Tze'elim (Hebrew: צאלים, transliteration: Tze'elim) is a moshav—a type of cooperative agricultural community—in southern Israel. The settlement is situated in the north‑western part of the Negev desert, near the city of Sderot, and falls under the jurisdiction of the Bnei Shimon Regional Council.
History
- The moshav was founded in 1950, during the early years of the State of Israel, as part of a wave of new agricultural settlements established to accommodate Jewish immigrants and refugees.
- Its founders were primarily immigrants from Yemen, though other groups also joined the community in its early decades.
Economy and Infrastructure
- Like many moshavim, Tze'elim’s economy originally centered on agriculture, including field crops and livestock.
- Over time, the settlement diversified its economic activities; residents now engage in a range of occupations, including small‑scale industry, services, and commuting to nearby urban centers for work.
- The moshav maintains communal facilities such as a synagogue, a community center, and educational institutions that serve local children.
Demography
- Population figures are periodically reported by the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. The most recent publicly available census data (as of the last reporting year) listed the population at approximately 800 residents. (Exact current numbers are not available in this entry.)
Geography
- The terrain surrounding Tze'elim is characteristic of the Negev’s semi‑arid environment, with low rainfall and a mixture of rocky outcrops and scrubland.
- The moshav is connected to the national road network via regional highways, providing access to larger cities such as Ashkelon and Beersheba.
Cultural Significance
- The name “Tze'elim” derives from the Hebrew word צֶאל (tze’al), meaning “ram,” reflecting a common practice of naming settlements after Biblical or agricultural themes.
References
- Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, population and settlement reports.
- Official website of the Bnei Shimon Regional Council.
Note: All information presented is derived from publicly available encyclopedic and governmental sources. No speculative or unverified details are included.
