Beit Nir

{{Short description|Kibbutz in southern Israel}}

{{Infobox Israel village

| name = Beit Nir

| hebname = {{Script/Hebrew|בֵּית נִיר}}

|arname=بيت نير

| image=Beit nir.JPG

| imgsize=250

| foundation = 1955–1957

| founded_by = Hashomer Hatzair

| popyear = {{Israel populations|Year}}

| population = {{Israel populations|Bet Nir}}

| population_footnotes={{Israel populations|reference}}

| council = Yoav

| country = {{ISR}}

| district = south

| affiliation = Kibbutz Movement

|pushpin_map=Israel ashkelon#Israel |pushpin_mapsize=250

|coordinates = {{coord|31|38|52|N|34|52|26|E|display=inline,title}}

| website = {{url|www.beit-nir.org.il}}

}}

Beit Nir ({{langx|he|בֵּית נִיר}}, lit. House of tilled soil) is a kibbutz in the Lakhish region of south-central Israel. Beit Nir falls under the jurisdiction of Yoav Regional Council and is a member of the Kibbutz Movement. In {{Israel populations|Year}} its population was {{Israel populations|Bet Nir}}.{{Israel populations|reference}}

History

Beit Nir was established in August 1957 by members of Hashomer Hatzair on land that belonged to the depopulated Palestinian village of Kudna.{{Citation|title=All That Remains|first1=Walid|last1=Khalidi|authorlink=Walid Khalidi|year=1992|location=Washington D.C.|publisher=Institute for Palestine Studies|ISBN=0-88728-224-5|page=218}} It was named for Max Bodenheimer, a prominent German Zionist (Boden means "ground" in German and Heim means "home").

Economy

The kibbutz economy is based on agriculture, a soft drinks factory, and a jewelry workshop that sells its wares in Europe and the United States. The kibbutz merged with Gat to form the corporate entity "Ganir", which manufactures fruit juice for export and sale in Israel. In Israel the juice is sold under the brand name Primor (פרימור).[http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/business/is-israel-ready-for-vegetable-juice-1.253179 Is Israel ready for vegetable juice] Haaretz, 3 September 2008

The kibbutz grows wheat, watermelons and cotton, and produces olive oil. Beit Nir also operates a cattle ranch.

Moshe Shek Museum

The museum displays ceramic works and bronze sculptures by Moshe Shek (1935-2011). Shek, who was born in Poland, became a founding member of the kibbutz and a member of the Hashomer Hatzair organisation, and studied at the New Bezalel art school. His wife Shula offers guided tours of the museum.[https://mosheshek.co.il/en/ Website of the Moshe Shek Museum], accessed 25 Jan 2022.

Gallery

File:Entrance to Beit Nir.jpg|Sign post at entrance to Kibbutz Beit Nir

File:Green lawn in Beit Nir.jpg|Kibbutz Beit Nir

File:Kibbutz Beit-Nir - 1.jpg|Kibbutz Beit Nir

File:Kibbutz Beit- Nir - 2.jpg|Greenery in Beit Nir

File:Water tower in Beit-Nir.jpg|Water tower in Kibbutz Beit Nir

References

{{Reflist}}