The kibbutz was established in 1954 by members of Kvutzat HaSharon who previously lived in Ramat David, as well as former residents of Gevat, including Haim Gvati, later a government minister. It was initially named Ihud HaSharon - Gevat, but was later renamed after the biblical town of Yefia (Joshua 19:12), as does the name of the Arab town of Yafa an-Naseriyye.
Yifat houses a Hebrew ulpan for immigrants and would-be immigrants. Furthermore, Jewish and Gentile “volunteers” from many countries have served on the kibbutz. In earlier days, Yifat welcomed non-Jews from Germany among its visitors when some kibbutzim discriminated even against those born after World War II.
