Talmei Yosef

Talmei Yosef is a moshav in the northern Negev within the Eshkol Regional Council.[4][7] A 2015 study described the council as comprising 32 localities along approximately 40 kilometers of the Gaza Strip border, with a total population of about 15,000.[1] The study lists Talmei Yosef among the council's moshavim and says that the listed moshavim collectively accounted for 48.3 percent of the council's population; it does not assign that percentage to Talmei Yosef individually.[1]

The origins of Talmei Yosef lie in northeastern Sinai, where a moshav of the same name belonged to the Yamit Region. Other settlements in the area included Dikla, Ne'ot Sinai, Netiv ha'Asarah, Nir Avraham, Peri'el, Sadot, and Ugdah.[2] By 1981, about 2,000 people lived collectively in the rural communities near Yamit, including Talme Yosef.[8] The wider region had developed extensive irrigated agriculture, including greenhouses producing flowers and vegetables for export.[2]

As implementation of the Israel–Egypt peace treaty approached, volunteer settlement nuclei were established in Yamit, Talme Yosef, and Nir Avraham as part of the movement opposing evacuation. The account says the number of participating families across the affected communities rose first to 200 and later to 350, without giving a separate figure for Talme Yosef.[8] The official evacuation of Yamit began on April 23, 1982. Afterward, the army demolished most buildings in Yamit and the thirteen other Sinai settlements, although some houses, shelters, and fruit trees were transferred inside Israel's new border.[3] Plans for the region had anticipated transferring most Yamit villages to the Pitḥat Shalom area of the northwestern Negev.[2]

The chronology of the present community differs among the available sources. A Globes report from December 2000 said that the moshav was established in 1981 by immigrants from English-speaking countries, who were later joined by Israeli families.[4] The Central Bureau of Statistics lists 1982 as the locality's year of Jewish settlement.[5] In a first-person account, Leora Harris says she was born in the new Talmei Yosef in 1982 after her South African immigrant parents had lived in Sinai and were evacuated from the old community near Yamit. She also says that some former residents chose to settle elsewhere, including Netiv HaAsara.[9] The sources may describe different stages of the relocation, but they do not fully reconcile the dates.

Talmei Yosef had a population of 517 on 31 December 2019.[5] In 2000, the moshav was reported to comprise 40 families and was planning an additional street to accommodate new residents.[4] Most members at the time were academics, and a large share grew flowers for export. The proposed holdings for newcomers were 10 dunams, with additional land available to residents seeking to establish a business or other initiative.[4]

Agriculture has long been an important part of Talmei Yosef's economy. In 2000, flower cultivation for export was reported as a major occupation among its residents, while the community's expansion program also encouraged nonagricultural business initiatives.[4] Agricultural tourism later complemented production through self-picking greenhouses and organized tours associated with the Salad Trail.[6]

The moshav also became the site of a photovoltaic installation. A 2017 report described the facility as having a capacity of 9 megawatts and a 20-year license to produce and supply electricity to the Israel Electric Corporation beginning in November 2013, at a tariff of 98.6 agorot per kilowatt-hour.[7] Elomay Capital agreed in 2017 to acquire the facility from Solgreen for approximately NIS 39 million, subject to approvals, with completion expected during the third quarter of that year. Solgreen expected a pre-tax profit of about NIS 4 million from the transaction.[7]

The Salad Trail is Talmei Yosef's principal visitor-oriented agricultural attraction. Its self-picking greenhouses have featured colored carrots, sweet and hot peppers, cucumbers, herbs, greens, and specially developed tomato varieties. Agricultural tours have also included vegetable fields, orchards, greenhouses, and homing-pigeon demonstrations.[6] Other reported features include climbing tomato plants, explanations of medicinal herbs and oils, and a passion-fruit maze.[10]

Cultivated anemones may be picked in designated greenhouses, in contrast to the protected wild anemones growing in the surrounding countryside.[6] Nearby flowering areas identified in a 2010 travel report included Nahal Besor, the rope-bridge area between Gvulot and Tze'elim, and Kissufim.[6]

According to resident Leora Harris's first-person account, Talmei Yosef was not infiltrated during the Hamas terrorist attack of October 7, 2023.[9] She says the moshav's rapid response team identified the possibility of an infiltration early that morning and deployed with two M16 rifles and four personal weapons.[9] Harris sheltered with seven other people and three dogs in her parents' safe room and recalled distinguishing the sounds of Iron Dome interceptions, rockets, gunfire, helicopters, and tanks through her lifelong familiarity with the area.[9] She says an army-organized evacuation was communicated on Sunday and that her parents departed on Monday.[9]