Editor’s Column

“In the Negev the people and State of will be tested. For only a united effort of a people volunteering and a State planning and implementing will we accomplish the great mission of populating the wilderness and bringing it to flourish. This effort will determine the fate of the State of Israel and the standing of our people in the history of mankind”.

David Ben Gurion from the speech “The Significance of the Negev”, January 17, 1955

Over the years, the Council, trust me you couldn’t get from my mother’s side I in various materials and any more central than guess I have more than one purposes has “used” Ben that. Was I ever aware of option of where to live. But Gurion’s speech. But what the difficulties of Israeli more than ever, the more does it really mean? Does residents in the periphery, I reflect, as a Jew and an the fate of Israel really rely I daren’t say no, because Israeli, I know, for me there on the Negev? I think most I was, did I ever consider is only one option. of the residents in southern doing something about it? Israel are convinced. How Is living so far away from do we convince !? Today, as a mother, I reflect the center of Israel, with all tremendously on the life the hardships, really worth I moved to the Arava over I’m creating for my child, the high quality of life? Am 5 years ago for very selfish and the ones to follow… I really “choosing” a better reasons. I was ready for a My father, whose parents future by doing so? Am I family and was looking for a were among the founders a modern Zionist? What is “good” nesting location. of Kfar Blum (on Zionism nowadays? the other end of this small Does that make me a Zionist? country), had moved with In the 5th issue of the I lived a good and happy his family to live in the US. Arvot Newsmagazine I decade prior to living in the It’s easier there, he says. interviewed Arava residents, Arava in Cental Tel Aviv, Having a British citizenship from most of the communities, of all ages Editorial Board: and in different stages in Editor and Writer: Keren Rotem life to try and understand Linguistic Editor: Micha Silver the reasons behind their Publisher: Central Arava Regional Council, Israel choice to move to the Arava Editorial Board: +972-(0)77-6449019, +972-(0)52-8666153, valley and expose a little [email protected] about the people who make Graphic Design: [email protected] the area into what it is. Title Page Illustration: by children of the Arava Kamishibai class, an illustration and story writing exchange program Keren Rotem, with children in Baltimore in the U.S.A. Resource Development Internet Site: www.arava.co.il Coordinator and Editor

2 Arvot Newsmagazine | June 2011 Words From The Head Of The Council

Open Day 2011 the infrastructure and ourselves. So we are obliged at Yair R&D Station accommodations to host to use some dramatic an international exhibition moves that will attract On January 19-20, 2011 we of this caliber. The move more people to the region. held our annual Open Day brings great potential for Agricultural Exhibition, the the local agriculture and We have to be able to largest and most impressive tourism industries, for the offer our residents a good agricultural event in Israel. region as a whole and for education system that can During those two days we the State of Israel. handle everyone including hosted over 30,000 visitors secular and religious, from all over the country, Demographic Growth Bedouins, gifted students who joined our festivities in the Council and those with learning focused on agriculture disabilities. We must and settlement in the Since the establishment of further upgrade the basic Central Arava. This year the Central Arava Regional health services we offer we also held the Negev Council in 1978 the main today including services for Conference, a professional target and issue of concern the elderly. It is our duty scientific conference with by all the Council Heads and to those pioneers from the the participation of dozens managers was increasing 1960’s to allow them to stay of researchers and farmers. the region’s population. in the area as their medical Sixteen years ago, while needs increase. The event opened with I was the Head of Arava a ceremony hi-lighted by R&D I was exposed to Recently we have initiated, Mr. Shimon Peres, the a Master Plan called as part of our plan to President of the State of “Arava 2002” that aimed to increase the region’s Israel, planting an Acacia reach a threshold of 10,000 population, a program to tree. Children from residents by 2002. attract engineers and other , who participate professionals employed in the Regional Acacia Today, the region has just in the various plants within tree restoration project, above 3,000 residents, an hour’s drive of the area. also took part. During the far from the goal we set These non-agricultural ceremony Yair Station was declared as the location for the 2015 International Agritech Exhibition by the honorable guests Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor together with Agritech Association.

