History of Beit Shemesh in Timeline

Beit Shemesh is a city in Israel's Jerusalem District, situated about 30 kilometers west of Jerusalem. It serves as a significant center for both Haredi Judaism and Modern Orthodoxy. As of 2023, the city has a population of 167,318.

October 1948: Bayt Nattif Fled Following Bombing

In October 1948, during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the Palestinian Arab population of Bayt Nattif fled the village following an Israeli Air Force bombing campaign. Israeli forces later completely destroyed Bayt Nattif along with other Arab villages.

December 1950: Establishment of Ma'abarat Har-Tuv

On December 6, 1950, the Hartuv displaced persons camp "Ma'abarat Har-Tuv" was established on the site of the current-day Moshav Naham. The first inhabitants were Jewish Bulgarian immigrants, later joined by immigrants from other countries.

1952: Relocation to Permanent Houses

In 1952, the residents of the Ma'abarot began relocating into the first permanent houses constructed in Beit Shemesh.

1977: Increased Investment in Beit Shemesh

In 1977, following a writeup in Haaretz, Beit Shemesh was perceived as the main outpost for Menachem Begin's Likud party. After the Likud party came to power that year, investment in the city increased.

1987: Founding of Kibbutz Tamuz

In 1987, Beit Shemesh saw the founding of Tamuz, an urban kibbutz affiliated with the Kibbutz Movement.

March 1997: Naharayim Massacre

On March 13, 1997, seven girls from Beit Shemesh's AMIT Fuerst School were killed at the "Island of Peace" site in Naharayim by a Jordanian soldier.

2001: Schools and Students Statistics

In 2001, there were 56 schools and 14,148 students in Beit Shemesh, with 40.3% of 12th grade students entitled to a matriculation certificate.

2001: Eli Ivgi World Champion

In the field of judo, Elitzur Beit Shemesh has won many prizes. Israel Kung Fu and world Nunchaku champion (2001) Eli Ivgi was born in and lives in Beit Shemesh.

2002: Plans for HaShachar Neighborhood

In 2002, following tensions between the Haredi and non-religious population, plans were drawn up to build another secular neighborhood, HaShachar.

September 2003: Railway Station Reopening

The Beit Shemesh railway station was renovated and reopened on September 13, 2003.

2003: Railway Station Renovation

The Beit Shemesh railway station was renovated in 2003 after being in operation for close to 100 years.

2004: Ethiopian Jews Paid Below-Minimum Wages

In 2004, the Israel Association of Ethiopian Jews claimed that Ethiopian Jews working for the municipality of Beit Shemesh were being paid below-minimum wages.

2006: United Torah Judaism Strongest Party

In the 2006 Knesset elections, United Torah Judaism became the city's strongest party with 22.2 percent of the votes.

2007: Construction of Ramat Shilo

In 2007, Ramat Shilo was built with 340 housing units geared toward Modern Orthodox Jews, and has since experienced rapid growth and development.

January 2009: Superbus Begins Service

Superbus began operating bus service in Beit Shemesh on January 5, 2009.

2009: Likud Regains Primacy

In 2009, Likud regained its primacy, obtaining 22.2 percent of the votes, with Shas also gaining.

2009: Announcement of Ramat Beit Shemesh Gimmel

In 2009, it was announced that a new neighborhood, Ramat Beit Shemesh Gimmel, would be built as a largely Haredi neighborhood.

2009: Conviction of 'Taliban Mother' and Husband

In 2009, the leader of a Haredi burqa sect in Beit Shemesh, dubbed the "Taliban mother" by the Israeli press, was convicted by the Jerusalem District Court on three counts of abuse of a minor and 25 counts of assault in aggravated circumstances, and sentenced to four years in prison. Her husband was also convicted of 10 counts of assault and three counts of abuse of a minor or helpless person, and was sentenced to six months in jail.

2010: Haredi Schoolchildren Statistics

According to statistics published by the municipality, 63% of the city's schoolchildren in 2010 were Haredim.

September 2011: Protests at Orot Banot School

In September 2011, after the opening of the Orot Banot national-religious girls' school in Beit Shemesh, groups of devout Haredim protested in front of the school, alleging lack of modest dress. There were reports of name-calling and spitting at the girls. Stones were thrown at a boys' school belonging to the same educational network, injuring a boy. Two men were arrested for throwing eggs and tomatoes at students. A female journalist was assaulted, and police broke up a clash with parents.

October 2011: Objection to Partnership with Beit Shemesh

In October 2011, after The Washington Post reported that Montgomery County, Maryland was considering a partnership with Beit Shemesh, a local coalition, Human Rights Matter!, objected. The campaign was supported by the Mossawa Center.

