Sha'alvim
Sha'alvim is a topic that has captivated society's interest for decades. Its importance is undeniable, and its impact has been felt in different aspects of daily life. Over the years, it has become an object of debate, research and reflection, generating different points of view and conflicting opinions. In this article, we will take a closer look at Sha'alvim and explore its implications in various contexts. From its influence on popular culture to its relevance in politics and the economy, Sha'alvim continues to generate a wide spectrum of discussion that leaves no one indifferent.
Sha'alvim
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  Sha'alvim | |
| Coordinates: 31°52′7″N 34°59′7″E / 31.86861°N 34.98528°E | |
| Country | Israel |
| District | Central |
| Council | Gezer |
| Affiliation | Poalei Agudat Yisrael |
| Founded | 13 August 1951 |
| Founded by | Ezra-Nahal Members |
| Population (2023)[1] | 1,921 |
Sha'alvim (Hebrew: שַׁעַלְבִים) is a religious kibbutz in central Israel and one of only two affiliated with Poalei Agudat Yisrael (Hafetz Haim being the other). Located near the city of Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut, it falls under the jurisdiction of Gezer Regional Council. In 2023 it had a population of 1,921.[1]
History
Sha'alvim is named after the ancient village of the same name that was located in the area and is mentioned in the Bible, in the Books of Joshua[2], Judges[3], and Kings.[4][5] Later, archaeological evidence appears in the form of a letter written four years after the end of the Bar Kokhba revolt (140 CE) by a Jewish woman named Miriam barat Yaakov, which states that she was from the same settlement, which was then named Sha'alab (סעלב).[6] Subsequently, Samaritans settled in the region and established a synagogue.[7]
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the area of Sha'alvim belonged to the Nahiyeh (sub-district) of Lod that encompassed the area of the present-day city of Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut in the south to the present-day city of El’ad in the north, and from the foothills in the east, through the Lod Valley to the outskirts of Jaffa in the west. This area was home to thousands of inhabitants in about 20 villages, who had at their disposal tens of thousands of hectares of prime agricultural land.[8]
The kibbutz was founded on 13 August 1951 by a Nahal group from the Ezra movement, on lands of the depopulated Palestinian village of Salbit.[9] It was named after a biblical location mentioned in Joshua.[2] Judges,[3] and Kings,[4] probably located here.[10] The hill between the kibbutz and Nof Ayalon is commonly known as Tel Sha'alvim. Until the Six-Day War it was a target of numerous attacks from the West Bank due to its proximity to the Green Line. According to a document captured from the Jordanian Arab Legion, the legion was planning to attack the village and massacre all its residents.[5]
In 1961, a yeshiva, Yeshivat Sha'alvim, was founded in Sha'alvim, and later became a large regional religious education facility.
References
- ^ a b "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ a b Joshua 19:42
- ^ a b Judges 1:35
- ^ a b 1 Kings 4:9
- ^ a b HaReuveni, Immanuel (1999). Lexicon of the Land of Israel (in Hebrew). Miskal - Yedioth Ahronoth Books and Chemed Books. p. 922. ISBN 965-448-413-7.
- ^ Eshel, Esther; Eshel, Hanan; Yardeni, Ada (2011). "A Document from "Year 4 of the Destruction of the House of Israel"". Dead Sea Discoveries. 18 (1): 1–28. ISSN 0929-0761.
- ^ Safrai, Zeev (1977). "Samaritan Synagogues in the Roman-Byzantine Period". Cathedra: For the History of Eretz Israel and Its Yishuv (in Hebrew) (4): 84–112. ISSN 0334-4657.
- ^ Marom, Roy (2022). "Lydda Sub-District: Lydda and its countryside during the Ottoman period". Diospolis - City of God: Journal of the History, Archaeology and Heritage of Lod. 8: 103–136.
- ^ Khalidi, Walid (1992). All That Remains: The Palestinian Villages Occupied and Depopulated by Israel in 1948. Washington D.C.: Institute for Palestine Studies. p. 410. ISBN 0-88728-224-5.
- ^ Negev, Avraham; Gibson, Shimon (2001) . Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land. New York, London: The Continuum Publishing Group. p. 458. ISBN 9780826485717.
