Mayor : Mr. Gideon Bar Lev
Established : 1962
Size : 90,000 Dunams
Population : 27,000 inhabitants
Number of families : 7,500
Number of Olim since 1990 : around 12,000 (45% of total population)
Location : Arad is located on the border of the Judean Desert and the Negev. It sits atop a mountain at an altitude of 600 meter above sea level, which is almost 1000 meters above the Dead Sea. Arad is only 25 km away from the Dead Sea resort area and 37 km east of Be'er Sheva.
Municipal Status : The late Prime Minister, Mr. Ytzchak Rabin, declared Arad a city on June 29, 1995.
The Origin of the Name : Arad is mentioned in the Bible in the book of Numbers 21:1: The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that the Israelites were approaching on the road to Atharim. So he attacked the Israelites and took some of them as prisoners. and again in Numbers 33:40 - It was then that the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev in the land of Canaan, heard that the people of Israel were approaching his land. Additionally, Arad is mentioned in the Book of Joshua 12:14, The king of Hormah, The king of Arad…
Education : Over 40% of Arad's citizens have an academic degree or completed a college education.
Workforce : Around 8,000 people
Main Employers : Industry, tourism, financial services, trade, and service industries.
Background on Tamar
Mayor : Mr. Dov Litvinoff
Established : May 3, 1956
Size : 1,650,000 Dunam = 412,500 Acres
Population : 1300
Location : The Tamar Regional Council situated in the heart of the Great Syrian-African rift valley that stretches through Israel and beyond. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth (417m or 1320 ft. below sea level). It is flanked by the Judean Mountains on the West, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the mountains of Moab on the east. The Jordan Valley and the Sea of Galilee to the north and the Negev Desert as well as the Red Sea to the south.
Municipal Status : Regional Council
The Origin of the Name : Chazezon -Tamar was the name by which Ein Gedi was called in the bible. During the first temple period, the date trees (tamar in Hebrew) were the most important branch of agriculture in the area.
Education : There are two elementary schools, one at Kibbutz Ein Gedi and one at Kikar Sdom. One regional high school serves all of the population and the children of Kikar Sdom travel one hour each way to school. The vision of the Tamar Regional Council is to build an Education Center at the foothills of the famous Masada that will include a regional high school, college and learning center for people from all over Israel and overseas.
Special Events :
Sdom Mountain Bike Race - For the past 9 years, there is held an internationally recognized mountain bike race in the Sdom Mountains. This race attracts riders from all over the world.
Ein Gedi Half-Marathon "Running for Peace" - This race has been going on for the past 22 years. Runners from all over the world gather here to run a half-marathon at the "Lowest Place on Earth".
Tamar Hebrew Song Festival - Every Succoth, Israelis from all over the country come to the Tamar Region where a Hebrew song festival held.
Ein Gedi Search and Rescue Team : The Ein Gedi Search and Rescue Team is responsible for helping hikers who are in trouble while hiking in the Judean Mountains. These are all volunteers and have saved many lives.
Main Employers : Agriculture, tourism and local services