Mateh Yehuda Regional Council ( he, מועצה אזורית מטה יהודה, ''Mo'atza Azorit Mateh Yehuda'', ar, مجلس إقليمي ماتيه يهودا ) is a regional council in the

Jerusalem District The Jerusalem District ( he, מחוז ירושלים; ar, منطقة القدس) is one of the six administrative districts of Israel. The district capital is Jerusalem. The Jerusalem District has a land area of 652 km2. The population of ...

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

. In 2008 it was home to 36,200 people. The name of the regional council stems from the fact that its territory was part of the land allotted to the

Tribe of Judah According to the Hebrew Bible, the tribe of Judah (, ''Shevet Yehudah'') was one of the twelve Tribes of Israel, named after Judah, the son of Jacob. Judah was the first tribe to take its place in the Land of Israel, occupying the southern ...

, according to the Bible.

Places and communities

The regional council administers moshavim, kibbutzim, Arab villages and other rural settlements in the Jerusalem corridor, north and south of the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway, from

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

in the southeast to

Latrun Latrun ( he, לטרון, ''Latrun''; ar, اللطرون, ''al-Latrun'') is a strategic hilltop in the Latrun salient in the Ayalon Valley, and a depopulated Palestinian village. It overlooks the road between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, 25 kilometers ...

in the northwest, and down to the area of Beit Shemesh ( Ha'ela Valley) in the south. The settlements vary greatly in their character. There are religious, secular and mixed Jewish communities, two Arab communities, and the only mixed Arab-Jewish village in Israel -

Neve Shalom Neve Shalom ( he, נְוֵה שָׁלוֹם, ''lit.'' Oasis of Peace), also known as Wāħat as-Salām ( ar, واحة السلام) is a cooperative village in Israel, jointly founded by Israeli Jews and Arabs in an attempt to show that the two p ...

. Many of the Jewish communities in the Mateh Yehuda district were established by

immigrants Immigration is the international movement of people to a destination country of which they are not natives or where they do not possess citizenship in order to settle as permanent residents or naturalized citizens. Commuters, tourists, a ...

from

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

Yemen Yemen (; ar, ٱلْيَمَن, al-Yaman), officially the Republic of Yemen,, ) is a country in Western Asia. It is situated on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, and borders Saudi Arabia to the Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, north and ...

Iraq Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and K ...

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

and countries in

Eastern Europe Eastern Europe is a subregion of the European continent. As a largely ambiguous term, it has a wide range of geopolitical, geographical, ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic connotations. The vast majority of the region is covered by Russia, whic ...

. 30% of the lands of the

Palestinian Palestinians ( ar, الفلسطينيون, ; he, פָלַסְטִינִים, ) or Palestinian people ( ar, الشعب الفلسطيني, label=none, ), also referred to as Palestinian Arabs ( ar, الفلسطينيين العرب, label=non ...

village of

Battir Battir ( ar, بتير) is a Palestinian village in the West Bank, 6.4 km west of Bethlehem, and southwest of Jerusalem. In 2017, the village had a population of 4,696. In 2014, Battir was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site as a "wo ...

in the

West Bank The West Bank ( ar, الضفة الغربية, translit=aḍ-Ḍiffah al-Ġarbiyyah; he, הגדה המערבית, translit=HaGadah HaMaʽaravit, also referred to by some Israelis as ) is a landlocked territory near the coast of the Mediter ...

, as well as a few of its buildings,West Bank barrier threatens villagers' way of life
''

BBC News BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...

''. 2012-05-09. lie on the Israeli side of the Green Line. These parts of Battir are nominally within the regional council's area of jurisdiction, but authority over them is exercised by the PA municipality of Battir in practice.

List of villages

*Jewish collective villages (Kibbutzim) ** Harel ·

Kiryat Anavim Kiryat Anavim ( he, קִרְיַת עֲנָבִים, ''lit.'' City of Grapes) is a kibbutz in the Judean Hills of Israel. It was the first kibbutz established in the Judean Hills. It is located west of Jerusalem, and falls under the jurisdiction o ...

