Yeruham (Hebrew: יְרֻחָם, Yəruḥam) is a town (local council) in the Southern District of Israel, in the Negev desert. It has a population of Sephardi Jews as well as some Haredi Jews. Its area is 34,000 dunams (34 km²) and its population is 9,400 (2006 census). The mayor of Yeruham is Amram Mitzna. Hebrew redirects here. ... In Israel, a local council is a locality similar to a city in structure and way of life, that has not yet achieved a status of a city, which requires a minimum number of residents, among other things. ... The South District of Israel, highlighted. ... Ruins in the Negev desert The Negev (Hebrew נֶגֶב;, Tiberian Hebrew Néḡeḇ; Arabic النقب an-Naqab) is the desert region of southern Israel. ... Sephardi Jews (ספרדי, Standard Hebrew SÉ™fardi, Tiberian Hebrew ardî; plural Sephardim: ספרדים, Standard Hebrew Sfaradim, Tiberian Hebrew ) are a subgroup of Jews originating in the Iberian Peninsula, generally defined in contrast to Ashkenazi Jews. ... Haredi or Charedi Judaism, often referred to as Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ... A dunam or dönüm, dunum, donum is a unit of area. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Amram Mitzna is an Israeli politician who served as the mayor of Haifa from 1993 to 2003. ...

Yeruham was a locality named (Tel Rahma) in the 10th century BCE, and its precise location is today's west Yeruham.

There is an ancient well located next to Yeruhamn, it's called "Be'er Rahma" (באר רחמה). Archeologists believe it to be the well that "Hagar" (Abrahams mistress) found water for her son "Yishmael". The Bible tells us the story of Yishmael, that after being sent away by Abraham, he and his mother walked in the desert till they were out of water - and then Yishmael fell sick. Hagar (his mother) prayed to G-od for water, and G-od heared her prayers and opened her eyes and showed her the well. Mercy in Hebrew is called "Rahamim" (רחמים) and so the well was named after G-ods' mercy.

Modern Yeruham was founded in 1951 as Kfar Yeruham (כְּפַר יְרֻחָם, Kəfar Yəruḥam), but its name was changed to Yeruham in 1962. As such, it became one of the first Ayarot Pituah (lit. Development Towns). The Development Town project was a venture by Israel to form a multitude of new cities in Israel, in previously unsettled areas or areas with large Arab populations, with the goal of spreading out the immigrant population instead of having them all settle in large cities or villages.

Today, Yeruham is regarded as the example of this project's failure - although a few development towns thrived, such as Karmiel and Nazareth Illit, most of them did not. High unemployment, poor education, and a high crime rate, are all typical of failed development towns. Karmiel Karmiel is a city in northern Israel. ... Nazerat Illit (נצרת עילית; sometimes spelled Nazareth Illit) is a city in the North District in Israel. ...

The failure of the town is generally attributed to its mayor, Barukh Elmekies, who served terms on two occasions, and has been known for careless spending. On the other hand, the mayor gave Yeruham its unique feel, by creating a lake in the town (in the middle of the desert), and by proposing a new state (country) named Yeruham.

Coordinates: 30°59′N 34°56′E Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...