Tzrufa Explained

Tzrufa
Foundation:1949
Founded By:Algerian and
Tunisian immigrants
District:haifa
Council:Hof HaCarmel
Affiliation:Moshavim Movement
Pushpin Map:Israel haifa
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Coordinates:32.6486°N 34.945°W

Tzrufa (Hebrew: צְרוּפָה) is a moshav in northern Israel. Located near Atlit, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hof HaCarmel Regional Council. In it had a population of .

History

The village was established in 1949 by immigrants from Algeria and Tunisia. The village was named after the depopulated Palestinian village of al-Sarafand on whose lands it was built.[1] There is an inscription at the village entrance which states ""The word of the Lord is pure [tzrufa]; He is a shield to all them that take refuge in him" (Psalms 18:30)," but this is not the origin of the village's name.[2] During the Crusader period, the village was known as Sarepta Yudee, possibly to distinguish it from Sarepta of Lebanon. Both names means "smelting place."[3] Roman and Byzantine pottery remains have been found on site. During the Crusader era, a fortress and chapel were built. The remains of the village mosque can still be seen.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Morris, Benny . The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem Revisited . Benny Morris . 2004 . . 978-0-521-00967-6 . . xxii.
  2. http://group194.net/english/article/35356 Nakba 2.0: A somber trip down memory lane with an Israeli app
  3. http://biblehub.com/topical/z/zarephath.htm Zarephath