Hafetz Haim

This article is about the kibbutz. For other uses, see Chofetz Chaim (disambiguation).

Hafetz Haim
Founded	15 August 1937 (as Kfar Szold) 25 April 1944 (as Hafetz Haim)
Council	Nahal Sorek
Region	Shephelah
Affiliation	Agudat Israel Workers
Coordinates	31°47′18.95″N 34°47′59.99″E / 31.7885972°N 34.7999972°E / 31.7885972; 34.7999972Coordinates: 31°47′18.95″N 34°47′59.99″E / 31.7885972°N 34.7999972°E / 31.7885972; 34.7999972
Hafetz Haim

Hafetz Haim (Hebrew: חָפֵץ חַיִּים‎‎, lit. Desires life) is a religious kibbutz in central Israel. Located in the Shephelah, it falls under the jurisdiction of Nahal Sorek Regional Council. In 2006, it had a population of 450.

The land on which Hafetz Haim was established had been bought by the Jewish National Fund, and was 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 Israel who had been preparing near Kfar Sava. It was the first village founded by Agudat Israel and was named after Yisrael Meir Kagan, who was also known as The Hafetz Haim after his book.