Tzofar
| Tzofar צוֹפָר | |
|---|---|
|
A road in Tzofar. | |
  Tzofar | |
| Coordinates: 30°33′38.28″N 35°10′52.72″E / 30.5606333°N 35.1813111°ECoordinates: 30°33′38.28″N 35°10′52.72″E / 30.5606333°N 35.1813111°E | |
| District | Southern |
| Council | Central Arava |
| Affiliation | Moshavim movement |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Population (2005) | 300 |
Tzofar (Hebrew: צוֹפָר) is a moshav in southern Israel, near Route 90, about 120 km north of Eilat. It lies south of Sapir and north of Tzukim. It belongs to the Central Arava Regional Council. In 2005 it had a population of about 300. The name derives from the nearby Tzofar stream[1] and is also referring to one of the "friends" of Job (f.e. Job 2:11).[2] In the Negev there are also kibbutzim with the names of the 2 other "friends": Mahane Bildad in the middle and Elifaz in the southern Arava.
History
The settlement was originally founded as a Nahal settlement in 1968 where Bildad Camp is currently located. In 1975 it was established as a moshav by city residents and native moshavniks and relocated several kilometers north to reach is present-day location.[1]
After the peace agreement between Israel and Jordan, Israel transferred a portion of the land area in Tzofar to Jordanian control, but Israel rented the land so that Israeli workers from the moshav could continue to cultivate it.
Economy
Winter farming is the main industry of the moshav. The produce is intended mainly for export, while some of it is sold locally. Vegetables grown in the moshav include melons, peppers, and tomatoes.
An attempt has been made to farm lobster in artificial ponds.
Pens for cattle have been constructed to serve as a holding place for cattle being imported into Israel.
The moshav also contains a grove of palm trees jointly owned by all the inhabitants.
A secondary source of income is tourism, based on the proximity of Tzofar to the ancient Nabatean spice route and ancient Nabatean city of Moa.
References
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