Be'eri

File:CCTV footage of Hamas gunmen infiltrating Kibbutz Beéri on October 7 2023.png

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 and a group of Iraqi Jews who had survived the Farhud and trekked across the desert to Mandatory Palestine in 1947.{{Cite news |last=Julius |first=Lyn |date=29 May 2024 |title=October 7 was the second massacre of Jews for Hamas' oldest hostage |url=https://www.thejc.com/lets-talk/for-hamas-oldest-hostage-october-7-was-the-second-massacre-of-jews-shxumzbe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925134149/https://www.thejc.com/lets-talk/for-hamas-oldest-hostage-october-7-was-the-second-massacre-of-jews-shxumzbe |archive-date=25 September 2024 |access-date=27 September 2024 |work=The Jewish Chronicle}} It was named after Berl Katznelson, as Be'eri (Beeri) (a biblical name) was his pen name.{{Cite book

| publisher = Mapa Publishing

| isbn = 965-7184-34-7

| pages = 53–54

|editor=Yuval Elʻazari

| title = Mapa's concise gazetteer of Israel

| location = Tel-Aviv

| year = 2005

|language=he}}

In 1947 Be'eri had a population of over 150. The early settlers engaged in land reclamation and tree planting.{{cite book | title=Jewish Villages in Israel | author=Jewish National Fund | year=1949 | publisher=Hamadpis Liphshitz Press | location=Jerusalem | pages=14}} 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."

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

| last = Eyadat

| first = Fadi

| title = Kibbutz Be'eri residents ask: War, what war? It's 8 kilometers away

| work = Haaretz

| accessdate = 2008-06-07

| date = 2008-04-17

| url = http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/975732.html

| archive-date = 2008-10-10

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081010230536/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/975732.html

| url-status = dead

}}

A sulfur deposit from Upper Pleistocene sandstone was discovered in the vicinity of Kibbutz Be'eri.{{cite journal|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/000925416690026X |title=Origin of the beeri (Israel) sulfur deposit|journal= Chemical Geology|date=1966 |doi=10.1016/0009-2541(66)90026-X |last1=Nissenbaum |first1=A. |last2=Kaplan |first2=I.R. |volume=1 |pages=295–316 |bibcode=1966ChGeo...1..295N |url-access=subscription }}

In 2020, the superfood Monkai was developed by the kibbutz.

{{main|Be'eri massacre}}

Relations between Be'eri residents and Gazans were reportedly good. Bret Stephens writes:

{{blockquote|Be’eri was well known for its pro-peace sympathies: It had a special fund to give financial help to Gazans who came to the kibbutz on work permits, and kibbutzniks would often volunteer to drive sick Palestinians to an oncology center in southern Israel.Bret Stephens,{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/10/opinion/israel-national-crisis.html |title=In Israel, There Is Grief and There Is Fury. Beneath the Fury, Fear|newspaper= New York Times |date=10 November 2023}}}}

File:Jerry Seinfeld on a support visit of Israel in December 2023, a visit to Kibbutz Be'eri following the Be'eri massacre on October 7, 2023 (1).jpg with members of Kibbutz Be'eri in the kibbutz dining room, 19 December 2023]]

