Be'eri

Be'eri (Hebrew: בְּאֵרִי) is a kibbutz in southern Israel. Located in the north-western Negev desert near the eastern border with the Gaza Strip, it falls under the jurisdiction of Eshkol Regional Council. In 2021 it had a population of 1,047.[1]

This article is about the kibbutz in Israel. For the biblical figure, see Beeri.

Be'eri
בְּאֵרִי‎
Be'eri is located in Northwest Negev region of Israel
Be'eri
Be'eri
Be'eri is located in Israel
Be'eri
Be'eri
Coordinates: 31°25′26″N 34°29′23″E
Country Israel
DistrictSouthern
CouncilEshkol
AffiliationKibbutz Movement
Founded6 October 1946
Founded byHaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed members
Population
 (2021)[1]
1,047
Websitebeeri.kibbutz.org.il

History
Old water tower and security fort

Kibbutz Be'eri was established on 6 October 1946 as one of the 11 points in the Negev. It was located near Wadi Nahabir, a few kilometres south of Be'erot Yitzhak. Its founders were members of the HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed movement, who had been preparing in Maoz Haim, as well as some Hebrew scouts. It was named after Berl Katznelson, as Be'eri (Beeri) (a biblical name) was his pen name.[2]

In 1947 Be'eri had a population of over 150. The early settlers engaged in land reclamation and tree planting.[3] The group was enlarged by young Jews from Iraq who arrived by desert trek. The Jewish National Fund reported that for months the kibbutz was completely isolated, "but the settlers held their ground until the liberation of the Negev in October 1948."[3]

After Israeli independence, the kibbutz moved three kilometres southeast to its present location. It is considered one of Israel's wealthiest kibbutzim.[2] From the Second Intifada, the kibbutz suffered from Qassam rocket attacks and combat near the Israel–Gaza barrier eight kilometres away.[4]

A sulfur deposit from Upper Pleistocene sandstone was discovered in the vicinity of Kibbutz Be'eri.[5]

Be'eri massacre
Main article: Be'eri massacre

Hamas militants infiltrated the kibbutz, took an unknown number of Israelis hostage and killed more than 100 people in their coordinated attacks across Israel that initiated the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.[6]

Economy

Unlike many kibbutzim that have undergone privatization, Kibbutz Be'eri has retained the old cooperative model. The main source of income is the Be'eri printing company, which has an annual turnover of hundreds of millions of shekels. The company has expanded into package printing, online photo albums and professional marketing material for small businesses. It also owns a food tech company, Hinoman, which cultivates Mankai (Wolffia globosa), a nutrient-rich super-vegetable grown using sustainable hydroponics.[7]The kibbutz grows jojoba and markets oil from the fruit to the cosmetics industry. Other sources of income are a boutique dairy that produces premium handmade cheese.[8]

Landmarks
ANZAC memorial

About four kilometers to the north lies the ANZAC Monument, commemorating the ANZAC soldiers who died in the Third Battle of Gaza in World War I.[2]

Sports

The kibbutz's basketball team, Hapoel Be'eri, plays in Liga Artzit.

  • Kibbutz Be'eri in 1948
    Kibbutz Be'eri in 1948
  • Yiftach Brigade position close to Be'eri in 1948
    Yiftach Brigade position close to Be'eri in 1948
  • Members of Yiftach Brigade "D" company assembled at Be'eri in 1948
    Members of Yiftach Brigade "D" company assembled at Be'eri in 1948
  • Kibbutz Be'eri after the fighting in 1948
    Kibbutz Be'eri after the fighting in 1948
  • Byzantine water cisterns
    Byzantine water cisterns
  • Sulfur mines
    Sulfur mines

See also

References
  1. "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  2. Mapa's concise gazetteer of Israel (in Hebrew). Yuval Elʻazari (ed.). Tel-Aviv: Mapa Publishing. 2005. pp. 53–54. ISBN 965-7184-34-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. Jewish National Fund (1949). Jewish Villages in Israel. Jerusalem: Hamadpis Liphshitz Press. p. 14.
  4. Eyadat, Fadi (2008-04-17). "Kibbutz Be'eri residents ask: War, what war? It's 8 kilometers away". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-06-07.
  5. Origin of the beeri (Israel) sulfur deposit
  6. Austin, Henry; Schapiro, Rich (7 October 2023). "Hamas says it has taken 'dozens' of Israelis hostage". NBC News. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  7. The secret to Kibbutz Be'eri's successful socialism: Being rich, Haaretz
  8. Kibbutz Beeri pays members NIS 150m in dividends, Globes
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