Zohar
זוהר, זֹהַר زوهر | |
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Etymology: Brightness | |
Coordinates: 31°35′43″N 34°41′32″E / 31.59528°N 34.69222°E | |
Country | Israel |
District | Southern |
Council | Lakhish |
Affiliation | Agricultural Union |
Founded | 1956 |
Founded by | Algerian and Tunisian Jews |
Population (2022) | 327[1] |
Zohar (Hebrew: זֹהַר, lit. Brightness) is a moshav in southern Israel. Located near the city of Kiryat Gat, it falls under the jurisdiction of Lakhish Regional Council. In 2022 it had a population of 327.[1]
A large lake that serves as a reservoir lies near the town.
The moshav was founded in 1956 by Jewish refugees from Algeria and Tunisia on land, that had belonged to the Arab village of al-Faluja,[2] as part of the effort to settle Hevel Lakhish.
According to Walid Khalidi, Zohar is founded on the land belonging to the depopulated Palestinian village of Burayr.[3]
Its name signifies the desire of the inhabitants to be quickly absorbed in what was then a remote frontier region. In later years, new immigrants from Iraq, Russia and Hungary settled there.[citation needed]
In the 1950s and 1960s the moshav was a target for Palestinian fedayeen who infiltrated into Israel from Gaza.[citation needed]