Ruhama

Ruhama is a Hebrew name used as a feminine given name and, in Israel, the name of a kibbutz in the southern part of the country. As a personal name, Ruhama (often transliterated as Ruḥama or Ruhāma) is found in Hebrew-speaking communities and may be chosen for its connotations in Hebrew, with the exact interpretation varying by context and family.

The kibbutz Ruhama is located in the southern district of Israel, in the Negev region. It was established in the mid-20th century by Jewish immigrants and joined the broader kibbutz movement that combined communal living with agricultural work. Historically, the community has engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry, and in later decades it expanded into other economic activities, including light manufacturing and tourism, as part of diversification efforts common to many kibbutzim.

Beyond its use as a given name and as the name of a locality, Ruhama may appear in literature or historical references as a proper name for individuals or fictional characters. The term remains relatively uncommon outside Hebrew-speaking communities, and its prominence is largely tied to personal naming and to the kibbutz bearing the same name.