What does moshav mean?
A moshav is a cooperative agricultural village in Israel. Its name is especially associated with rural Jewish settlements in which families generally own their homes and individual plots, while farming, irrigation, marketing, schools, and other services may be organized through cooperative institutions. This arrangement distinguishes a moshav from a kibbutz, where ownership and work have traditionally been more fully collective. Moshavim can produce crops, raise livestock, and maintain distinctive village landscapes while still relying on shared infrastructure. In English, the word is mainly used when discussing Israel, although “moshav-style” communities and organizations may be described similarly elsewhere. It is useful as a precise term for a settlement that combines private household ownership with coordinated agricultural production, rather than simply using the broader words “village” or “cooperative.”
nounA moshav is a cooperative agricultural village in Israel, typically with privately owned homes and land but shared services and coordinated farming. The term may also refer more broadly to a rural Jewish settlement organized on cooperative principles.
- An agricultural village or rural settlement in Israel organized on cooperative principles, with residents commonly owning their homes and land while sharing certain agricultural and community services.
"The family moved to a moshav near the coastal plain, where several farms shared irrigation and equipment."
"The moshav grows citrus and olives and sells much of its produce at a cooperative packing house."
"Visitors to the moshav can stay in a guesthouse and learn how the community manages its shared farmland."
“Moshavim” is the usual plural in Hebrew-derived usage; “moshavs” is also used in English.
"Several moshavim along the valley specialize in different kinds of fruit."
Think of a moshav as an Israeli farming village that combines household ownership with community-scale cooperation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does moshav come from?
Moshav comes from Hebrew מושב (moshav), a word meaning “place,” “dwelling,” or “place of gathering.” It is connected with the Hebrew verbal root ש־ב, associated with sitting or being established, as reflected in related forms such as yashav, yeshev, and yeshiva. The term was adopted into English in the context of modern Israeli rural settlement.
How moshav is actually used
The word is most common in English-language discussion of Israel and Israeli geography. “Moshavim” is the usual plural in Hebrew-derived usage, although “moshavs” is also used in English.
Easily confused with moshav
A moshav is generally characterized by private ownership of homes and land alongside cooperative farming, whereas a kibbutz traditionally organizes property, work, and services collectively.