Ofaqim
Encyclopedia
Ofakim (lit. "horizons") is a city in southern Israel
, 20 kilometers west of Beersheba
. It was founded as a development town
on April 19, 1955. In 2008, Ofakim had a population of 24,800. The mayor is Zvika Greengold
.
Ofakim was established as a regional center for the rural communities in the area. The early residents were Jewish immigrants from North Africa and India.
population. There were 11,200 males and 11,800 females – 41.8% 19 years of age or younger, 14.5% between 20 and 29, 18.5% between 30 and 44, 12.5% from 45 to 59, 3.6% from 60 to 64, and 9.1% 65 years of age or older. The population growth rate in 2001 was 0.6%.
About 30 percent of the residents are ultra-Orthodox, many of them newly observant
. Another 30 percent are immigrants, mostly from the former Soviet Union. The rest are descendants of the founding generation, immigrants from North Africa and India who arrived in the town in the 1950s and 1960s. Ofakim also has a small community of Ethiopian Jews.
As in other development town
s, the industrial sector has historically played an important part in Ofakim's economy, but less so than in most other development towns. In 1972, 32% of the salaried workers (754 people) were in this sector, and in 1983—924 people (23%). During this period, the textile industries consistently employed by far the most workers, ranging from 72% (1982–83) to 82% (1972). The Of–Ar (short for Ofakim–Argentina) textile factory was a major employer.
route around Ofakim was inaugurated in 2010. The 60-centimeter-wide single route winds through 1,500 dunams (approx 375 acres) in Ofakim Forest, passing through Nahal Shomriya and Nahal Patish, and looping around eight local moshav
im.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, 20 kilometers west of Beersheba
Beersheba
Beersheba is the largest city in the Negev desert of southern Israel. Often referred to as the "Capital of the Negev", it is the seventh-largest city in Israel with a population of 194,300....
. It was founded as a development town
Development town
Development town is a term used to refer to the new settlements that were built in Israel during the 1950s in order to provide permanent housing to a large influx of Jewish refugees from Arab countries, Holocaust survivors from Europe and new immigrants , who arrived to the newly established State...
on April 19, 1955. In 2008, Ofakim had a population of 24,800. The mayor is Zvika Greengold
Zvika Greengold
Zvi "Zvika" Greengold is a national hero in Israel who fought during the 1973 Yom Kippur War as an Israeli IDF tank commander. He is one of only eight people who fought in the war to be awarded the Medal of Valor, the nation's highest medal for heroism....
.
History
Ofakim was established as a regional center for the rural communities in the area. The early residents were Jewish immigrants from North Africa and India.
Demographics
In 2001, the ethnic makeup of the city was 99.7% Jewish and other non-Arab, with no significant ArabArab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
population. There were 11,200 males and 11,800 females – 41.8% 19 years of age or younger, 14.5% between 20 and 29, 18.5% between 30 and 44, 12.5% from 45 to 59, 3.6% from 60 to 64, and 9.1% 65 years of age or older. The population growth rate in 2001 was 0.6%.
About 30 percent of the residents are ultra-Orthodox, many of them newly observant
Baal teshuva
Baal teshuva or ba'al teshuvah , sometimes abbreviated to BT, is a term referring to a Jew who turns to embrace Orthodox Judaism. Baal teshuva literally means, "repentant", i.e., one who has repented or "returned" to God...
. Another 30 percent are immigrants, mostly from the former Soviet Union. The rest are descendants of the founding generation, immigrants from North Africa and India who arrived in the town in the 1950s and 1960s. Ofakim also has a small community of Ethiopian Jews.
