Beit Meir
Encyclopedia
Beit Meir is a religious moshav
in central Israel
. Located in the Jerusalem hills around nine miles from Jerusalem, just off the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council
. In 2006 it had a population of 546.
The moshav was established on the land of the depopulated Palestinian
village named Bayt Mahsir
in 1950.
The moshav was named after Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan
. Predominantly an Ashkenazi
moshav, there are a number of Sephardi
families residing in the village. The moshav is composed of almost entirely religious Jews, and the males members predominantly wear "kipot s'rugot" (knitted kippot
), although there are a number of "black hat" and Hassidic families.
The moshav seemingly makes a large proportion of income through farming. There are farms located in Beit Meir, though their size and utility need to be ascertained so as to ensure that the quality of this article is not compromised. As would be expected from a small community only a matter of miles away from a big city, it would seem that a good percentage of the moshav's residents commute to Jerusalem on a daily basis in order to work. On the moshav, though, there are warehouses and a winery. The moshav is also located in close proximity to Hamasrek Nature Reserve.
A religious Yeshiva called Yeshivat Ohr Yerushalayim, aimed primarily at post-High School American students is also based in Moshav Beit Meir. The Yeshiva does not involve itself much with the local community, but does fit in with the local religious perspective that places high value on learning Torah.
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 central Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Located in the Jerusalem hills around nine miles from Jerusalem, just off the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council
Mateh Yehuda Regional Council
Mateh Yehuda Regional Council is a regional council in the Jerusalem District of Israel. In 2008 it was home to 36,200 people.The name of the regional council stems from the fact that its territory was part of the land allotted to the Tribe of Judah, according to the Bible.-Places and...
. In 2006 it had a population of 546.
The moshav was established on the land of the depopulated Palestinian
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
village named Bayt Mahsir
Bayt Mahsir
Bayt Mahsir was a Palestinian Arab village in the District of Jerusalem. It was depopulated during the 1947–1948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine on May 10, 1948 by the Har'el Brigade of Operation Makkabi. It was located 9 km west of Jerusalem....
in 1950.
The moshav was named after Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan
Meir Bar-Ilan
Meir Berlin, later Hebraized to Meir Bar-Ilan, , born Volozhin, Lithuania, died Jerusalem, Israel) was anOrthodox rabbi and leader of Religious Zionism, the Mizrachi movement in USA and British Mandate of Palestine...
. Predominantly an Ashkenazi
Ashkenazi Jews
Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim , are the Jews descended from the medieval Jewish communities along the Rhine in Germany from Alsace in the south to the Rhineland in the north. Ashkenaz is the medieval Hebrew name for this region and thus for Germany...
moshav, there are a number of Sephardi
Sephardi Jews
Sephardi Jews is a general term referring to the descendants of the Jews who lived in the Iberian Peninsula before their expulsion in the Spanish Inquisition. It can also refer to those who use a Sephardic style of liturgy or would otherwise define themselves in terms of the Jewish customs and...
families residing in the village. The moshav is composed of almost entirely religious Jews, and the males members predominantly wear "kipot s'rugot" (knitted kippot
Kippah
A kippah or kipa , also known as a yarmulke , kapele , is a hemispherical or platter-shaped head cover, usually made of cloth, often worn by Orthodox Jewish men to fulfill the customary requirement that their head be covered at all times, and sometimes worn by both men and, less frequently, women...
), although there are a number of "black hat" and Hassidic families.
The moshav seemingly makes a large proportion of income through farming. There are farms located in Beit Meir, though their size and utility need to be ascertained so as to ensure that the quality of this article is not compromised. As would be expected from a small community only a matter of miles away from a big city, it would seem that a good percentage of the moshav's residents commute to Jerusalem on a daily basis in order to work. On the moshav, though, there are warehouses and a winery. The moshav is also located in close proximity to Hamasrek Nature Reserve.
A religious Yeshiva called Yeshivat Ohr Yerushalayim, aimed primarily at post-High School American students is also based in Moshav Beit Meir. The Yeshiva does not involve itself much with the local community, but does fit in with the local religious perspective that places high value on learning Torah.