The History of the "Bilu" Movement.
In the second half of the nineteenth century there was deterioration in the relationship of the governing body in Russia towards the Jews. Their rights to buy land and be farmers were revoked, and further restrictions were imposed. After the murder of Czar Alexander the second (on March 1st. 1881) and the accession of his successor Alexander the third, riots broke out against the Jews in Ukraine and Poland. The riots in the south of Russia carried on for a period of three years (1881 -1883) and were called "Sufot B'Negev" (Storms in the Desert).
Already by the middle of the 19th century the emigration of Jews, from Russia to the United States of America, had started. As a result of the riots "Sufot  B'Negev", emigration increased, and there was a discussion among the Jews as to where would be the best place to emigrate .
There were those who were of the opinion that it would be best to establish an independent   spiritual and national centre for Jews in the land of Israel. Among these people were members of the Bilu movement (an acronym of the prophetic passage "Beit Yacov lechu v'nilcha" , "O house of Jacob, let us arise and go").

The "Bilu" movement was established in the year 1882 in the city of  Kharkov in Ukraine, by a group of young intellectuals, whose aim was to establish agricultural settlements in the land of Israel. They started off as a group of about 50 young single students, and in time their numbers grew. In June 1882 a group of them sailed from Odessa to the land of Israel and landed in Jaffa. Some of them went to 'Mikve Israel', others to 'Jerusalem' and others to 'Rishon le Zion'. Later on 9 of then decided to establish a new settlement which would eventually be GEDERA.
                                                  
Gedera the Biluim settlement
In the winter of 1884, on the day of the lighting of the second candle of Chanukah, two young members of the Bilu movement arrived at a holding in the Arab village of Katra, which had been purchased from the French Consul in Jaffa. This was the beginning of Gedera. They collected twigs and made two bonfires, which they lit, as a symbol of the lighting of the 2nd candle of Chanukah. The following day, seven more members of the Bilu movement arrived, they all lived together in one wooden shack, and started to work in the fields.
There were many difficulties at the beginning, but slowly slowly the number of settlers increased, and the moshava of Gedera was established. A moshava is a settlement where people live and work independently.  In 1912 immigrants arrive from Yemen, through the emissary Shmuel Avnielli, but after ten years they left,
During the time of the British mandate, Gedera was known for its healthy fresh climate, and became known as a place for rest and recreation and also as a healing centre, especially for people with lung and breathing problems.
After the establishment of the State of Israel, Israel opened its gates to immigration from all over the world. Between 1949 and 1953 three thousand immigrants arrived to Gedera  from Yemen, Romania, Iraq, Poland, Egypt, Morocco, Tunis, India, Iran, Libya and other countries, at the beginning they lived in tents, which was not easy in the winter with the cold and the rain. Schools were started for the immigrants and the sick fund clinics gave medical treatment when necessary. Most of the adults worked in the fields, as this was an agricultural settlement.
Although Gedera has grown, it has still maintained its picturesque and rustic appearance. Gedera has also tried to preserve and restore its historic buildings for the benifit of the moshava and its visitors.

Preservation and restoration of Historical Sites
The ' Habiluim' street was the first street in Gedera and is now the main street, and in it are many preserved historical sites. Even the new shops and businesses that have opened are being demanded  to protect the look of the old settlement,
at least externally.

The main sites to see in this area are:
1. Beit Mintz – which now houses the Gedera Museum
2. Sverdlov Shack and the Bell – the original shack where the Biluim lived
3. Yeshuron Synagogue
4. The Water tower
5. The first school
6.  Bor habiluim- the first hole dug by the Biluim and used as a shelter.
7.  Beit Fuchs

1. Beit Mintz
Beit Mintz was built by Dr. Moshe Mintz, one of the Biluim, the house was built with a communal hall for the inhabitants of Gedera, and  in one wing of the building were his living quarters. When he died  in 1930 he bequeathed this house to the people of Gedera. Since then it has had many uses: firstly as a Community hall, then a kindergarten, a cinema and public library. During the war of  independence it was used as a military hospital, and later it housed the local council. Since 1985 it has been the home of the Gedera Museum.

2. The Sverdlov Shack
This is the only original shack left of those built by the Biluim, and belonged to the Sverdlov family, Chana and Yigal lived there, and later donated the shack to Gedera.
Life was not easy with the toilet at the end of the yard, no running water or electricity.
The Bell was used to call everyone for important meetings or in times of need. It is now on view in front of the Sverdlov shack

3. Yeshuron Synagogue
This was the first and only synagogue at that time in Gedera and was built in 1912. It was the biggest public building in the area.

4. The Water Tower
The water tower is situated behind the Yeshuron synagogue. It was built in 1935. It has three stories and is16.5meters high. The bottom storey was used as a classroom and later as a teacher's room. The upper storey housed the water tank and was also used as a watch tower, the lower storey was also, when necessary, used as an arms slick.

5. The First School
In 1896 the synagogue was also used as a school, and some years later a building was erected in the yard of the synagogue, and this was the first school building. There were not enough children for separate classes according to age, and so several classes studied together with the same teacher, but each group at its own level.  The building afterwards became "Beit Ha Icar" The Farmer's House, where the local farmers gathered, and  it also holds the offices of  "Be'er", (a co-operative that supplies water both to residents and farmers, to this day) .

6. Bor Habiluim
In 1885 the settlers needed a stable, so they dug a big hole 20x4x2 meters and covered it with a roof, as the Turkish law said that any building with a roof would not be demolished. This was used as a stable, and  when more members joined  them, this was used,  in part, also for the bachelors residence,  this was called  Bor Habiluim; however the stable in time collapsed. In 2004 it was restored to show a representation of the original digging.

7. Beit Fuchs
In 1888 Benjamin and Mina Fuchs built the first stone house in Gedera. You can see it opposite the Sverdlov shack. For many years it was used by Bnei Brith as their meeting place, and has now been donated by the Fuchs's family to the Gedera Museum, and will soon be restored.