Zikim

Infobox_Kibbutz
kibbutz_name = Zikim
foundation = 1949
founded_by = Romanian immigrants from Hashomer Hatzair
council = Hof Ashkelon
region = Northern Negev
industry = Agriculture, polyurethane
affiliation = Kibbutz Movement
website = [http://www.zikim.org.il/ www.zikim.org.il]

Zikim ( _he. זיקים) is a kibbutz in the southern Israel. Located in the northern Negev desert, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hof Ashkelon Regional Council. In 2006 it had apopulation of 385.

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" ("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. 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.

Kibbutz Zikim has gained some recognition as the as the farming community the actor Bob Hoskins worked as a volunteer in 1967.

External links

* [http://www.zikim.org.il Official website] he icon