Nir Hen

Nir Hen
Hebrew	נִיר חֵ"ן
Name meaning	Meadow of the 58
Founded	1955–1956
Founded by	Immigrants from North Africa
Council	Lakhish
Coordinates	31°36′35.27″N 34°42′55.07″E / 31.6097972°N 34.7152972°E / 31.6097972; 34.7152972Coordinates: 31°36′35.27″N 34°42′55.07″E / 31.6097972°N 34.7152972°E / 31.6097972; 34.7152972
Population	397[1] (2008)
Nir Hen

Nir Hen (Hebrew: נִיר חֵ"ן‎‎, lit. Meadow of the 58 (ח"ן is 58 in Gematria)) is a moshav in Hevel Lakhish in south-central Israel. It belongs to the Lakhish Regional Council. It is located about 1 km west of Shahar and 4 km west of Kiryat Gat, and it can be reached via Route 3413.

The moshav was founded in 1956. Its name is in memory of the 58 passengers who traveled on El Al Flight 402 that was shot down over the skies of Bulgaria about a year before the community was founded. The community was originally settled by immigrants from North Africa, and later other immigrants and native Israelis joined them.

References

1. ^ "Locality File" (XLS). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 2008. http://www.cbs.gov.il/ishuvim/ishuv2008/bycode.xls. Retrieved 2010-06-22.