Beit Shemesh is first mentioned in the Book of Joshua 15 as a city in the territory of the tribe of Judah on the border between their territory and that of the tribe of Dan. Amongst other biblical references, the city is famous for its mention in chapter 6 of the book of 1 Samuel as being the first city encountered by the ark of the covenant on its way back after having been captured by the Philistines in battle.
Modern day Beit Shemesh was founded in 1950 as the Hartuv displaced persons camp "Ma'abarat Har-Tuv" on the site of the current-day Moshav Naham. The first inhabitants were Jewish Bulgarian immigrants, who were joined by more immigrants from Bulgaria, Iran, Iraq, Romania, Morocco and Kurdistan.
Today it has a population of ~85,000 including influxes of Jews from Russia, Ethiopa, North America and Europe.

Beit Shemesh

Beit Shemesh

Nachal Maor

Nachal Maor

Ramat Beit Shemesh Antiquities 2012-13

Ramat Beit Shemesh Antiquities 2012-13

Reflections on Beit Shemesh Elections 2013

Reflections on Beit Shemesh Elections 2013

Nachal Habesor

Nachal Habesor

BIG River - Nachal Sorek

BIG River - Nachal Sorek

Golan Sculpture Garden Beit Shemesh

Golan Sculpture Garden Beit Shemesh

Park Center Architecture

Park Center Architecture

Park Ayalon

Park Ayalon

Enchanted Lane

Enchanted Lane

Shaar Hair Mall

Shaar Hair Mall

Scrub Fires

Scrub Fires

Past Elections - Beit Shemsh 2013

Past Elections - Beit Shemsh 2013

Hutzot Beit Shemesh

Hutzot Beit Shemesh

Ronson Swimming Pool

Ronson Swimming Pool

Trees in Late Afternoon After Rain

Trees in Late Afternoon After Rain

Tel Azeka

Tel Azeka

Tel Beit Shemesh

Tel Beit Shemesh

171115 Shaar Ha'ir Mall Beit Shemesh

171115 Shaar Ha'ir Mall Beit Shemesh

140613 Leaves Trees Street Beit Shemesh

140613 Leaves Trees Street Beit Shemesh

160923 Palms in Beit Shemesh

160923 Palms in Beit Shemesh

Abandoned Truck

Abandoned Truck

201214 Abandoned Truck

201214 Abandoned Truck

Beit Shemesh Greeting Cards - Packs of 8

Beit Shemesh Greeting Cards - Packs of 8

Flowers on Hayarden Boulevard

Flowers on Hayarden Boulevard