Zohar, Israel

Moshav in southern Israel

Place in Southern, Israel

Zohar

זוהר, זֹהַר
زوهر

Etymology: Brightness

Zohar

Coordinates: 31°35′43″N 34°41′32″E﻿ / ﻿31.59528°N 34.69222°E﻿ / 31.59528; 34.69222
Country| Israel
District| Southern
Council| Lakhish
Affiliation| Agricultural Union
Founded| 1956
Founded by| Algerian and Tunisian Jews
Population

(2023)

| 373[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 2023 it had a population of 373.[1]

A large lake that serves as a reservoir lies near the town.

## History

[edit]

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]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
2. ^ Carta's Official Guide to Israel and Complete Gazetteer to all Sites in the Holy Land. (3rd edition 1993) Jerusalem, Carta, p.485, ISBN 965-220-186-3
3. ^ Khalidi, Walid (1992). All That Remains: The Palestinian Villages Occupied and Depopulated by Israel in 1948. Washington D.C.: Institute for Palestine Studies. p. 92\. ISBN 0-88728-224-5.

* v
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Lakhish Regional Council

Moshavim|

* Ahuzam
* Amatzia
* Lakhish
* Menuha
* Nehora
* Noga
* Nir Hen
* Otzem
* Sde David
* Sde Moshe
* Shahar
* Shekef
* Tlamim
* Yad Natan
* Zohar

Community settlement|

* Bnei Dekalim
* Eliav
* Karmei Katif
* Neta

Authority control databases

International|

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National|

* Israel

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