Benei Binyamin
BENEI BINYAMIN
BENEI BINYAMIN (Heb. בְּנֵי בִּנְיָמִין, "Sons of Benjamin"), association of second-generation farmers in the veteran moshavot of Palestine, active from 1921 to 1939. It engaged mainly in promoting economic and cultural interests, along with matters of security and self-defense. Benei Binyamin was founded by Alexander *Aaronsohn and was named in tribute to Edmond (Binyamin) de *Rothschild and Theodor (Binyamin Ze'ev) *Herzl. The association had as its motto: "To preserve the existing and to rebuild the destroyed." It was active in such veteran settlements as Petaḥ Tikvah, Rishon le-Zion, Nes Ẓiyyonah, Ekron, Ḥaderah, Zikhron Ya'akov, Rosh Pinnah, Mishmar ha-Yarden, and Yesud ha-Ma'alah. The Benei Binyamin Cooperative Bank, opened in 1924, loaned money to members for agricultural development, which the association constantly encouraged. In the same year Benei Binyamin began publication of its own newspaper, Yedi'ot ha-Va'ad ha-Merkazi shel Histadrut Benei Binyamin. Netanyah, Kefar Aharon, Even Yehudah, and part of Herzliyyah were founded by Benei Binyamin. Its active supporters in the U.S. included Nathan *Straus (in whose honor Netanyah was named). Alexander Aaronsohn was its president, and Oved *Ben-Ami served as its secretary for a number of years.
bibliography:
Dinur, Haganah, 2 pt. 3 (1964), index; Benei Binyamin, Likerat ha-Binyan (1922).