The implications of this decision are enormous for the area; preparations will now get underway Mr. Shimon Peres planting an Acacia tree with children from Moshav Hatzeva for development of during the Open Day 2011 opening ceremony. Photo by Gilad Livni.

Arvot Newsmagazine | June 2011 3 challenge and recruited Ms. Rebecca Fischer, who has past experience with issues concerning the development of the Negev while she led Makor Mission. We toured the area for several days introducing Mission participations to the many challenges we must deal with in agriculture, research, education, culture, the senior citizens, health, tourism and more.

I am hopeful that the partnership with JNF - KKL will lead us towards development of the area. During Mission tours in the Arava the personal encounters and brainstorming will often result in creative solutions to the difficulties the Council faces with regard to major Ezra Ravins speaking at the KKL-JNF World Leadership Conference 2011 that regional development and took place in Eilat in March 2011. Photo by Ancho Gosh. doubling the population. families will be absorbed JNF-USA Central Arava in Sapir and Zuqim. The Mission Zuqim Success of this initiative depends on the level of At the beginning of March I’d like to put into basic services the Council we hosted a JNF Mission historical perspective the will be able to offer the new whose purpose was establishment of new residents. assisting and promoting communities in the Negev the Central Arava Regional in the 21st century. In According to the Council’s Council development plan the past, preceding and Master Plan we are preparing for 2020. The mission was during the establishment to absorb over 2,000 non conceived by Mr. Russell of the State of Israel, the agricultural families and we Robinson, JNF-USA CEO Moshav Movement would have to create additional during one of his visits to send groups to employment opportunities the area when I presented settle communities in the in tourism, education, him with the Council’s young state, and setup the services, entrepreneurship profound need to promote foundations for a Moshav and other areas that may regional development. or Kibbutz. The first steps be developed. Russell agreed to the of staking out fields and

4 Arvot Newsmagazine | June 2011 lifting a flag were done by community inaugurated We are very optimistic with these para-military units. a new kindergarten that regard to Zuqim’s future Today, the procedure is was built with generous as a leading eco-tourist vastly different and requires assistance of the Ministry destination in the Arava and dealing with complicated of Education and JNF-USA in the whole of Israel. We statutory regulations and and the Sapphire Society. still have much work ahead bureaucracy. of us as far as diversifying Thanks to the new employment possibilities In 1995 Ariel Sharon, kindergarten two new in the area, along side then the Minister of families from Zuqim agriculture and tourism, Infrastructure, during a visit found employment as and are working diligently to the area declared the kindergarten teachers and with our partners towards establishment of Zuqim. It once again we witness the the all important goal of took a long nine years until great support of JNF-KKL in bringing new population to construction commenced their steadfast assistance the Arava. on the first houses. Today, developing the area and the community includes 48 attracting new families. For Sincerely yours, families residing on Zuqim that we are greatly indebted and total of 75 plots already to those organizations, sold, which comprises 50% their volunteers, donors of the final 155 planned and employees who support Ezra Ravins lots. The families who chose the State of Israel in their Head of the Council to build their house and actions and projects. [email protected] raise their families are still suffering the labor pains of a new community 16 years after its establishment.

The community of Zuqim is composed mainly of young families that migrated from the center of Israel to build their home in the Arava and earn their living by managing tourist projects. Some are employed as teachers at the regional school and work in agriculture.

Zuqim is a young community, and as such has many children. Up until a year ago the community’s kindergarten was located in a mobile structure. The new kindergarten in Zuqim. Photo by Michael (Levko) Lavie In September 2010 the