Ma'ale HaHamisha Ma'ale HaHamisha ( he, מַעֲלֵה הַחֲמִישָּׁה, ''lit.'' Ascent of the Five) is a kibbutz in central Israel. Located in the Judean hills just off the Jerusalem–Tel Aviv highway, It falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda ...

Nahshon In the Hebrew Bible, ' ''Nahshon ( he, נַחְשׁוֹן ''Naḥšon'') was a tribal leader of the Judahites during the wilderness wanderings of the Book of Numbers. In the King James Version, the name is spelled Naashon, and is within modern ...

Netiv HaLamed-Heh Netiv HaLamed-Heh ( he, נְתִיב הַל"ה, ''lit.'' Path of the 35) is a kibbutz in central Israel. Located in the Valley of Elah, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . History Netiv ...

Ramat Rachel Ramat Rachel or Ramat Raḥel ( he, רָמַת רָחֵל, ''lit.'' Rachel's Heights) is a kibbutz located in central Israel. An enclave within Jerusalem's municipal boundaries and overlooking Bethlehem and Rachel's Tomb (for which the kibbutz is ...

Tzora Tzora ( he, צָרְעָה) is a kibbutz in central Israel. Located about 20 km from Jerusalem, near the city of Beit Shemesh, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . Etymology The ki ...

Tzova Tzova ( he, צוֹבָה), also Palmach Tzova ( he, פלמ"ח צובה) or Tzuba is a kibbutz in central Israel. Located in the Judean Hills, on the western outskirts of Jerusalem, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Coun ...

*Jewish cooperative villages (Moshavim) ** Aderet ·

Agur Agur ben Jakeh ( he, אָגוּר בִּן־יָקֶה, ʾĀgūr bīn-Yāqe) was a sage of Arab descent and a compiler of a collection of proverbs found in Proverbs 30, which is sometimes known as the ''Book of Agur'' or ''Sayings of Agur''. Bibl ...

· Aminadav · Aviezer · Bar Giora ·

Beit Zayit Beit Zayit ( he, בֵּית זַיִת, , House of Olives) is a moshav in Israel. Located just outside the Jerusalem municipal border to the west, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . ...

· Beit Meir ·

Beit Nekofa Beit Nekofa ( he, בֵּית נְקוֹפָה) is a moshav in the Jerusalem District of Israel. Located in the Jerusalem Corridor, about 10 km west of central Jerusalem, next to Highway 1 and the , between Mevaseret Zion and Kiryat Ye'arim ...

· Bekoa ·

Eshtaol ( he, אֶשְׁתָּאוֹל) is a moshav in central Israel, and a Hebrew Bible, biblical location mentioned in the Book of Joshua, Books of Joshua and Book of Judges, Judges and in the 1 Chronicles, first Book of Chronicles. Located north of ...

Even Sapir Even Sapir ( he, אֶבֶן סַפִּיר, lit. ''Sapphire'') is a moshav in central Israel. Located on the outskirts of Jerusalem, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . History Even Sa ...

Gefen Gefen ( he, גֶּפֶן, lit. ''Grapevine'') is a moshav in central Israel. Located between Beit Shemesh and Kiryat Malakhi, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . History The village w ...

· Givat Ye'arim ·

Givat Yeshayahu Givat Yeshayahu ( he, גִּבְעַת יְשַׁעְיָהוּ, ''lit.'' Yeshayahu Hill) is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the Valley of Elah around ten kilometres south of Beit Shemesh, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Reg ...

· Kfar Uria · Kisalon ·

Luzit Luzit ( he, לוּזִית, ''lit.'' Almond Tree) is a moshav in central Israel. Located between Beit Shemesh and Kiryat Gat, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . History The village wa ...

· Mevo Beitar · Mata ·

Mahsia Mahseya ( he, מַחְסֵיָה) is a moshav in central Israel. Located about 2 kilometers east of Beit Shemesh, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council in the Jerusalem District. In it had a population of . History The ...

