District Central Affiliation Poalei Agudat Yisrael Local time Tuesday 5:56 PM | Council Nahal Sorek Population (2015) 503 | |
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Founded 15 August 1937 (Kfar Szold)
25 April 1944 (Hafetz Haim) Weather 17°C, Wind W at 11 km/h, 69% Humidity | ||
Hafetz Haim (Hebrew: חָפֵץ חַיִּים, lit. desirous of life) is a religious kibbutz in central Israel. Located in the Shephelah, it falls under the jurisdiction of Nahal Sorek Regional Council. In 2015 it had a population of 503.
Contents
Map of Hafetz Haim, Israel
History
The land on which Hafetz Haim was established was purchased by the Jewish National Fund, and first settled on 15 August 1937 as a tower and stockade settlement. It was named Sha'ar HaNegev, and then Kfar Szold (after Henrietta Szold). However, on 13 November 1942 the community moved to the Finger of the Galilee, where they established a new kibbutz, also called Kfar Szold.
On 25 April 1944 a new kibbutz was established. The founders were religious pioneers from Germany and members of the Ezra youth movement and Agudat Yisrael who had been preparing near Kfar Saba. It was the first village founded by Agudat Yisrael and was named after Yisrael Meir Kagan, who was also known as the Hafetz Haim after one of his famous works with the title “Chofetz Chaim”, trans. Desirer of Life.
Archaeology
In 2010, a Byzantine-era octagonal wine press measuring 6.5 meters by 16.5 meters was discovered in excavations near Kibbutz Hafetz Haim.