Our Time in the Negev

After a (mostly) restful night’s sleep in Mitzpeh Ramon Youth Hostel, we woke up early to drive to Midreshet Ben Gurion, overlooking the canyons and ravines of the Negev. We davened under the olive trees of Ben Gurion’s garden and then visited his gravesite next to his wife Paula. Afterward we went on a hike through Ein Avdat National Park and saw water fall through the valleys. We had falafel and ice cream in the nearby town before we feasted on cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, kumquats, and strawberries at Shvil Hasalat (the salad trail) on a moshav in the western Negev. We have one more night in Mitzpeh Ramon before we leave for the Bedouin tents tomorrow. 

Shivil Hasalat, (the salad trail) bordered Gaza. The farmers at Shivil Hasalat had gathered a plethora of old rockets that were deployed by Hamas to attack Israel, as well as rockets from the iron dome, which were used to fight against the attacks from Gaza. The farmers then turned these rockets into beautiful recycled pieces of jewelry and other items, such as necklaces pendants, mezuzahs, rings, and even a giant menorah!

-Asher