Shabbaton in the Negev

This past weekend, participants from four different Onward Israel programs united for a Shabbaton. We stayed in a town called Yeruham, located in the Negev desert. Yeruham was Israel's first development town started by the government for new immigrants. Historically, the town was a place of poverty. However, I saw a different side of Yeruham. The Yeruham I experienced was an advancing town with a supportive community and a bright future.

On Friday morning, the early risers piled into the buses at 6 a.m. to drive to the Makhtesh Hagadol, the astounding Great Crater. We stepped out of the buses to be greeted with the dry Israeli heat and nothing but dessert surrounding us. We walked towards the end of the cliff and what bestowed us was an incredible view.  This site is a geological masterpiece! The makhtesh is a geological erosional landform with steep rock walls surrounding a deep closed valley. The crater goes on for miles and you can't help but feel small overlooking this grand abyss.

Makhtesh Hagadol

Yeruham Lake Park

 

Yeruham camels

Later on in the day, we met Yeruham citizens who offered fresh perspectives and their personal experiences of living in Yeruham. First, we went to a local home and learned about Esther, Mas'uda, Miriam, Rivka, and Shula: Yeruham's culinary queens. They are  women with no or low incomes whom open their homes to tourists and provide them with traditional Yeruham food and hospitality. These visitors supply the women with an added income and all proceeds of their cookbook go to the New Yeruham Foundation for the Promotion of Education in Yeruham.

Afterwards, we met teenagers in the Robotics Club at the local high school. These students are fulfilling their dreams by challenging themselves to invent robots and compete with schools all around Israel. They spoke to us about both the obstacles and advantages of living in Yeruham. Although they don't live in Tel Aviv, a city known for its tech startups, the high school students of Yeruham receive special attention and opportunities since they are a smaller group of kids. It was incredible to meet such motivated teenagers that are striving for a future beyond any limitations Yeruham once had. 

Playing music with a member of the Indian Jewish community in Yeruham

It was insightful to spend a weekend in a different town in Israel. It reminded me that Israel is a beautiful country with a variety of landscapes and people.

Shalom for now!

-Camille Pilar Phillips