Mesilat Zion Mesilat Zion ( he, מְסִלַּת צִיּוֹן, מסילת ציון, ''lit.'' Highway of Zion) is a moshav in central Israel. Located near Beit Shemesh with an area of 1,000 dunams, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Coun ...

Naham Naham ( he, נַחַם) is a moshav in central Israel. Located near Beit Shemesh, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . History Moshav Naham was established in 1950 by immigrants from Ye ...

Nehusha Nehusha ( he, נְחוּשָׁה, , Steadfast) is a moshav in central Israel. Located five kilometres north-east of Beit Guvrin, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . History The moshav wa ...

· Nes Harim ·

Neve Ilan Neve Ilan ( he, נְוֵה אִילָן, lit. ''Oasis of Ilan'') is a moshav shitufi in central Israel. Located west of Jerusalem, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . Previously a kibbutz ...

Neve Michael Neve Michael ( he, נְוֵה מִיכָאֵל, ''lit.'' Michael's Haven) also known as Roglit, is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the Adullam region and built upon an eminence in the far south-east end of the Elah Valley, it falls under th ...

Ora ORA or Ora may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Ora'' (film), a 2011 experimental dance film * Rita Ora (born 1990), British-Albanian singer-songwriter and actress * ''Ora'' (Jovanotti album), 2011 * ''Ora'' (Rita Ora album), 2012 * "Ora" ...

· Ramat Raziel · Sdot Micha · Sho'eva ·

Shoresh Shoresh ( he, שורש, שֹׁרֶשׁ, ''lit.'' Root) is a moshav shitufi in central Israel. Located five kilometres from Sha'ar HaGai in the Jerusalem corridor, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a pop ...

Ta'oz Ta'oz ( he, תָּעוֹז, , Stronghold) is a moshav in central Israel. Located to the northwest of Beit Shemesh with an area of 1,500 dunams, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . History ...

· Tal Shahar ·

Tarum Tarum ( he, תָּרוּם, ''lit.'' Exalted) is a moshav in central Israel. Located to the north of Beit Shemesh with an area of 1,800 dunams, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . Tarum is ...

Tirosh Tirosh ( he, תִּירוֹשׁ, ''lit.'' Grape juice) is a moshav in central Israel. Located between Beit Shemesh and Kiryat Malakhi, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . History The vill ...

Tzafririm Tzafririm ( he, צַפְרִירִים, , Zephyrs) is a moshav in central Israel. Located near Beit Shemesh, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . History The village was established in ...

Tzelafon Tzelafon ( he, צְלָפוֹן) is a moshav in central Israel. Located to the north of Beit Shemesh, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . History The village was established in 1950 by ...

· Yad HaShmona · Yish'i ·

Zanoah Zanoah ( he, זָנוֹחַ) is a moshav in central Israel. Located adjacent to Beit Shemesh, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . Modern history The village was established in 1950 by im ...

Zekharia Zekharia ( he, זְכַרְיָה) is a moshav in central Israel. Located near Beit Shemesh, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . Geography Zekharia is located off the road between Beit G ...

*Community settlements **

Nataf Nataf ( he, נָטָף, lit. '' Stacte'') is a community settlement in central Israel. Located in the Judean Mountains, west of Jerusalem, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . Etymology ...

Srigim Srigim ( he, שריגים. lit. ''Shoots''), also known as Li On ( he, לִי אוֹן), is a community settlement in central Israel. Located to the south of Beit Shemesh. It falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it ha ...

· Tzur Hadassah · Gizo ·

Motza Illit Motza Illit ( he, מוֹצָא עִלִּית, מוצא עילית, ''lit.'' Upper Motza) is a community settlement in central Israel. Motza Illit is located on a picturesque slope overlooking the Jerusalem Mountains, Ein Karem, the Motza Valley ...

