Be'er Tuvia
Encyclopedia
Be'er Tuvia is a moshav
in the Southern District of Israel
near the city of Kiryat Malakhi. It is affiliated with the Be'er Tuvia Regional Council
.
In 1887, a group of First Aliyah
newcomers from Bessarabia
founded a moshava
, which they named Qastina, after the neighboring Arab
village of the same name
. Although supported by Baron Edmond de Rothschild
, the moshava did not prosper due to lack of water, distance from other Jewish centers, attacks by neighboring Arab villagers and strained relations between the settlers and the Baron's administration. The village was almost abandoned, but in 1896, the association of Hovevei Zion
in Odessa
purchased the land and new settlers came. Qastina became Be'er Tuvia - an adaptation of the site's Arabic name, "Bir Ta'abya". In 1910, the colony again faced financial collapse and some members approached the Jewish National Fund
with a proposal that it buy the land and houses. The JNF agreed, but due to disagreement with Hovevei Zion this never happened. Instead, the JNF compensated farmers who left Be'er Tuvia and in 1913 bought farmers from Hulda
to replace them. Within a short time, the colony's situation was much improved.
The moshava was practically destroyed during the 1929 Palestine riots
and had to be abandoned. In 1930, it was founded anew as moshav by veterans of the Jewish Legion
and kibbutz
niks, mostly members of Kfar Giladi
and Merhavia
. By the time of the 1931 census
, there were 62 occupied houses and a population of 206 Jews, 4 Christians and 2 Muslims. After water was discovered, Be'er Tuviya became one of the most prosperous moshavim in the country. During the Second World War, many of the moshav members joined the British Army
. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
, the moshav was used by the Israel Defense Forces
as a base for the troops fighting Egypt
in the Negev
.
In the 2005, the population of Be'er Tuviya was 771. The moshav economy is mainly based on citrus and intensive farming.
Moshav
Moshav is a type of Israeli town or settlement, in particular a type of cooperative agricultural community of individual farms pioneered by the Labour Zionists during the second aliyah...
in the Southern District of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
near the city of Kiryat Malakhi. It is affiliated with the Be'er Tuvia Regional Council
Be'er Tuvia Regional Council
Be'er Tuvia Regional Council , is a regional council in the southern Coastal Plain region in Israel.It borders Yoav and Nahal Sorek regional councils in the east; Hof Ashkelon regional council, the Mediterranean Sea, the city of Ashdod and Gan Yavne local council in the west; Gederot, Hevel Yavne...
.
In 1887, a group of First Aliyah
First Aliyah
The First Aliyah was the first modern widespread wave of Zionist aliyah. Jews who migrated to Palestine in this wave came mostly from Eastern Europe and from Yemen. This wave of aliyah began in 1881–82 and lasted until 1903. An estimated 25,000–35,000 Jews immigrated to Ottoman Syria during the...
newcomers from Bessarabia
Bessarabia
Bessarabia is a historical term for the geographic region in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the east and the Prut River on the west....
founded a moshava
Moshava
A moshava , plural: Moshavot is a form of rural settlement in Israel.In a moshava, as opposed to communal settlements like the kibbutz and the moshav, all the land and property are privately-owned. The first moshavot, described as "colonies" in professional literature, were established by...
, which they named Qastina, after the neighboring Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
village of the same name
Qastina
Qastina was a Palestinian village, located 38 kilometers northeast of Gaza City. It was depopulated during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.-Location:...
. Although supported by Baron Edmond de Rothschild
Edmond James de Rothschild
Baron Edmond Benjamin James de Rothschild was a French member of the Rothschild banking family. A strong supporter of Zionism, his generous donations lent significant support to the movement during its early years, which helped lead to the establishment of the State of Israel.- Early years :A...
, the moshava did not prosper due to lack of water, distance from other Jewish centers, attacks by neighboring Arab villagers and strained relations between the settlers and the Baron's administration. The village was almost abandoned, but in 1896, the association of Hovevei Zion
Hovevei Zion
Hovevei Zion , also known as Hibbat Zion , refers to organizations that are now considered the forerunners and foundation-builders of modern Zionism....
in Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
purchased the land and new settlers came. Qastina became Be'er Tuvia - an adaptation of the site's Arabic name, "Bir Ta'abya". In 1910, the colony again faced financial collapse and some members approached the Jewish National Fund
Jewish National Fund
The Jewish National Fund was founded in 1901 to buy and develop land in Ottoman Palestine for Jewish settlement. The JNF is a quasi-governmental, non-profit organisation...
with a proposal that it buy the land and houses. The JNF agreed, but due to disagreement with Hovevei Zion this never happened. Instead, the JNF compensated farmers who left Be'er Tuvia and in 1913 bought farmers from Hulda
Hulda, Israel
Hulda is a kibbutz in central Israel. Located in the Shephelah near the Hulda forest and the Burma Road, it falls under the jurisdiction of Gezer Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 332...
to replace them. Within a short time, the colony's situation was much improved.
1929 Palestine riots
The 1929 Palestine riots, also known as the Western Wall Uprising, the 1929 Massacres, , or the Buraq Uprising , refers to a series of demonstrations and riots in late August 1929 when a long-running dispute between Muslims and Jews over access to the Western Wall in Jerusalem escalated into violence...
and had to be abandoned. In 1930, it was founded anew as moshav by veterans of the Jewish Legion
Jewish Legion
The Jewish Legion was the name for five battalions of Jewish volunteers established as the British Army's 38th through 42nd Battalions of the Royal Fusiliers...
and kibbutz
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
niks, mostly members of Kfar Giladi
Kfar Giladi
-External links:* * Jewish Agency for Israel*...
and Merhavia
Merhavia
Merhavia may refer to:*Merhavia , a kibbutz in northern Israel*Merhavia , a moshav in northern Israel originally known as the Co-operative in Merhavia...
. By the time of the 1931 census
1931 census of Palestine
The 1931 census of Palestine was the second census carried out by the authorities of the British Mandate of Palestine. It was carried out on 18 November 1931 under the direction of Major E. Mills. The first census had been conducted in 1922...
, there were 62 occupied houses and a population of 206 Jews, 4 Christians and 2 Muslims. After water was discovered, Be'er Tuviya became one of the most prosperous moshavim in the country. During the Second World War, many of the moshav members joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
, the moshav was used by the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
as a base for the troops fighting Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in the Negev
Negev
The Negev is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The Arabs, including the native Bedouin population of the region, refer to the desert as al-Naqab. The origin of the word Neghebh is from the Hebrew root denoting 'dry'...
.
In the 2005, the population of Be'er Tuviya was 771. The moshav economy is mainly based on citrus and intensive farming.