Yeruham
Yeruham
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| Hebrew transcription(s) | ||
| • ISO 259 | Yroḥam, Yruḥḥam | |
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 Yeruham
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| Coordinates: 30°59′18.53″N 34°55′40.62″E / 30.9884806°N 34.9279500°ECoordinates: 30°59′18.53″N 34°55′40.62″E / 30.9884806°N 34.9279500°E | ||
| District | Southern | |
| Founded | 9 January 1951 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Local council | |
| • Head of Municipality | Michael Biton | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 38,584 dunams (38.584 km2 or 14.897 sq mi) | |
| Population (2015) | ||
| • Total | 9,078 | |
| Website | www.yeruham.co.il | |
Yeruham (Hebrew: יְרוּחָם, יְרוֹחַם, Yeroham) is a town (local council) in the Southern District of Israel, in the Negev desert. It covers 38,584 dunams (~38.6 km²) and had a population of 9,078 in 2015. It is named after the Biblical Jeroham. The mayor of Yeruham was Amram Mitzna but his term ended in early 2011, and he was succeeded by Michael Bitton of Kadima, who was elected mayor in November 2010.
For many years, Yeruham was economically depressed and suffered from image problems, but major efforts to improve the quality of life are under way.
Yeruham is the site of Tel Rahma, dating back to the 10th century BCE. On the outskirts of Yeruham is an ancient well, Be'er Rahma (באר רחמה). Some archeologists have identified it as the well where the biblical Hagar drew water for her son Ishmael.
During the Roman and Byzantine period there was a Nabatean village in the western outskirts of the town and it's ruins can be seen today.
Modern Yeruham was founded on 9 January 1951 as Kfar Yeruham (Hebrew: כְּפַר יְרֻחָם) and was one of Israel's first development towns, created to settle frontier areas in the early days of the state. It was located near the Large Makhtesh, an area thought at the time to be rich with natural resources.
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