Rekhasim
{{Short description|Town in Haifa District, Israel}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Rekhasim
| native_name = {{Lang|he|{{Script/Hebrew|רכסים}}|rtl=yes}}
| settlement_type = Local council
| translit_lang1 = Hebrew
| translit_lang1_type1 = ISO 259
| translit_lang1_info1 = Rkasim
| translit_lang1_type3 = Also spelled
| translit_lang1_info3 = Rechasim (unofficial)
| image_skyline = Rexassim 078.jpg
| image_caption = View of Rekhasim
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map = Israel haifa#Israel
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|32|44|55.78|N|35|6|2.89|E|region:IL|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name =
{{ISR}}
| subdivision_type1 =
| subdivision_name1 =
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = {{flag|Haifa District|name=Haifa}}
| subdivision_type3 = Subdistrict
| subdivision_name3 = Haifa
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 1951
| leader_title = Head of Municipality
| leader_name = Itzhak Raih
| unit_pref = dunam
| area_total_dunam = {{formatnum:2859|R}}
| population_footnotes = {{Israel populations|reference}}
| population_total = {{Israel populations|Rekhasim}}
| population_as_of = {{Israel populations|Year}}
| population_density_km2 = auto
| blank_name_sec1 = Name meaning
| blank_info_sec1 = Mountain Ridges
| website = [https://www.rekhasim.muni.il/ www.rekhasim.muni.il]
}}
Rekhasim ({{langx|he|רכסים||Mountain Ridges}})Marks, Yehudah. "The Torah Empire of the North", Hamodia Israel News, 19 March 2015, pp. 21-23. is a Haredi town 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 {{Israel populations|Rekhasim}} in {{Israel populations|Year}}. It is ranked low (2 out of 10) on the Israeli socio-economic scale.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs.gov.il/publications/local_authorities2005/pdf/656_0922.pdf|title=Local Authorities in Israel 2005, Publication #1295 - Municipality Profiles - Rekhasim|publisher=Israel Central Bureau of Statistics|accessdate=2008-02-16|language=he}}
Etymology
The town was named after a verse in the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 40:4), because it is located on four mountain ranges.
History
Rekhasim was founded in 1951 by released soldiers and residents of nearby ma'abarot.{{cite book|title=Lexicon of the Land of Israel|publisher=Miskal - Yedioth Ahronoth Books and Chemed Books|language=Hebrew|year=1999|first=Immanuel|last=HaReuveni|pages=868|isbn=965-448-413-7}} It initially absorbed large numbers of immigrants from India, Morocco, Romania, Russia and Yemen.
In 1955 the Knesses Chizkiyahu yeshiva relocated here from Zikhron Ya'akov. The yeshiva purchased a {{convert|10|dunam|adj=on}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.tog.co.il/he/Services/Service.asmx/AddNewMailFromSiteToMailList/Article.aspx?id=120 |last=Meringer |first=Motty |title=Yeshivas Knesses Chizkiyahu |date=29 April 2009 |accessdate=1 November 2009 |publisher=Etrog News }}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} A small Haredi community developed around the yeshiva, but the majority of residents remained non-Haredi into the 1990s. 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.
Geography
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 {{convert|19.8|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level, while the highest is at {{convert|193.6|m|ft|abbr=on}}. The average temperature in January is {{convert|11|C|F}}, and {{convert|27|C|F}} in August. The average annual precipitation is {{convert|650|mm|in|abbr=on}}.
Education
Educational offerings include tens of kindergartens, six Talmud Torahs, three girls' schools, three yeshiva ketanas, three yeshiva gedolas, and numerous kolels. In addition to the Knesses Chizkiyahu yeshiva system, there is the Sephardi Yeshivat Rechasim, with 400 students.
Rekhasim has more than 80 synagogues and numerous chesed and gemach organizations.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Rekhasim}}
- {{Official website|http://www.rekhasim.muni.il}} {{in lang|he}}
{{Haifa District}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Local councils in Haifa District