Arvot Newsmagazine | June 2011 5 Rabin Family - Moshav

agricultural schools from working in agriculture with Interview with all over Israel. At first we the first Nahal group that Nesya and Shmulik Rabin, were called for monthly was already here. It felt by Keren Rotem gatherings that turned in to like the Wild West. We were meetings every other week, completely disconnected including field trips, and a from the rest of the country In November 1959 the first work camp in Ein-Gedi. since there where no Nahal group settled Ein roads, telephones and no Yahav, at its former location Eventually we were taken connection other than once west to the Arava highway. to Ein Yahav in its former every 3 months when we Half a decade later, against location which is today a drove up north to visit our all odds and with plenty military base. Of our Nahal families. of hard work, sweat and group of 35 youngsters, determination the Central the boys were drafted to The drive up north in a Arava today is one of the army around August command car packed with Israel’s leading agricultural and went through basic vegetables, mainly onions, areas. With 6% of the land training and the girls went up the Ma’ale Aqrabim road of Israel and only 0.04% of through a shorter training lasted hours. During those the country’s population, course and joined us about years once in a while when the region produces over 6 weeks later. We arrived we heard a car passing 60% of the fresh vegetables at Ein Yahav on the 25th of by on the dirt road, which exported from Israel and December 1960”. today is the Arava high way, 10% of the cut flowers. the entire settlement would Keren: “I guess you, like wake up and shout ‘a car, a Nesya and Shmulik Rabin me, were also brought car is passing by’”. have been residents of here in the winter Moshav Ein Yahav since thinking you will enjoy “Did you ever reflect on 1970. Shmulik was actually this incredible weather what the Moshav will part of the second Nahal all year round?” develop into?” Group to arrive in December of 1960. Shmulik, from Shmulik and Nesya laugh Shmulik: “We were very Moshav Kfar Netter, was and nod their heads. young and didn’t wonder drafted to the Nahal group so far in our thoughts during his last year of Shmulik recalls “We were and plans. No one really studies in an agricultural brought by truck through considered so far in to the school and completed his Ma’ale Aqrabim Road future. Towards the release military service at the new (Scorpions Accent Road) from the army, after 3 settlement. with military escort. In those years, we were asked to days that road was used only come to a decision. Our “At the time the Moshav with an escort; cars weren’t Nahal Group had the option Movement had just allowed to drive alone of staying in the Ein Yahav established Moshav Ram- until the completion of the or move to Moshav Almagor On. Ein Yahav was next in highway at about 1964-5. (then Korazim) North of the line for settlement” says Sea of . Half of the Shmulik. “We were a group We arrived at Ein Yahav group did take the offer and of graduates, mainly of and immediately started moved there.”

6 Arvot Newsmagazine | June 2011 Keren: “Why did you Kfar Netter or to Ein Yahav Shmulik: “We were easily stay?” I preferred Ein Yahav. By settled. We had our few then Ein Yahav had already friends and family. Nesya’s Shmulik: “Why did we stay? been relocated to its current sister had already been Good question. I fell in love location, streets and houses living here with her husband. with the area, the desert, were built, it wasn’t so I felt like returning home the distance, the isolation. I Wild West as in its previous and being an equal partner truly believed it a good place location. Never the less, life from the beginning. I also to live and loved what it had then was far from easy. loved being a farmer. It was to offer. After 5 years in Ein a package deal, engaging Yahav I left for my studies The seasons were shorter in agriculture, being a part and to travel the world.” since in those days it was of the close community, open field agriculture. We succeeding financially and Shmulik continues “Nesya would work intensively in loving the surrounding and I met again and got the fields, with the children, desert. married. After our wedding and any family that could we had to choose where we come and stay during the If you didn’t have all of the would settle. We had the season would come to help above you couldn’t live here, option of returning to my in the field. Although the and over the years some parent’s farm in Moshav Kfar distance from our families did leave. The fact that two Netter, which Nesya wasn’t was hard to endure, since of my children came back in favor of”. I was quite close to my to live here with their parents, the social setting families is a source of great Nesya: “Between moving to here was great.” pride”.

The extended Rabin Family, Nesya and Shmulik in the middle with their 4 children, their spouses and six grandchildren. Photo by Michal Cohen-Malhi.

