Ruvik Danilovich

Ruvik Danilovich was born in 1971 in Beersheba

Reuven "Ruvik" Danilovich was born on 24 January 1971 in Beersheba and grew up in the city's Gimel neighborhood. His mother Rachel was born in Tunisia, and his father Eli was born in Israel. He is the third of four sons, and as a youth he captained the Hapoel Beersheba youth soccer team.

He served in the IDF and later completed his matriculation exams at Kay College. He earned a bachelor's degree in Israel Studies at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, which later gave him an honorary doctorate. On campus he founded a political group called Ofek and was elected to the student council.

Active in the Labor Party from a young age, he led a group of young people who persuaded Yaakov Turner to run for mayor in 1998. After Turner won, Danilovich became deputy mayor, and in 2003 his list Kadima Be'er Sheva won 7 seats. He then served as acting mayor and head of education, and founded the Maof school for gifted students.

In 2008 he ran against Turner and was elected mayor with about 60% of the vote. Weeks later, the city faced rocket fire during Operation Cast Lead, and he ordered unprotected schools closed. As mayor he promoted the Gav-Yam Negev high-tech park, Turner Stadium, a river park and other projects, and he was reelected in 2013, 2018 and 2024.