{{Short description|Kibbutz in southern Israel}} {{About||the Israeli Orthodox LGBT speakers bureau |Shoval (organization)}} {{Infobox Kibbutz | name = Shoval | hebname = שובל | image = Шоваль (центр).JPG | foundation = 6 October 1946 | founded_by = {{nowrap|Hashomer Hatzair members}} | country = {{ISR}} | district = south | council = Bnei Shimon | affiliation = Kibbutz Movement | popyear = {{Israel populations|Year}} | population = {{Israel populations|Shoval}}{{Israel populations|reference}} | population_footnotes= | pushpin_map = Israel northwest negev#Israel |pushpin_mapsize=250 | coordinates = {{coord|31|24|46|N|34|44|34|E|display=inline,title}} | website = }} '''Shoval''' ({{langx|he|שובל}}) is a kibbutz in southern Israel. Located in the northern Negev desert near the Bedouin city of Rahat, it falls under the jurisdiction of Bnei Shimon Regional Council. In {{Israel populations|Year}} it had a population of {{Israel populations|Shoval}}.{{Israel populations|reference}}
==Etymology== The kibbutz founders wanted to name it "Eilat" as they wanted to settle near the Red Sea, however, the naming committee chose the name Shoval.<ref>Jewish villages in Israel, Jewish National Fund, Jerusalem 1949, p.169</ref><br /> The origin of the name is from two passages in the Books of Chronicles:<br /> :''″The sons of Se'ir: Lotan, Shoval, Tziv'on, 'Anah, Dishon, Etzer and Dishan.″'' - [http://www.biblestudytools.com/cjb/1-chronicles/1-38.html 1 Chronicles 1:38] :''″The descendants of Y'hudah: Peretz, Hetzron, Karmi, Hur and Shoval.″'' - [http://www.biblestudytools.com/cjb/1-chronicles/4-1.html 1 Chronicles 4:1]
==History== The kibbutz was founded on 6 October 1946 as part of the 11 points operation by a gar'in whose members were of Hashomer Hatzair and immigrants who had survived the Patria disaster that was part of the struggle against the British rules banning Jewish refugees from entering Israel.
<gallery> File:שובל- שובל בראשיתה-JNF000660.jpeg|Shoval 1946 File:Shoval v.jpg|Yiftach Brigade camp at Shoval. 1948 </gallery>
==Economy== Shoval has two major sources of income; agriculture and plastics manufacturing. Its dairy farm is one of the largest in the area and is managed as a partnership with kibbutz Na'an. It also has a vast area of arable land where wheat, barley and potatoes are grown. In addition there are several chicken coops that are mainly used to raise chickens for meat. The kibbutz also operates a plastic seals manufacturing plant named Seal Jet.
Arava Power Company operates a solar farm on Shoval's land. This 24 acre farm can produce 6.4 MW using 22100 JA Solar panels.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aravapower.com/Shoval%20Sun |title=Arava Power Company - Shoval Sun |website=www.aravapower.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227131405/http://www.aravapower.com/Shoval%20Sun |archive-date=2013-12-27}} </ref>
==Education== In 1963, a regional high school was built named Mevo'ot HaNegev in the kibbutz. The school serves pupils of the ages of 12–18 from the kibbutz and the surrounding settlements. The education system in the kibbutz also includes kindergartens and the young students learn in the Nitzanei HaNegev elementary school in Beit Kama. The kibbutz used to host an ulpan for teaching the Hebrew language and its students studied and worked in the kibbutz.
==Notable people== * Yehuda Bauer, historian * Itzhak Bentov, engineer and scientist * Elazar Granot, former member of the Knesset * Yehudit Kafri, poet and author * Danny Robas, musician
==References== {{Commons category|Shoval}} {{Reflist}}
{{Bnei Shimon Regional Council}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Kibbutzim Category:Kibbutz Movement Category:Populated places established in 1946 Category:Populated places in Southern District (Israel) Category:1946 establishments in Mandatory Palestine