moshav

A moshav is a type of agricultural community in Israel that combines private farming with cooperative economic arrangements. Unlike a kibbutz, where property and resources are commonly owned and residents typically share facilities, a moshav emphasizes private households and family farms. Residents usually own their homes and cultivated land, while purchasing inputs and handling marketing through collective channels organized by the community.

There are two main varieties: moshav ovdim (workers’ moshav) and moshav shitufi. In a moshav ovdim, each family runs its own farm and house, earns its own income, and participates in shared purchasing and marketing. In a moshav shitufi, property and production are pooled to a greater extent, with more shared income, while families maintain separate households.

History: The moshav movement emerged in the early 20th century during the British Mandate period as an alternative to the kibbutz model, aiming to combine private farming with cooperative support and state-building needs. It developed under labor Zionist influences and expanded through immigration in the mid- to late 20th century.

Governance and economy: Each moshav has a local council or elected committee that handles communal services, land use, and development, while farming is primarily conducted by individual families. The economy traditionally centered on agriculture, but many moshavim have diversified into light industry, tourism, and other services. Land is typically owned by the state and leased to residents, with homes and farms remaining privately owned.

Religiously diverse: Moshavim can be secular or religious, and some host Orthodox or other religious communities, reflecting Israel’s pluralistic social landscape.