In Kibbutz Be'eri, which bore the brunt of Hamas attacks on October 7, residents seized the temporary reprieve in fighting against the Hamas terrorists in Gaza, to sow wheat in their fields in the hope that their community would be rebuilt in time for its harvest.
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Some 740 acres of wheat will be planted in Be'eri, a reduction from the usual 1235 acres. "We've begun the process, and it's incredibly exciting and certainly not a given," said Moti Barak, the Director of Agriculture at the Kibbutz. "Regrettably, we can't plant in all our fields, as some areas are currently occupied by military forces and are inaccessible."
"We are a team of ten, diligently working the fields, taking on both sowing and fertilizing duties," he said. "We've opted to seize this opportunity, making the most of the temporary ceasefire before conflict potentially resumes. We are not backing down and continue to work to the best of our abilities. We intend to utilize each day of peace to cultivate our lands."
At Be'eri the harvesting of avocados continues unabated, with thousands of tons of fruit having already been collected to date.
The renowned Be'eri Printing Press is currently operating at near full capacity and was one of the first businesses in the Gaza border region to resume operations after the devastating October 7 massacre, with members returning to work just within just over one week. Despite the ongoing danger and the lingering aftermath of destruction and horror in the kibbutz, the members decided to reopen the facility .
The dining hall has nearly returned to full operations, given the increased presence of residents who are either working in the revitalized economic sectors or participating in restoration efforts. This includes standby squad members and those holding critical positions.
Residents of Kibbutz Be'eri, who tragically lost 90 members on October 7 with around 16 more still held captive in Gaza, are currently residing in a Dead Sea hotel. They will remain there until they can move to temporary accommodations in Kibbutz Hatzerim.