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Bene Shim'on (Israel)

Regional Council of Bene Shim'on, Mo'atza Ezorit Bene Shim'on

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image by Ivan Sarajcic and Dov Gutterman

Description
The Emblem

See also:

Municipal Flags (Israel)
Be'er Sheva Subdistrict (Southern District, Israel)
Israel

Description

Regional Council Bene Shim'on is situated in the north Negev desert in the Be'er-Sheva area. Its name (meaning sons of Simon) came from the biblical tribe of Shim'on that settled in this area. The Regional Council was established in October 1951, pop. 3,500. The Regional Council has got an official emblem in the shape of a shield. There is no official flag and in case of need the shield and incription with the Regional Council's name are placed on a white or colour bedsheet. Source: letter and phone call from Mrs. Debi Manor, Planning Department, Regional Council Bnei-Shim'on, 10 July 2001.
Dov Gutterman, 13 August 2001

In my research of municipal flags legislation I was unable to find this emblem published in the official gazette (Rashumot).
Dov Gutterman, 4 September 2001

In my visit at the city hall, the flag that was hoisted there was orange charge with black emblem with no inscription.
Dov Gutterman, 20 June 2003

This Regional Council govern 13 Settlements (8 Kibbutz's: Bet-Kama, Dvir, Hatzerim, Kramim Lahav, Mishmar HaNegev, Shoval, Shomria; 4 Moshav's: Brosh, Nevatim, Ta'ashur, Tidhar and 1 comuunity: Giv'ot Bar).
The emblem is described at the official site:
"...In the 1950', when the state was divided into regional councils, it was decided that our region will be call Regional Council Bene Shim'on [sons of Shim'on]...... The council started its activity and approach the the Kibbutz's members, suggesting a contest for the council emblem. A committee was founded in Kibbutz Hatzerim which include the late Tziviki, Ika as a painter and Ze'eva as graphical designer.
Tzviki's idea was that since we are called "Bene Shim'on" (region of biblical Shim'on tribe), the symbol of Shim'on is oil jug and a sword [see: Flags of the Tribes of Israel].
Around this central motif, they express the idea of agriculture (wheat and barley) and the symbol of the water line emphasized with the connector of the pipes of the water line. Inside the pipe there is a settlement: tower, houses and water flew at the bottom of the pipe. The text was Regional Council Bene Shim'on. Ika drew and Ze'eva wrote.
In the coming years the emblem became smaller and was modified (you can't see the water, it is hard to recognize the connector and it is difficult to read the words "Regional Council")."
The said "Ika" was a member of Hatzerim in the early 1950' that afterwards left to Paris to study art. He came back to Tel Aviv and took part in the local "Bohemia" only to convert later on to be an ultra-religious, and today he is Rabbi Ika Israeli.
Dov Gutterman, 9 April 2005

The Emblem

The original emblem

image from municipal site

The current emblem

image from municipal site