Kibbutz Gal'ed was established in 1945 by a gar'in of GermanHaBonim members which had formed in 1938. Because the land on which the kibbutz lies was bought with money donated by Isaac (Yitzhak) Ochberg (1879–1938), a South African philanthropist, Keren HaYesod wanted the kibbutz named "Even Yitzhak" (lit.'Stone of Yitzhak'). However, eventually the kibbutz members had their way and the kibbutz was named Gal'ed (lit.'monument or memorial') to commemorate friends and family of the founders who had died in the Holocaust.[2] The land had traditionally belonged to the Palestinian village of Al-Butaymat, which was depopulated in 1948.[3]
Amongst the founders were the couple Giora and Senetta Yoseftal, both of whom were later members of the Knesset, with Giora serving in several ministerial portfolios.[4]
