| Be'eri Region
Kibbutz Be'eri was founded after sunset following the fast of Yom Kippur 1946 as one of the eleven points of Jewish settlement in the Negev. The kibbutz is named after Berl Katznelson, whose Hebrew name was Be'eri. Located four kilometers east of the Gaza Strip, the kibbutz is affiliated with the Kibbutz Movement and is the largest community under the jurisdiction of the Eshkol Regional Council.
Initially the kibbutz was located near Wadi Nahabir along the spillway of the ancient Be'er Sheva–Gaza Canyon, a few kilometers south of Kibbutz Be'erot Yitzhak, original home of its founders. After Israeli independence, the kibbutz moved three kilometers southeast to its present location, an area with land more conducive to cultivation.
Be'eri Printers, a printing company established during the first years of the kibbutz, is its main source of income. In recent years the company has become a pioneer in setting standards and best practices in the printing industry in Israel and worldwide.
Events of October 7
At the outset of the surprise attack on Israel, more than a hundred armed terrorists infiltrated Kibbutz Be'eri at three different points and engaged in battles with the emergency response team and the first forces called to the scene.
Civilians from Gaza also entered the kibbutz, looting and committing murderous acts. The terrorists caused extensive damage to the kibbutz, among other things by burning buildings and fields. Large military and police forces fought bravely and courageously under the command of Brigadier General Barak Hiram. The fighting continued through Monday afternoon, claiming the lives of more than thirty IDF soldiers, police offices and members of the emergency response team. Only then was the kibbutz cleared of all terrorists.
Kibbutz Be'eri was among the most severely damaged communities in the war. The horrific scenes left by the Hamas terrorists are apparent everywhere. During the battles, 90 residents of Be'eri were murdered and eleven were abducted, six of whom were murdered in captivity.
During the second week of fighting, Be'eri Printers reopened. The reopening of this venerable and established printing house showcased the fortitude of the Be'eri community: "We and the entire state of Israel see this as a symbol of our revival. We will not rest until we freely return to our land."
The residents of Be'eri decided to relocate to temporary housing at Kibbutz Hatzerim until their kibbutz is rebuilt.
Aya from Kibbutz Be'eri was saved on October 7 thanks to workers in the kibbutz dining hall. That Saturday morning, members of the Alkarnawi family from Rahat were the first to sound the alert that terrorists had infiltrated the kibbutz, and they saved the lives of many people.
Hisham, one of the family members, ran and hid with Aya among the bushes, under heavy and relentless fire from the terrorists. After many hours Hisham contacted a relative, who sent a rescue vehicle to collect them and bring them to safety. This is only one of many stories of Arab citizens of Israel who helped save Jews from the Hamas massacre.
Captain (res.) Elchanan Meir Kalmanson, a veteran of Israel’s Mossad intelligence service and son of Rabbi Beni Kalmanson, drove on his own initiative from his home in Otniel to Be'eri, together with his brother Menachem. His nephew Itiel joined them later. The three commandeered an armored vehicle and over the course of 15 hours saved more than 100 Be'eri residents.
Towards the end of the rescue operation, Elchanan was killed by terrorist fire. Lt. Col. Eli Ginsberg, commander of the special forces LOTAR counterterrorism unit, was also killed in this battle, and Sergeant Major Ofek Russo, a soldier and medic in Shayetet 13 (Israeli equivalent of Navy Seals), was killed while treating someone who had been seriously injured.
After the massacre at Be'eri, kibbutz members met with the Kalmanson family. In a letter one kibbutz member stated: "Elchanan rescued us through the window of the security room while our house was on fire … after long hours of distress, he appeared like an angel out of nowhere and immediately made us feel safe. His face will remain etched in my heart forever."
Stories of Heroism
