Kibbutz Beit Nir is situated in the Judean foothills on the boundary with the Plains area of Israel, on highway 353, northeast of Qiryat Gat.
The origin of the name: the translation of the name of Dr. Max Bodenheimer (“House of the Land”), a Zionist leader in Germany.
The place started life as a cattle ranch, in September 1955. However the ranch broke up. The kibbutz was founded in 1957 by Israeli-born Hashomer Hatsa’ir groups.
In its first four years the kibbutz was adopted by the National Kibbutz Movement which provided the kibbutz with shinshinshinim (third national service year volunteers) from Kibbutz Ma'abarot and from Kibbutz Ein Hamifratz. Over the years further Israeli-born Hashomer Hatsa’ir, from all over Israel, came to the kibbutz.
Today, new housing is being put up at Beit Nir, to accommodate new members, and the community is being expanded to incorporate young families. Kibbutz Beit Nir is a pioneer in Israel of biosphere construction which incorporates housing with nature. The new area will have 84 houses.
Currently, there are around 450 inhabitants at Beit Nir.
Employment:
Most of the members and residents work outside the kibbutz.
Agriculture: field crops, olive grove and cattle for meat.
Industry: Agrinir - An oil press, production and marketing of olives and olive oil.
Ganir - A plant for juices and concentrates, including the Primor brand. The plant was established in the area in 1978, by members of Kibbutz Gat and Kibbutz Beit Nir
Jewelry: The kibbutz owns a jewelry production plant with the products supplied by designers living on the kibbutz, including silver jewelry with gold and precious stones. The jewelry is marketed in Europe and the United States.
Entrepreneurship and small businesses: A store, garage, alternative healing, cosmetics, hair stylist and pedicurist.Coffee in a Second, Shula Shak Jewelry, Beit Nir Ranch
Extensive cultural activities take place at Beit Nir on Jewish holidays and as part of extra-curricular cultural, arts and sports programs run by the Yo'av Regional Council. The kibbutz has a swimming pool, sports hall, studio halls and a library.
A variety of artists live on the kibbutz, who work in various fields: writing, ceramic and wood sculpture, painting, jewelry, basket weaving using palm and weeping willow tree branches, decorative utensils etc.
A book entitled "Between the Broom and Trough" was published to mark the kibbutz’s 50th anniversary, which portrayed life on the kibbutz between 1957 and 2007, and includes stories from there based on the experiences of the members of Beit Nir through the generations. The book was written by kibbutz members Yisrael and Shulamit Meiron.