Arvot Newsmagazine | June 2011 7 Keren: “Were you We know that the crucial ever aware of the factor is water and the need to increase the up north. Today, living in area’s water limitation is population?” a Moshav in central Israel the same throughout the is considered a life style. country. I see that second Nesya: “Along the years we Two decades ago we were generation families return were always committed to afraid that Ein Yahav will at a pace of no more than assisting new families who turn in to a Moshav of old 2-3 families a year because joined the Moshav or even people while the second of water limitations. The from other Moshavim in the generation stayed in Tel Aviv markets are also limited Arava. Every new family after the army and studies. and although the forecast was adopted by a veteran We encouraged our children foresees that the world’s one, receiving professional to study, get a degree and population will increase counseling in agriculture see the world and hoped faster than it’s ability to and even partnering for the they would choose to return produce food I still believe first one or two years until on their own. the markets are limited. they stood on their own. It I would be very happy to was very important for us We were quite amazed see a significant increase that the general population when the first sons in the population. I also of the area will grow.” expressed their wishes to think that it is dependent return with their young on government support Shmulik: “One of the most families and degrees and and funding, establishment important issues over the start up in agriculture. We of clean industry and years was increasing the were surprised and proud new communities where population. It led to bigger of the sense of continuity, residents will engage in schools, larger society for our especially considering the areas of livelihood other children, better community isolation of the area.” than agriculture.“ and culture activities, more options for the younger Keren: “Are you familiar The Rabin family residing generation, better services with the Council’s in the Arava includes Nesya as a municipality. vision of doubling the and Shmulik, their oldest population within a daughter and husband with Two decades ago, as our decade?” three children, and second older children matured we son with his wife and two were anxious whether or Shmulik: “Amen, so be it. children. Their younger two not Ein Yahav would end up The big dilemma will be daughters live in central like some of the Kibbutzim means of making a living. Israel with their families.

8 Arvot Newsmagazine | June 2011 Cohen Family - Moshav

Interview with Arza and Emanuel Cohen, by Keren Rotem

Moshav Tzofar was established as a Nahal settlement on September 3, 1968. It was first located where Zuqim is today and moved to its current location in 1981. The full name is Beer Tzofar and is derived from the nearby Wadi Tzofar and also refers to one of the “friends” of Job (f.e. Job 2:11). Tzofar 1987, agriculture in open fields.

Emanuel and Arza both the Moshav Movement intended for either Moshav Eliad in arrived to Tzofar at the the or Beer Tzofar in the Arava. The group beginning when it was still a eventually decided to settle at Tzofar because we thought Nahal settlement. Emanuel it was true Zionism to establish a Moshav from nothing. manages his fields with his Moshav Eliad already had a few settlers”. oldest son and Arza today is a sculptor. Arza: “I was born in Rehovot. My father, who was an academic and an ex-Nahal settler among the founders Tell me about your of Kibbutz SaSa and my mother, was from Moshav Kfar background and how Yedidya (and a holocaust survivor). Although at home you ended up in Tzofar. Arza and Emanuel with their first born, who was also the first baby Emanuel: “I’m 55 years old. to be born on Tzofar I was born in Persia and was brought to Israel by my parents when I was 2 years old. We lived in Beer-Sheva until I was 13 and then I moved to Eshel HaNasi agricultural school and youth village, there I was in charge of the cowshed and always wished to have my own farm in the future. Towards graduation I joined, together with other agricultural school students, a Nahal Group formed by

ArvotArvot NewsmagazineNewsmagazine || JuneJune 20112011 99 I absorbed Zionism and the cooperation and sharing”. country and living our life importance of establishing according to our ideals - new communities all Emanuel: “I remember we I felt in heaven”. over Israel we ended up had to vote among ourselves moving from city to city due on the families who would Emanuel: “We also had a to my father’s academic get to move to the new lot of support from Moshav career”. location. We had no paper Ein Yahav. Amnon Navon to vote on. One of the guided on social issues and Emanuel: “We were full members said ‘bring what Uzi Gadish was our mentor of ideals and extremely ever paper we have’. Another for agriculture and farming. motivated to settle the one brought toilet paper Even today we occasionally country. We never really and that’s how we voted”. continue to consult with discussed Zionism. My him”. parents came to Israel out How did you find the of Zionism and it was our Moshav’s way of life? Arza: “After we moved to state of mind and daily our current location and routine at the time. Then I Emanuel: “it was idealism. were declared a Moshav, met Arza who kept after me Waking up at 5 in the the landscaping was non- relentlessly”. morning, working the existent - we had no land, producing food and sidewalks or lawns. Each So how did you meet? returning home some times family was adopted by a even at 11 at night”. family from Ein Yahav. Arza: “I had joined the army and arrived at Tzofar Arza: “Although my father I remember one Friday, we at the same time with the was among the founders of had returned from a days 3rd Nahal group. I spotted Kibbutz Sasa, my parents work in the fields and the Emanuel and knew I would were academics and my Ein Yahav families had come have a baby with him. entire life we lived in the city. to Tzofar with cakes for us. Eventually we got closer Coming to Tzofar, working We were very moved by the and married. Our first born, in the fields and being gesture”. Avioz, was the first baby outdoors all day, together to be born on Tzofar. He with the atmosphere of Life in Tzofar in the 1980’s. was everyone’s baby. The Zionism, the idea we’re Photos courtesy of the whole atmosphere was helping to build our young Cohen Family

