From devastation to determination: How Kibbutz Be’eri is rising again after Oct 7 Hamas massacre

As Paul Calvert toured the shattered lanes of Kibbutz Be’eri with others, he was guided by spokesperson Yarden Tzemach, a third-generation resident who has emerged as a key representative of the community since the Oct. 7 attacks.

Standing in the place where he was born and where his grandparents first settled in 1946, Tzemach explained the deep roots of the Be’eri community. “Our grandparents arrived here, and they built this place, and it became one of the biggest kibbutzim in Israel. One of the most, the strongest ones. Be’eri was a symbol of success. It was a symbol of resilience.”

Before the attack, Be’eri had 1,200 residents, an unusually high number for a kibbutz in modern Israel. But the idyllic peace and sense of security of Be’eri changed drastically on Oct. 7, 2023, when more than 400 terrorists stormed the kibbutz, killing 102 residents, destroying over a third of the homes, and abducting 30 people. According to Tzemach, the fighting continued for three days – the longest battle inside any community that day.

As he led the tour through burned houses, collapsed safe rooms, and memorialized family homes, Tzemach recounted the tragic stories of several households, including those who were murdered and kidnapped, and the 26 soldiers and police officers who died defending the community. He described the sheer panic and fear families faced as they desperately tried to prevent the terrorists from entering through safe-room doors that had no locks. “These safe rooms are built for rockets. It’s not built for terrorists…So this is like an arm wrestle against the terrorists. You have to hold the handle stronger than the terrorists.”

Tzemach also shared his own family’s ordeal. When the attack began, he was an hour north of Be’eri, camping on the beach with friends. From a distance, he guided his parents by phone, while they remained trapped for twelve hours in their safe room. During those hours, the terrorists tore through the house – eating, stealing valuables, and lying in wait to attack the IDF soldiers who would eventually arrive. His brother Shahar, a member of the security team, fought valiantly for seven hours before running out of ammunition. He was killed – but not before preventing terrorists from reaching an entire neighborhood. “He saved this whole neighborhood… so it gives me the comfort to know that he died like he lived. And he was a hero…”

Even in the midst of such a personal loss, Tzemach credits the prayers and volunteer support from around the world – especially from Christian and Jewish believers – as a steady force helping the Be’eri community rebuild. Volunteers came to help harvest avocados and oranges and assist with daily tasks, while prayer groups across nations kept the kibbutz before God.

For Tzemach, this outpouring has been deeply personal. “This is what gave me strength… to know that we have so many friends around the world and that we are not alone,” he said. And with that support behind them, his conviction remains firm: “We will come back, we’ll make the kibbutz bigger and better.”

In the ashes of unimaginable loss, Be’eri’s story is still being written. Across the ruins, there is a growing sense that the people of God worldwide are helping – through prayers, presence, and partnership.

Click below to listen to Paul Calvert's full interview with Yarden Tzemach.