On 7 October 2023, 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 Gaza war.{{cite news |last1=Austin |first1=Henry |last2=Schapiro |first2=Rich |title=Hamas says it has taken 'dozens' of Israelis hostage |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hamas-israel-palestinian-hostages-beeri-attack-rcna119337 |access-date=7 October 2023 |work=NBC News |date=7 October 2023 |language=en}} Relatives of some of those killed have demanded a probe into the potential deaths of some of these hostages from friendly fire, including one incident in which an Israeli tank fired at a house full of hostages.{{citation |author=Liza Rozovsky |title=Families of Israelis Killed in Be'eri Home Hit by IDF Tank on October 7 Demand Probe |date=2024-01-06 |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-01-06/ty-article/.premium/families-of-israelis-killed-in-beeri-home-hit-by-tank-fire-on-october-7-demand-probe/0000018c-de77-daf6-a5df-df7f22d60000 |periodical=Haaretz |access-date=2024-01-06 |quote=[...] Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram said he had ordered a tank commander to fire on the home of Kibbutz Be'eri resident Pesi Cohen, in which Israeli civilians and many terrorists were holed up, ‘even at the cost of civilian casualties.’ [...] families of the killed Israelis demanded ‘a comprehensive and transparent probe into the decisions and actions that led to this tragic outcome. [...]’}}{{Cite news |last=Staff |date=2024-01-06 |title=Families of 13 people killed in October 7 Kibbutz Be'eri firefight demand probe |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/families-of-13-people-killed-in-october-7-kibbutz-beeri-firefight-demand-probe/ |access-date=2024-01-06 |work=The Times of Israel}}{{Cite web |last1=Frankel |first1=Julia |last2=Bernstein |first2=Alon |date=2024-01-11 |title=Friendly fire may have killed their relatives on Oct. 7. These Israeli families want answers now |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-hostages-investigation-friendly-fire-3b6fdd4592957340b32a8ee71505b8e9 |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=AP News |language=en}} One of the hostages abducted from Be'eri was killed by Hamas, along with 5 other Israeli hostages, after 330 days in captivity.{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/01/middleeast/israel-gaza-wwk-hostages-killed-intl-hnk/index.html |title=Israel-Gaza war: Six Israeli hostages killed in Gaza |website=CNN |access-date=2024-09-24 |language=en}}

In the aftermath of the massacre, the kibbutz's population was evacuated. As of December 2024, some 200 residents had returned to Be'eri while hundreds more lived elsewhere in Israel, including many at kibbutz Hatzerim. It is hoped that the kibbutz will be fully rebuilt by August 2026.[https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/as-residents-start-returning-to-beeri-the-long-process-of-rebuilding-gathers-pace/ As residents start returning to Be’eri, the long process of rebuilding gathers pace]

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 print 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) using hydroponics.{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-the-secret-to-kibbutz-be-eri-s-successful-socialism-being-rich-1.9381780 |title=The secret to Kibbutz Be'eri's successful socialism: Being rich|newspaper= Haaretz}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-kibbutz-beeri-pays-members-nis-150m-in-dividends-1001232236 |title=Kibbutz Beeri pays members NIS 150m in dividends|newspaper= Globes}}

File:94073 anzac hand PikiWiki Israel.jpg

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.

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

Sofie Berzon MacKie (born January 1984) visual artist, curator and director of the Be'eri Contemporary Art Gallery

File:Be'eri 1948.jpg|Kibbutz Be'eri in 1948

File:Be'eri.jpg|Yiftach Brigade position close to Be'eri in 1948

File:Be'eri i.jpg|Members of Yiftach Brigade "D" company assembled at Be'eri in 1948

File:Be'eri ii.jpg|Kibbutz Be'eri after the fighting in 1948

File:באריהישנה 0642.JPG|Old water tower and security fort

File:PikiWiki Israel 7498 byzantine water cisterns.jpg|Byzantine water cisterns

File:94074 sulfur mines near bari PikiWiki Israel.jpg|Sulfur mines

• Be'eri Forest

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|http://www.beeri.org.il/ }} {{in lang|he}}
• [http://212.116.164.25/Wikibbutz/index.php?title=%D7%A2%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%93_%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%A9%D7%99 Be'eri] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100913211628/http://212.116.164.25/Wikibbutz/index.php?title=%D7%A2%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%93_%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%A9%D7%99 |date=2010-09-13 }} WiKibbutz {{in lang|he}}
• [https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-10-12/ty-article-magazine/.premium/one-of-the-most-beautiful-parts-of-israel-before-all-hell-broke-loose/0000018b-1f47-df31-a99f-7fc75fa20000 One of the Most Beautiful Parts of Israel, Before All Hell Broke Loose], Haaretz
• [https://www.israelhayom.co.il/article/219703 Kibbutz near Gaza celebrates delayed bar, bat mitzvahs]
• [https://www.jpost.com/israel-guide/southern-israel-tours/beeri-forest-wandering-among-the-anemones Be'eri Forest - Wandering among the anemones]

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Category:Kibbutzim

Category:Kibbutz Movement

Category:Populated places established in 1946

Category:Jewish villages in Mandatory Palestine

Category:Populated places in Southern District (Israel)

Category:1946 establishments in Mandatory Palestine