*Arab villages **

Ein Naqquba Ein Naqquba ( ar, عين نقوبا, he, עֵין נַקוּבָּא) is an Arab village in central Israel. Located west of Jerusalem, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of .. History The v ...

Ein Rafa Ein Rafa ( ar, عين رافا or ; he, עין ראפה) is an Arab village ten kilometers west of Jerusalem in Israel. Located on the other side of Route 1 to Abu Ghosh, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it ...

*Arab-Jewish village **

*Other settlements **''

'' ·

Deir Rafat Deir Rafat ( ar, دير رفات, he, דיר ראפאת), also known as the Shrine of Our Lady Queen of Palestine and of the Holy Land, is a Catholic monastery in central Israel. Located to the north-west of Beit Shemesh, between Givat Shemesh ...

Ein Kerem Agricultural School Ein Kerem Agricultural School (, ''Beit HaSefer HaHakla'i Ein Kerem''), also known as Ein Kerem Community Environmental School ( he, בית הספר הקהילתי סביבתי עין כרם, ''Beit HaSefer HaKehilati Svivati Ein Kerem'') is a sch ...

Eitanim Eitanim ( he, אֵיתָנִים) is a psychiatric hospital in central Israel. Located near Jerusalem, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . Etymology The name of the village is from a vers ...

· Givat Shemesh · Kfar Zoharim · Kiryat Ye'arim Youth Village ·

Yedida Yedida ( he, יְדִידָה, , Friend) is a special education institute and village in central Israel. Located between Abu Ghosh and Ma'ale HaHamisha, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In it had a population of . ...

Tourism

The tourist activities in the area include mountain hiking, major sections on the

Israel National Trail The Israel National Trail ( he, שביל ישראל, ''Shvil Yisra'el'') is a hiking path that was inaugurated in 1995. The trail crosses the entire country of Israel. Its northern end is at Dan, near the Lebanese border in the far north of the co ...

, biking and historical sight seeing. Other attractions include natural phenomenon as Avshalom stalactites cave and natural water springs. Mate Yehuda is also home to

goat cheese Goat cheese, or chèvre ( or ; from French ''fromage de chèvre'' 'goat cheese'), is cheese made from goat's milk. Goats were among the first animals to be domesticated for producing food. Goat cheese is made around the world with a variety ...

farms, over 30 wineries, including award-winnin
Katlav
an
Nevo
11 breweries and dozens of artists.

Partnerships

The regional council has

sister city A sister city or a twin town relationship is a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and politically distinct localities for the purpose of promoting cultural and commercial ties. While there are early examples of inter ...

-like partnerships with these municipalities: *

Vantaa Vantaa (; sv, Vanda, ) is a city and municipality in Finland. It is part of the inner core of the Finnish Capital Region along with Helsinki, Espoo, and Kauniainen. With a population of (), Vantaa is the fourth most populated city in Finland ...

, Finland * Würzburg district, Bavaria, Germany *

Nümbrecht Nümbrecht is a municipality in the Oberbergischer Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is a health resort, known for its good climate. Geography Nümbrecht is located about 40 km east of Cologne. Neighbouring places Division of ...

, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany *

Dorohoi Dorohoi () is a municipiu, city in Botoșani County, Romania, on the right bank of the river Jijia, which broadens into a lake on the north. History Dorohoi used to be a market for the timber and farm produce of the north Moldavian highlands; m ...

, Romania The regional council and Beit Shemesh are linked to South Africa and

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, in the Partnership 2gether program of the

Jewish Agency for Israel The Jewish Agency for Israel ( he, הסוכנות היהודית לארץ ישראל, translit=HaSochnut HaYehudit L'Eretz Yisra'el) formerly known as The Jewish Agency for Palestine, is the largest Jewish non-profit organization in the world. ...

References

External links

Official website
{{Coord, 31, 45, N, 34, 53, E, display=title, type:city(33400)_source:cawiki 1964 establishments in Israel Regional councils in Israel Regional councils in Jerusalem District