Omer, Israel
Encyclopedia
Omer is a town (local council
) in the South District
of Israel
, bordering Beersheba
. It is located on Highway 60
, between Beersheba and the Shoket Junction. Pini Badash
has served as head of its local council since 1990.
According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics
(CBS), the population of Omer was 6,600 in December 2008. Omer's jurisdiction is 20,126 dunam
s (~20.1 km²). Omer is known for its extremely high socio-economic rating, being one of only three municipalities to score 10/10 (along with Kokhav Yair and Savyon
)
, called Hevrona, in 1949 by released Palmach
soldiers. Since then it was abandoned and re-settled several times. In 1951 it became a cooperative village and named Eilata, also built by released soldiers. In 1953, a communal moshav
founded by immigrants from Hungary
and Romania
- which became known as Omer. The name was taken from the book of Leviticus
.
In 1957, residents of the surrounding ma'abarot
were brought to Omer, and it 1962 it was renamed to Tomer. By 1964, residential complexes were built in the area, and it became a neighborhood of Beersheba. In 1974, the village of Omer was founded again in the area, and later developed into the small town it is today.
Local council (Israel)
Local councils are one of the three types of local government found in Israel, with the other two being cities and regional councils. As of 2003, there were 144 local councils in Israel, these being settlements which pass a minimum threshold enough to justify their operations as independent...
) in the South District
South District (Israel)
The Southern District is one of Israel's six administrative districts, and is the largest in terms of land area as well as the most sparsely populated. It covers most of the Negev desert, as well as the Arabah valley. The population of the Southern District is 1,002,400. It is 86% Jewish and 14%...
of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, bordering Beersheba
Beersheba
Beersheba is the largest city in the Negev desert of southern Israel. Often referred to as the "Capital of the Negev", it is the seventh-largest city in Israel with a population of 194,300....
. It is located on Highway 60
Highway 60 (Israel)
Highway 60 is a north-south intercity road in Israel and the West Bank that stretches from Beersheba to Nazareth.-Route:The route is also known as the "Route of the Patriarchs" since it follows the path of the ancient highway that runs along the length of the central watershed, and which...
, between Beersheba and the Shoket Junction. Pini Badash
Pini Badash
Pinhas "Pini" Badash is an Israeli politician who has served as mayor of Omer local council since 1990. He was also a member of the Knesset for Tzomet between 1992 and 1998.-Biography:...
has served as head of its local council since 1990.
According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics
Israel Central Bureau of Statistics
The Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , abbreviated CBS, is an Israeli government office established in 1949 to carry out research and publish statistical data on all aspects of Israeli life, including population, society, economy, industry, education and physical infrastructure.It is headed by a...
(CBS), the population of Omer was 6,600 in December 2008. Omer's jurisdiction is 20,126 dunam
Dunam
A dunam or dönüm, dunum, donum, dynym, dulum was a non-SI unit of land area used in the Ottoman Empire and representing the amount of land that can be plowed in a day; its value varied from 900–2500 m²...
s (~20.1 km²). Omer is known for its extremely high socio-economic rating, being one of only three municipalities to score 10/10 (along with Kokhav Yair and Savyon
Savyon
Savyon is a local council in the Center District of Israel, bordering the cities of Kiryat Ono, Petah Tikva, and Yehud. Ranked 10/10 on the Israeli socio-economic scale, it is one of the wealthiest municipalities in Israel, being both famous and infamous for it...
)
History and name
Omer was founded as a kibbutzKibbutz
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...
, called Hevrona, in 1949 by released Palmach
Palmach
The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Palmach was established on May 15, 1941...
soldiers. Since then it was abandoned and re-settled several times. In 1951 it became a cooperative village and named Eilata, also built by released soldiers. In 1953, a communal moshav
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...
founded by immigrants from Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
and Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
- which became known as Omer. The name was taken from the book of Leviticus
Leviticus
The Book of Leviticus is the third book of the Hebrew Bible, and the third of five books of the Torah ....
.
In 1957, residents of the surrounding ma'abarot
Ma'abarot
The Ma'abarot were refugee absorption camps in Israel in the 1950s. The Ma'abarot were meant to provide accommodation for the large influx of Jewish refugees and new Olim arriving to the newly independent State of Israel, replacing the less habitable immigrant camps or tent cities...
were brought to Omer, and it 1962 it was renamed to Tomer. By 1964, residential complexes were built in the area, and it became a neighborhood of Beersheba. In 1974, the village of Omer was founded again in the area, and later developed into the small town it is today.