Tzofar (moshav)
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Tzofar (Hebrew: צופר) is a moshav in southern Israel, near Route 90, about 120 km north of Eilat. It lies south of Sapir and north of Tzukim. It belongs to the Central Arava Regional Council.
About 70 families live in Tzofar. Its full name is "Be'er Tzofar" (water-well of Tzofar). It is named after Zophar from the Book of Job. Two other small settlements in the area, Elifaz and Bildad, are named for Job's two other friends.
[edit] History
The settlement was originally founded by Nahal in 1976. In 1981 it was established as a moshav and relocated several kilometers north to reach is present-day location.
After the peace agreement between Israel and Jordan, Israel transferred a portion of the land area in Tzofar to Jordanian control, but Israel rented the land so that Israeli workers from the moshav could continue to cultivate it.
[edit] Economy
Winter farming is the main industry of the moshav. The produce is intended mainly for export, while some of it is sold locally. Vegetables grown in the moshav include melons, peppers, and tomatoes.
An attempt has been made to farm lobster in artificial ponds.
Pens for cattle have been constructed to serve as a holding place for cattle being imported into Israel.
The moshav also contains a grove of palm trees jointly owned by all the inhabitants.
A secondary source of income is tourism, based on the proximity of Tzofar to the ancient Nabatean spice route and to an ancient Nabatean city.
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