spaces are also spectacular, with a reflecting pool and planted flower areas in front, a large backyard patio setup for al fresco dining dining, a 4-tiered amphitheater for music and events and a lovely garden, all with beautiful views of the Golan Heights, Hula Valley and Naftali Mountains

Next door is Building B, currently beginning construction.  The new building will include facilities to learn chocolate making, beer brewing, and winemaking along with a rooftop wine bar.  

Full-time culinary students at GCI will spend one month at local farms and vineyards studying the terroir. 

The Upper Galilee region In December is stunningly verdant. As we drove down the hill from GCI, this view reminded us of Tuscany.

In nearby Kiryat Shmona, construction of the Kares Medical Center is well underway. The 4,000 square meters (appx 43,000 sq ft) will serve a population of 75,000. Lack of adequate local health care is a major deterrent to attracting people to move to this area. Currently the nearest medical center is 45 minutes away.  

Kares is being built to withstand not just earthquakes but also  missile attacks from hostile elements over the nearby border with Lebanon and Syria.  Sharon Engel told us how the first floor imaging area will double as a one of the center’s  three mamads (bomb shelters), and how the entire facility will be able to keep working even under an attack.  

The plan for the medical center includes initial Trauma Management and Triage, Emergency Rooms, Women’s Health and Obstetrical Care, and Pediatric Care. We talked with Sharon about how Kares will affiliate with one of the Israeli HMOs to staff the center, and whether the facility should accommodate a helipad on the roof for trauma transport

JNF projects like the Galilee Culinary Institute and the Kares Medical Center will make a critical impact on the Upper Galilee region, helping to draw population and tourism up north.

On our end, we plan to work hard to generate interest in GCI and get many US doctors interested in supporting Kares. 

Thank you, JNF for all you do!!

View of Kiryat Shmona from rear of Kares Medical Center