EL AL | Atmosphere

Magazine I Made in Israel

De Karina: A tale of love and chocolate

Photos: courtesy of De Karina PR

The story of the “De Karina” artisan chocolate factory is a story of love, chocolate, and patriotism. Because of the war, the owners, a young couple who set up shop in the Golan Heights at the start of the millennium, fear its days may be counted, unless they manage to reverse the situation – and you can help them do just that / By Sharon Ben David

“We’re having a tough time right now, like everyone else in the country”, say Karina and Giora Chaplinsky, the owners of the “De Karina” artisan chocolate factory in the Golan Heights kibbutz of Ein Zivan. “Our visitors’ center is still closed, but the help we’ve received from EL AL is making it possible for us to stay afloat”. Third generation chocolatiers Argentinian-born Giora and Karina are third generation chocolatiers. They left Bueno Aires for Israel in 2002 and fell in love with the Golan Heights. After a few years working in agriculture, the couple decided they would attempt to make their dream come true and establish an artisanal chocolate factory. Success came knocking soon after “De Karina” opened in 2006, and a visitors’

28 ATMOSPHERE JUNE 2024