Zikim
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the Israeli kibbutz. For the Israel Defense Forces base near it, see Bahad 4.
| Zikim | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1949 |
| Founded by | Romanian immigrants from Hashomer Hatzair |
| Region | northern Negev |
| Industries | Agriculture, polyurethane |
| Affiliation | Kibbutz Arzi |
| Website | http://www.zikim.org.il/ |
Zikim (Hebrew: זיקים) is a kibbutz in the northern Negev region of Israel. The original group of settlers graduated from the HaShomer HaTzair youth movement in Romania formed in 1947, and the kibbutz was established two years later, in 1949. At that time, Jewish settlement in the Negev was very sparse, and each new location was considered to be a "point of light" (in Hebrew, zik) in the wilderness, accounting for the name.
Since it was established, the kibbutz has attracted new immigrants affiliated with the HaShomer HaTzair movement from around the world, most recently from South America. Zikim now has a population of about 330. The main crops are mango and avocado, and it is also home to one of Israel's largest dairy farms. The main industrial product is polyurethane, produced by the kibbutz's Polyrit factory.
