Israel Trip 2006, Day 2 (2/21)

On day 2 of our Kol Ami trip we left Tel Aviv at 8:00 a.m. An early start for a full day.

We headed South to Tel Beer Sheva, mentioned in Genesis 21 and 26. We saw the ancient layers of civilization, imagining walking in Abraham's, Sarah's, Isaac's, and Rebecca's footsteps. We went on to the Neveg dessert, stopping at 4 wonderful private farms tasting the amazing dessert wines grown on ancient vineyards and eating delicious goat cheeses from the local herds. We hiked in the desert to ancient Natatian water systems, enjoying the moonscape and starkness of the desert. We saw in these four small farms the true spirit of the Israeli pioneers who, like the chalutzim, the pioneers of pre-state Israel are truly setting the land anew. They are finally giving Ben Gurion's dream of a vibrant Negev fruition!

We settled in for the night in Mizpe Ramon anticipating another full day tomorrow as we will visit Israel's "Grand Canyon" - "Machtesh Ramon - The Ramon Crater."

Shalom,
Rabbi Eger