| Gezer | ||
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| Founded | 1945 | |
| Founded by | European immigrants | |
| Council | Gezer | |
| Region | Shephelah | |
| Affiliation | Kibbutz Movement | |
| Coordinates | ||
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Gezer
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Gezer (Hebrew: גֶּזֶר) is a kibbutz in central Israel. Located in the Shephelah between Modi'in, Ramle and Rehovot, it falls under the jurisdiction of Gezer Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 353.
The kibbutz was established in 1945 on land purchased by the Ancient Order of Maccabeans in England,[1] a philanthropic society founded in 1896.[2] The pioneers were immigrants from Europe, who named the kibbutz after Tel Gezer, located nearby.[3]
On 10 June 1948, the day after an attempt to take Latrun performed by Yiftah and Harel brigades, a battalion-size force of the Arab Legion, supported by irregulars and a dozen of armored cars attacked the kibbutz. This was defended by 68 Haganah soldiers. After four hours of battle, the kibbutz fell. 39 defenders were killed, a dozen escaped, and the remaining were taken prisoner. Two Arab legionnaires were killed. At the evening, the kibbutz abandoned to the irregulars was taken back by two Palmach squads.[4]
After the war it was rebuilt, but came apart in 1964 due to social difficulties. The current kibbutz was founded in 1974 by a Gar'in from North America. Kibbutz Gezer Field is one of the few regulation baseball fields in Israel.[3] Construction of the field in 1983, funded by American donors, took six weeks. The first game was played within a few months. A backstop, covered benches for players and a refreshment stand were added at a later date. In 1989, a scoreboard and outfield fence were erected for the Maccabiah Games.[5]
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