December 2011: Public Outcry Over Treatment of Na'ama Margolese

In December 2011, there was a national public outcry in Beit Shemesh when a television news channel interviewed 8-year-old Na'ama Margolese, who was allegedly cursed and spat at on her way to school by devout Haredim. Some Haredi women gave flowers to Orot Banot schoolgirls. On 27 December 2011, a protest against extremism near the Orot Banot school drew 10,000 people. The US State Department updated its Jerusalem travel advisory, recommending visitors to dress appropriately or avoid ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods.

2011: Haredi Population Percentage

In 2011 Haredim made up 40% of the population in Beit Shemesh.

2011: Conflicts Erupt Between Extremists and Haredi Residents

In 2011, conflicts erupted in Beit Shemesh between extremist anti-religious activists and devout Haredi men, possibly members of a group known as the Sikrikim, and other residents of the town. These conflicts were due to opposition to maintaining gender separation at local health clinics and on ‘mehadrin buses’ where men and women sit separately.

2011: Criticism of Referral of Ethiopian Jews to Private Pre-Schools

In 2011, the Israel Association of Ethiopian Jews criticized the referral of Ethiopian Jews to three private pre-schools run by the mayor's wife in Beit Shemesh.

2012: Haredi Students Entering First Grade

75% of the children entering the first grade in the 2012/2013 academic year were registered in official Haredi institutions.

August 2013: Wayback Machine Archive

Beit Shemesh Express archived on August 19, 2013.

October 2013: Police Raid and Arrests

During the municipal elections held on October 22, 2013, police raided several private residences and recovered ID cards and disguising materials, arresting eight people on suspicion for fraudulent voting activities.

December 2013: Election Results Nullified

On December 10, 2013, the Jerusalem District Court nullified the results of the October municipal elections due to voter fraud and ordered a new election.

2013: Haredi Students Entering First Grade

75% of the children entering the first grade in the 2012/2013 academic year were registered in official Haredi institutions.

March 2014: Abutbul Wins Reelection

Following a 76% voter turnout rate, incumbent mayor Moshe Abutbul beat contender Eli Cohen with a 51% majority vote during the reelection which took place on March 11, 2014.

2016: Tenders for New Apartments

In 2016, the Israeli Land Authority published tenders for 3,268 new apartments, to be built in the newly proposed areas of Ramat Beit Shemesh Dalet and Hey.

2017: Approval of Master Plan

In 2017, the Israeli government approved a master plan to build 17,000 new housing units and 53 hectares of commercial space for businesses and hotels in Beit Shemesh.

November 2018: Aliza Bloch Takes Office

In November 2018, Aliza Bloch took office as mayor of Beit Shemesh after defeating Moshe Abutbul.

May 2020: Tour of Neve Shamir Neighborhood

In May 2020, dozens of married secular and national religious couples took part in a tour of the Neve Shamir neighborhood with former Mayor Aliza Bloch and her deputy. More tours were held due to the success of the reunion.

2020: Hospital Construction Approved

In 2020, the construction of a hospital in Beit Shemesh, run as a branch of Hadassah Medical Center, was approved.

2020: Gimmel 2 Residents Moving In

Residents first started moving into Gimmel 2 in 2020, and the neighborhood has 3 shopping centers and multiple synagogues.

2021: Beit Shemesh Express Operations

As of 2021, Beit Shemesh Express operates over 40 bus routes with over 200 eco friendly electric buses serving all areas of the city.

2021: Tnufa Inter-City Bus Routes

As of 2021, Tnufa operates the inter-city bus routes, with travel time between Beit Shemesh and Jerusalem by bus being between 40 minutes and 1 hour.

2022: Tnufa Bus company started service

In 2022, the Tnufa Bus company started providing transportation services in Beit Shemesh, along with Express. Previously, Superbus and Egged also provided bus services in the city.

2023: Beit Shemesh Population

As of 2023, the population of Beit Shemesh is 167,318.

March 2024: Shmuel Greenberg Assumes Office

In March 2024, Shmuel Greenberg of Degel HaTorah became the mayor of Beit Shemesh, defeating Aliza Bloch in a second round of elections.

2024: Beit Shemesh as a thriving city

As of 2024, Beit Shemesh is described as a thriving city with a mainly Haredi population and a Dati Leumi minority. Communal tensions have decreased due to the efforts of former mayors Moshe Abutbul and Aliza Bloch. The city is considered a religious, family-oriented place under the leadership of Shmuel Greenberg.

2024: Gimmel 1 Thriving

As of 2024, Gimmel 1 has developed into a thriving neighborhood with many synagogues, stores, clinics, and schools.

2024: Ramat Beit Shemesh Daled

As of 2024, Ramat Beit Shemesh Daled has become a sprawling multi sectional neighborhood with buildings built and populated by Haredi Jews.

March 2025: Start of "Accelerator" Transportation Project

In March 2025, Beit Shemesh is expected to begin work on the "Accelerator" project to upgrade the city's transportation infrastructure. The project includes building bus lanes, new bike paths, smart traffic lights, roundabouts, upgrading street and municipal signs, and building new, advanced bus stops with real-time information displays and full accessibility.