Kibbutz Sedeh Yo'av is located on route 35 between Ashqelon and Qiryat Gat.
The kibbutz was named after “yo'av”, the Haganah underground alias of the late Yitzhak Dubno, the first commander of Negba in the War of Independence, who fell in its defense.
The kibbutz was founded on June 1 1966. The members of the Etgar founding group went there from Hashomer Hatsa’ir, from Netanya and Ramatayim. Later IDF Nahal groups from Israel and abroad joined them, as well as young kibbutz members and National Service volunteers. In 2000 the kibbutz underwent extensive privatization, and from 2004 it began operating on the basis of a “safety net” model.
The kibbutz is currently going through a process of adding new residents from different generations, and is absorbing new families as members of the kibbutz, with a view to expanding the kibbutz and bringing down the average age of its members. Absorption is based on “financial independence”, absorbing families and young people born on the kibbutz and others. To date 25 families have been absorbed. In the coming years the kibbutz will continue to absorb new members.
Kibbutz Sdeh Yo'av currently has a population of about 330.
Most of the kibbutz members work outside the kibbutz. The others work in the various areas of activity on the kibbutz:
Tourism: Yoav Thermomineral Baths, bathhouse, spa and country style accommodation
Agriculture: field crops and chicken house farm
Services
The kibbutz has a swimming pool, children and youth club, library, grocery store and laundry.
In the 1950s drilling operations took place here. Hot water was discovered which was used for irrigation. The water was subsequently discovered to have health and pleasurable properties and, in the 1990s, the place became a tourist attraction - Yoav Thermomineral Baths.