10 Arvot Newsmagazine | June 2011 What did your families Emanuel: “Nevertheless, Arava. They’re waiting for a think about it? the whole family, and house to be built within the friends from Eshel Hanasi, Moshav’s expansion plan. Arza: “Emanuel, do you came during high season to The younger two are still in remember the first time help in the fields. Anyone the army”. your brother came to visit who could came for the us? We came to pick him up weekend and helped pick in In my Editor’s Column from the bus stop. He was the fields.” I mention Ben Gurion’s shocked it was so desolate speech. Do you have any and asked if we had running What about the second comments on that? water in the showers”. generation? Emanuel: “I completely Emanuel: “Yes, people were Arza: “We have three boys agree. I think in the very quite shocked. This was and a girl“. near future, land in the during the beginning of the Negev that won’t be 1980’s. Most of us were from Emanuel: “Avioz, our eldest settled by Jews will be the city, very few in Tzofar recently returned with his settled by Bedouins. The came from other Moshavim wife and child and was Israeli Government has to or Kibbutzim. When our accepted as a returning support and develop Jewish families came to visit they son to the Moshav. His wife settlement of the Negev and where absolutely shocked recently started to teach in the Arava. It doesn’t have by our living conditions. For the regional school”. to be financial support but quite a while I was asked rather not make it difficult ‘so, when are you planning How does that feel? for the farmers, is good to come back to the city?’”. enough. Even during ‘good’ Emanuel: “Amazing! years for the agriculture Arza: “We used to take Amazing! Our second son industry, living here has its our guests to see Ein also returned with his hardships. If the residents Yahav, which was far more wife. He isn’t engaging of the Arava will begin to developed, with sidewalks, in agriculture, his dream feel it is too hard and not public lawns and beautiful was managing a horse worthwhile they will choose gardens. We wanted to farm. His wife, Orit, is not to. Most of the residents show what will be achieved head of Partnership 2000 of the area are farmers, and eventually.” program in the Central those who are not, mostly

Arvot Newsmagazine | June 2011 11 Bilenski - Bashan

Interview with Yair Bilenski and Rinat Bashan, by Keren Rotem

Zuqim, the newest engage in supplying a service employment possibilities, community in the Council, to the agriculture industry. additional fields of was established only The agriculture industry is agriculture, research and recently with placement of the backbone of the area, education, and everything a the corner stone during a without it nothing else will city can offer its residents”. ceremony in January 2004. hold the communities”. Residents began to arrive Emanuel: “That will all in May of the same year. Arza: “the developing happen after the train The concept behind Zuqim tourism industry is also arrives”. was formulated in 1996 by dependant on the local a group of people from all agriculture and isn’t getting Arza: “The area today has over Israel who shared one an easy break as well”. reached a point where it has thing in common – making to develop itself and rise a change in their lives and What do you think about above the current level. The occupation and realizing the Council’s vision of growing population requires their dream to live in the doubling the population a minimum standard of desert. At about the same with in a decade? Health services and with time, American woman, 10,000-15,000 residents we members of the Sapphire Emanuel: “With G-d’s help. could easily have them”. Society were looking for a When I first arrived at meaningful project in which Tzofar, in the late 1970’s, Emanuel: “I am full of we were told to establish confidence it will happen. the new Moshav away from I see our children. After the the main road because in a army they leave to live in year or two the train was Tel Aviv, study, spend a few planned to pass there. I’m years, raise a family and still waiting for it”. most of them express their wish to return to the Arava Arza: “I think it is a and raise their family here”. completely practical and positive plan. I also think Arza: “I feel very grateful that doubling the population for having the privilege of isn’t enough. The Central being a part of a group of Arava has to develop a people that established a community with urban community in Israel. It’s dynamics. The Council has to not something to be taken develop Sapir to be at least for granted”. 10,000 residents. With the right urban design it could Emanuel: “Satisfaction. happen. Basic services, Nachat”.

