Degania Bet (Hebrew: דְּגַנְיָה ב') is a kvutza or kibbutz in northern Israel. Located to the south of the Sea of Galilee adjacent to Degania Alef, it falls under the jurisdiction of Emek HaYarden Regional Council. In 2008 it had a population of 514.
The village was founded in 1920 by immigrants from the Second Aliyah, led by Levi Brevda (Levi Ben Amitai). It was the first planned kibbutz and was designed and built by the architect Korenberg. One of its founders was Levi Eshkol. During the 1920 Palestine riots it was attacked and abandoned for several months.
During the 1936-39 Arab revolt it served as a base for establishing tower and stockade settlements. During the Battles of the Kinarot Valley in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War the residents of Degania Alef and Bet succeeded in halting the advance of the Syrian army into the Jordan Valley.
In addition to its 350 cow dairy herd, crop fields, almond orchards, banana, date and avocado plantations, Degania Bet industrialized in the 1960s with Degania Sprayers, now a green industry; in 1984 it opened the Degania Silicone factory. An additional source of income is its kibbutz cottage tourist accommodation, and it specializes in organized bicycle tours.
Notable residents include Michael Kolganov, a bronze medalist in rowing at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Famous quotes containing the word bet:
“I’ll bet your father spent the first year of your life throwing rocks at the stork.”
—Irving Brecher, U.S. screenwriter, and Edward Buzzell. J. Cheever Loophole (Groucho Marx)