Retamim
Encyclopedia
Retamim is a kibbutz
in the central Negev
desert in southern Israel
. Located three kilometres northwest of Revivim
, it falls under the jurisdiction of Ramat HaNegev Regional Council
.
IDF
soldiers and new immigrants who started to gather in kibbutz Be'eri
in 1978. A second group was established in Revivim
in early 1979. The two groups merged in mid-1979 and moved to a caravan site opposite what is now Park Golda after Tlalim
had moved to its permanent site in December 1979.
However, due to lack of support from the Kibbutz Movement
, the kibbutz did not expand, and the movement acted to evict the members, some moved to Revivim
others to other kibbutzim and the rest to the towns, until eventually only one of the original members remained
In 1983 the kibbutz was finally established on its present site, assisted by Nahal
soldiers from the Hebrew Scouts. In 1994 it united with kibbutz Revivim after suffering from social problems and members leaving. Some of its houses were converted into a holiday village
called Rotem BeMidbar, though this closed in 2000. It now serves as an immigrant
absorption centre catering largerly for immigrants
from Ethiopia
.
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
in the central Negev
Negev
The Negev is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The Arabs, including the native Bedouin population of the region, refer to the desert as al-Naqab. The origin of the word Neghebh is from the Hebrew root denoting 'dry'...
desert in southern Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Located three kilometres northwest of Revivim
Revivim
Revivim showers) is a kibbutz in the Negev desert in southern Israel. Located around half an hour south of Beersheba, it falls under the jurisdiction of Ramat HaNegev Regional Council...
, it falls under the jurisdiction of Ramat HaNegev Regional Council
Ramat HaNegev Regional Council
Ramat Negev Regional Council is a regional council in the Negev desert in Israel. The largest regional council in the country, its headquarters are located on Highway 40 between Mashabei Sadeh and Tlalim.-Places:...
.
History
The community was founded by a group of demobilisedDemobilization
Demobilization is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and military force will not be necessary...
IDF
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
soldiers and new immigrants who started to gather in kibbutz Be'eri
Be'eri
Be'eri is a kibbutz in southern Israel. Located in the north-western Negev desert near the border with the Gaza Strip, it falls under the jurisdiction of Eshkol Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 774.-History:...
in 1978. A second group was established in Revivim
Revivim
Revivim showers) is a kibbutz in the Negev desert in southern Israel. Located around half an hour south of Beersheba, it falls under the jurisdiction of Ramat HaNegev Regional Council...
in early 1979. The two groups merged in mid-1979 and moved to a caravan site opposite what is now Park Golda after Tlalim
Tlalim
Tlalim is a kibbutz in the Negev desert in Israel. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Ramat Negev Regional Council and has a population of 110.-History:...
had moved to its permanent site in December 1979.
However, due to lack of support from the Kibbutz Movement
Kibbutz Movement
The Kibbutz Movement is the largest settlement movement for kibbutzim in Israel. It was formed in 1999 by a partial merger of the United Kibbutz Movement and Kibbutz Artzi.-United Kibbutz Movement:...
, the kibbutz did not expand, and the movement acted to evict the members, some moved to Revivim
Revivim
Revivim showers) is a kibbutz in the Negev desert in southern Israel. Located around half an hour south of Beersheba, it falls under the jurisdiction of Ramat HaNegev Regional Council...
others to other kibbutzim and the rest to the towns, until eventually only one of the original members remained
In 1983 the kibbutz was finally established on its present site, assisted by Nahal
Nahal
Nahal is an Israel Defense Forces infantry brigade. Historically, it refers to a program that combines military service and establishment of new agricultural settlements, often in outlying areas...
soldiers from the Hebrew Scouts. In 1994 it united with kibbutz Revivim after suffering from social problems and members leaving. Some of its houses were converted into a holiday village
Holiday village
A holiday village is a park, that is developed as a holiday resort in which the visitors stay in villas. There is a central area with shops, entertainment and other amenities. One of the most well known chains of holiday villages is Center Parcs.A holiday village is also a system of club hotels...
called Rotem BeMidbar, though this closed in 2000. It now serves as an immigrant
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
absorption centre catering largerly for immigrants
Beta Israel
Beta Israel Israel, Ge'ez: ቤተ እስራኤል - Bēta 'Isrā'ēl, modern Bēte 'Isrā'ēl, EAE: "Betä Ǝsraʾel", "Community of Israel" also known as Ethiopian Jews , are the names of Jewish communities which lived in the area of Aksumite and Ethiopian Empires , nowadays divided between Amhara and Tigray...
from Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
.