12 Arvot Newsmagazine | June 2011 Family -Zuqim

to invest. The Community Rinat: “I’m originally both worked on handmade was established with from Haifa and Yair is the wooden art and Yair assistance from KKL-JNF from Tel Aviv. We started managed the sales in fairs (USA and Sweden) and the conventional life of and stores in Tel Aviv”. the Sapphire Society. The studies, marriage, work driving idea behind Zuqim and kids. I studied graphic Yair: “We began a process was establishment of a design and worked in the of returning to nature. We small community near to field in advertising and had a house with chickens a tourism complex and Yair majored in business and goats, we had our two run by enterprising family administration and was a children and were looking businesses. The community business consultant. for a piece of land to be growth plan will be ours. Our original dream completed in 3 stages, and But some how we never felt was establishing an isolated currently the community is it was the right thing for us. settlement in the western at the 2nd stage with 48 We decided on going on Negev but we felt it was a families. a ‘cleansing’ trip to South bit over our heads. We were America and India that looking for a land we could Rinat and Yair have been in lasted 7 months. Towards develop on and that could Zuqim since May 2005. The the end we came to the provide us and sustain our couple lives in a mud-straw understanding that we want family”. house built with their bare to disconnect our selves from hands and they manage an the consumerist way of life. How did you end up in ecological B&B site. They With our return we moved the Arava? came to Zuqim with their to the rural town Karkur and two children after living begun establishing our own Rinat: “We approached the several years in Tel Aviv. business of woodwork. We Or Movement and were

Arvot Newsmagazine | June 2011 13 referred to a group of Rinat: “We were among the When ever I escort several families looking to last ones to sign up for the guests and visitors to establish a new ecological first stage. We had to wait Zuqim one of the first community. At first we for 8 months until a mobile question people ask is inquired about establishing home was vacant for us to if you are all connected the new community in the move to and start building to the Internet or have Gilboa area. Most of the our own. During the first 6 electricity. Do you group made it very clear months Yair still drove once have a computer in the that the Arava was out of a week to Tel Aviv to sell the house? limits for them because woodwork items we made. of the distance from the After that we realized it was Rinat: “Yes, three”. Center of Israel and the just too much for us and we heat. Nevertheless, we stopped and fully engaged Keren: “Three? You live decided to check it out and in setting up our home and in a mud-straw house in 2003 we came here to business”. with no tiles on the checkout a possible location flour but you have three for us to move to”. You live in a mud and computers?” straw house how do Yair: “At the time the Council your kids deal with it? Rinat: “Yes. In fact, today had Paran B on the agenda, we actually decided on on paper, and Zuqim Rinat: “Ido, our oldest disconnecting from satellite was at the preliminary complains the house is TV. We feel we’ve been over stage of construction of too dusty. We see him in a drawn to it and are trying infrastructure. Meanwhile decade or two becoming a to regain the balance”. the settlement group had high power attorney living dispersed but we were the fast lane in Tel Aviv. Gil, How did your families already taken with Zuqim our youngest, associates deal with your new way as the place we chose to more with the family’s way of life? establish our home”. of life”. Rinat: “My father was Yair and Rinat and their two children overlooking the Tzofar river shocked at first. As far as he was concerned I was still in some sort of a rebellious stage… it took him a good half hour to overcome his shock the first time he arrived. But one year later, after spending some time with us at the B&B he came up to us and told us he was very impressed”.

