moshave

Moshave is an alternative transliteration of moshav, a type of rural settlement in Israel. A moshav is a cooperative agricultural community where residents own their private farms and homes, while collaborating on purchasing, marketing, and sometimes infrastructure. This arrangement contrasts with the kibbutz, where property and production are typically jointly owned.

Moshavim emerged in the early 20th century among Jewish pioneering settlers as a model between the collective kibbutz and individual farming. They were organized as villages with local councils and, at a national level, a federation that coordinates agricultural policy and development programs across communities.

Most residents work in agriculture, including crop farming, orchards, and animal husbandry, but many moshavim have diversified into light manufacturing, tourism, and services to supplement farm income. The typical social structure centers on family life and private households, with shared facilities such as a community center, school, and sometimes cooperative processing or marketing ventures.

Geographically, moshavim are spread across Israel, from the coastal plain to the Galilee and the Negev, and there are also moshavim established by Jewish communities abroad. Today, moshavim vary in size and economic focus but generally emphasize private ownership alongside cooperative elements.