Rekhasim
Rekhasim
רְכָסִים | |
|---|---|
Local council (from 1959) | |
| Hebrew transcription(s) | |
| • ISO 259 | Rkasim |
| • Also spelled | Rechasim (unofficial) |
 | |
  Rekhasim | |
| Coordinates: 32°44′55.78″N 35°6′2.89″E / 32.7488278°N 35.1008028°E | |
| Country |  Israel |
| District |  Haifa |
| Founded | 1951 |
| Government | |
| • Head of Municipality | Itzhak Raih |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,859 dunams (2.859 km2 or 1.104 sq mi) |
| Population (2022)[1] | |
• Total | 14,198 |
| • Density | 5,000/km2 (13,000/sq mi) |
| Name meaning | Mountain ridges |
Rekhasim (Hebrew: רְכָסִים, lit. Mountain ridges)[2] is a Haredi town and local council in the Haifa District of Israel. It is located between Kiryat Tiv'on, Kiryat Ata, and Nesher, next to roads 70, 75, and 762.
With a jurisdiction of 2,859 dunams (~2.9 km2), it had a population of 14,198 in 2022. It is ranked low (2 out of 10) on the Israeli socio-economic scale.[3]
Etymology
[edit]The town was named after a verse in the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 40:4), because it is located on four mountain ranges.
Geography
[edit]Rekhasim lies on four hills near Mount Carmel, labelled with Hebrew letters (Hill Alef, Bet, Gimel and Dalet). It borders two villages in the Zvulun Regional Council: the Jewish Kfar Hasidim and Arab Ibtin.
Its lowest elevation is only 19.8 m (65 ft) above sea level, while the highest is at 193.6 m (635 ft). The average temperature in January is 11 °C (52 °F), and 27 °C (81 °F) in August. The average annual precipitation is 650 mm (26 in).[3]
History
[edit]Rekhasim was founded in 1951 by released soldiers and residents of nearby ma'abarot.[4] It initially absorbed large numbers of immigrants from India, Morocco, Romania, Russia, and Yemen.[2]
In 1955 the Knesses Chizkiyahu yeshiva relocated here from Zikhron Ya'akov. The yeshiva purchased a 10-dunam (0.010 km2; 0.0039 sq mi) lot on the outskirts of the village and five buildings containing a beth midrash, dining hall, dormitories and offices, moving into its new home at the end of April 1955.[5] A small Haredi community developed around the yeshiva, but the majority of residents remained non-Haredi into the 1990s.[2] In 1995 the secular school closed, many non-religious residents left, and the village developed a Haredi majority, with both Ashkenazi and Sephardi neighborhoods. It is now considered a desirable and growing community for young Haredi families.[2]
Educational offerings include tens of kindergartens, six Talmud Torahs, three girls' schools, three yeshiva ketanas, three yeshiva gedolas, and numerous kolels.[2] In addition to the Knesses Chizkiyahu yeshiva system, there is the Sephardi Yeshivat Rechasim, with 400 students.[2]
Rekhasim has more than 80 synagogues and numerous chesed and gemach organizations.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Marks, Yehudah. "The Torah Empire of the North", Hamodia Israel News, 19 March 2015, pp. 21-23.
- ^ a b "Local Authorities in Israel 2005, Publication #1295 - Municipality Profiles - Rekhasim" (PDF) (in Hebrew). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 16 February 2008.
- ^ HaReuveni, Immanuel (1999). Lexicon of the Land of Israel (in Hebrew). Miskal - Yedioth Ahronoth Books and Chemed Books. p. 868. ISBN 965-448-413-7.
- ^ Meringer, Motty (29 April 2009). "Yeshivas Knesses Chizkiyahu". Etrog News. Retrieved 1 November 2009.[permanent dead link]
| Authority control databases: National |
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