Transport
Ofakim is linked to different cities in the nearby area by several bus routes, which are:| Route | Destination | Operator |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Tze'elim Tze'elim Tze'elim is a kibbutz in the Negev desert in southern Israel. It falls under the jurisdiction of Eshkol Regional Council and has a population of 418 in 2006.... <--> Be'er Sheva Beersheba Beersheba is the largest city in the Negev desert of southern Israel. Often referred to as the "Capital of the Negev", it is the seventh-largest city in Israel with a population of 194,300.... |
Egged Ta'avura Egged Ta'avura Egged Ta'avura is an Israeli bus company. It is a subsidiary of the Egged Bus Cooperative and the Ta'avura Group, and was founded by the two in 2006 from 2 other subsidiaries of Egged, following the public transportation reform and privatization in Israel in the 2000s... |
| 33 | Be'er Sheva | Egged Ta'avura |
| 35 | Eshcol Regional Council <--> Be'er Sheva | Egged Ta'avura |
| 365 | Ashkelon Ashkelon Ashkelon is a coastal city in the South District of Israel on the Mediterranean coast, south of Tel Aviv, and north of the border with the Gaza Strip. The ancient seaport of Ashkelon dates back to the Neolithic Age... |
Egged Ta'avura |
| 372 (Only on weekends) | Modi'in Illit Modi'in Illit Modi'in Illit is a Haredi Israeli settlement and a city in the West Bank, situated midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Modi'in Illit was granted city status by the Israeli government in 2008. It is located six kilometres northeast of Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut and is often referred to as Kiryat... |
Superbus |
| 372 (Only on weekends) | Tel Aviv Tel Aviv Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with... NCBS Tel Aviv Central Bus Station Tel Aviv Central Bus Station, known as the New Central Bus Station , is the main bus station of Tel Aviv, Israel... |
Egged Ta'avura |
| 376 | Tze'elim <--> Tel Aviv | Egged Ta'avura |
| 490, 498 | Bnei Brak | Egged Egged Bus Cooperative Egged Israel Transport Cooperative Society Ltd , a cooperative owned by its members is the largest transit bus company in Israel. It provides about 55 % of public transport services throughout the country, employs 6,227 workers and has 2,861 buses for more than 928 service routes and 3,103... |
| 494 | Jerusalem CBS Jerusalem Central Bus Station The Jerusalem Central Bus Station is the main bus depot in Jerusalem, Israel and one of the busiest bus stations in the country. Located on Jaffa Road near the entrance to the city, it serves Egged, Superbus and Dan intercity bus routes... |
Egged |
Economy
In 2000, there were 5,655 salaried workers and 300 self-employed. The mean monthly wage for a salaried worker was NIS 3,728, a real change of 7.5% over the course of 2000. Salaried males had a mean monthly wage of NIS 4,761 (a real change of 10.1%) versus NIS 2,744 for females (a real change of 2.2%). The mean income for the self-employed was 4,776. There were 526 people receiving unemployment benefits and 3,538 receiving an income supplement.As in other development town
Development town
Development town is a term used to refer to the new settlements that were built in Israel during the 1950s in order to provide permanent housing to a large influx of Jewish refugees from Arab countries, Holocaust survivors from Europe and new immigrants , who arrived to the newly established State...
s, the industrial sector has historically played an important part in Ofakim's economy, but less so than in most other development towns. In 1972, 32% of the salaried workers (754 people) were in this sector, and in 1983—924 people (23%). During this period, the textile industries consistently employed by far the most workers, ranging from 72% (1982–83) to 82% (1972). The Of–Ar (short for Ofakim–Argentina) textile factory was a major employer.
Education
There are 19 schools and 4,704 students in the city – 13 elementary schools (3,079 students), and 8 high schools (1,625 students). 43.3% of 12th grade students were entitled to a matriculation certificate in 2001.Sports
One of Israel's 14 tennis centers is located in Ofakim. It opened in 1990 and has six courts. The city also has a soccer stadium.Development plans
A train station opened in 2010 with a car park for 1,000 cars, and an old industrial building is being converted into an art museum. The Nahal Shomriya cyclingCycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
route around Ofakim was inaugurated in 2010. The 60-centimeter-wide single route winds through 1,500 dunams (approx 375 acres) in Ofakim Forest, passing through Nahal Shomriya and Nahal Patish, and looping around eight local moshav
Moshav
Moshav is a type of Israeli town or settlement, in particular a type of cooperative agricultural community of individual farms pioneered by the Labour Zionists during the second aliyah...
im.
External links
- http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/business/go-south-young-men-and-women-1.313477Go south, young men (and women), HaaretzHaaretzHaaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
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