Omer
עומר | |
---|---|
Hebrew transcription(s) | |
• ISO 259 | ʕomr |
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Coordinates: 31°15′51″N 34°50′49″E / 31.26417°N 34.84694°E | |
Country | ![]() |
District | Southern |
Sub-district | Beersheba |
Founded | 1949 |
Government | |
• Head of Municipality | Pini Badash |
Area | |
• Total | 20,126 dunams (20.1 km2 or 7.8 sq mi) |
Population (2023)[1] | |
• Total | 8,226 |
• Density | 410/km2 (1,100/sq mi) |
Name meaning | Sheaf |
Website | www.omer.muni.il |
Omer (Hebrew: עומר, lit. 'Sheaf') is an affluent town in the Southern District of Israel, bordering Beersheba. It is located on Highway 60, between Beersheba and the Shoket Junction. In 2023 it had a population of 8,226.[1]
History
[edit]
Omer, originally known as Hevrona, was founded as a kibbutz in 1949. The early residents were demobilized Palmach soldiers. In 1951, it became a cooperative village known as Eilata. In 1953, it was re-established as a communal moshav by immigrants from Hungary and Romania and renamed Omer. The name is based on the offering of the first sheafs in Leviticus 23:10.[2]
In 1957, residents of the ma'abarot in the vicinity moved to Omer. In 1962, it was renamed Tomer and became a neighborhood of Beersheba. Since 1974, it has been an independent town and suburb of Beersheba.[2]
Pini Badash has served as mayor since 1990. Omer's jurisdiction is 20,126 dunams (~20.1 km²).
Economy
[edit]Omer is known for its high socio-economic ranking. It is one of four municipalities to score 10/10, along with Kfar Shmaryahu, Lehavim and Savyon.[3]
Notable residents
[edit]- Eviatar Banai (b. 1973), musician
- Orna Banai (b. 1966), actress and comedian
- Guy Barnea (b. 1987), Olympic swimmer
- Roni Dalumi (b. 1991), singer
- Mickey Edelstein (b. 1966), general
- Amir Ganiel (1963–2018), swimmer
- Imri Ganiel (b. 1992), Olympic swimmer
- Ziv Kalontarov (b. 1997), Olympic swimmer
- Shaul Ladany (b. 1936), world-record-holding Olympic racewalker, Bergen-Belsen survivor, Munich Massacre survivor, and Professor of Industrial Engineering
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ a b HaReuveni, Immanuel (1999). Lexicon of the Land of Israel (in Hebrew). Miskal - Yedioth Ahronoth Books and Chemed Books. p. 769. ISBN 965-448-413-7.
- ^ Media releasecbs.gov.il Archived May 2, 2022, at the Wayback Machine