Yair: “Our parents took Feldenkrais lessons to learn how to squat correctly. Although, we did

14 Arvot Newsmagazine | June 2011 compromise, bringing in a bed base for my mother to sleep on during her visits”.

How do you relate with Ben-Gurion’s speech? Do you feel like a pioneer of the 21st century?

Rinat: “I have dual feelings to that quote. On the one hand we are pioneers in a way, dealing with the difficulties of establishing a new community. But on the other hand I Photos of Zuqim courtesy of the KKL Archive. don’t completely relate to the Zionistic aspect of I chose Zuqim because we one hand we experience it. We chose to come to aspire to values of nature, great difficulties because Zuqim out of ideology, isolation, peace and to best the population is so small. connecting to nature and suit my family”. to a place. On the other hand the Are you aware of the area’s uniqueness is its I also think that today a Council’s vision of sparse population and new form of Zionism is doubling the population? non-urban nature. The surfacing - the middle What do you think about area does require further class city people looking it? development, as always it’s for a way to return to all a matter of balance and nature and a more simple Rinat: “Again, duality. On not going too far”. way of life, in search of what’s lost in today’s hi-tech life style.

Photo by Freddy Naftali Arvot Newsmagazine | June 2011 15 Galili Family - Moshav Idan

Gvat in Emek Y’izrael. Roy Jezreel Valley. We planned Interview with was born in Midreshet to provide community Ofri and Roy Galili, Sde-Boker. They met while services to the neighboring by Keren Rotem Ofri was stationed during Moshavim of the Ta’anakh her military service in Sde region. Unfortunately, as Moshav Idan is the most Boker and Roy was in his last a community it never northern Moshav of the year of high school. They succeeded to develop and Central Arava. It was have four children, two of wasn’t socially united. established in 1980 and whom moved to the Arava During our 10 years of living settled by new immigrant and two were born here. there we never succeeded families mainly from the US Ofri is a psychologist, in recruiting enough and Canada. Today, out of involved in a therapy residents to make a change the original group of families program for the local and eventually felt we had only one has remained. But kindergartens and in to move elsewhere”. over the last decade or so addition drives twice a week accelerated absorption of to the Ramat Negev region. Roy: “During that time I young settlers has boosted Roy manages the farm. had my own business - a Idan to a population of over metalwork studio - and felt 65 families. Ofri: “We lived in central I had already made the most Israel for several years while of it and was looking for a Ofri and Roy Galili came to studying and afterwards change in my occupation live in Idan some 10 years moved to Merkaz Hever as well. I have very good ago from northern Israel. which is a community friends from the Arava with Ofri was born on Kibbutz similar to Sapir but in the whom I served in the army.

16 Arvot Newsmagazine | June 2011 I love the desert and was Barne’a I really wished we hoping all along to have the would move to Idan”. chance to move there”. Keren: That’s a big move, Ofri: “we started a process selling your house and of looking for a new place to business, how was it in relocate to. I always loved the beginning after the the Negev and was pushing move? for the area of Ramat Negev which has great weather Ofri: “I was very anxious for and beautiful scenery and the first two years, which slight relief is felt maybe in isn’t so far away from the were far from easy, but we mid October. It isn’t easy. Center of Israel. Roy really managed to pull through”. I’m also still having a very wanted to move to the Arava hard time with the dust and while I was quite against it. Roy: “Yes, it wasn’t easy the flies but nevertheless, I was stationed in Hatzeva establishing the farm. I I do think that with all the for a very short time during really feel a great sense of difficulties we managed to my military service, over two gratitude to the Reis family set ourselves a good life decades ago, when there from Ein Yahav. Oren Reis here”. was no air conditioning and is my friend from the army always remembered it as service and Yona Mazor, You had two kids already a traumatic experience. In also from Ein Yahav and when you moved here. addition, my entire family families from Idan as well, How did they handle the lives up north and I was who guided us and helped change? reluctant to move so far us along the years”. away from them. Ofri: “Our oldest son didn’t Ofri: “Other farmers really find his place here. At the We had applied to Kadesh wanted to help us. It wasn’t time, there were 7 other Barne’a and to Moshav just professional information children here in his age Idan and were accepted but like they really went group and out of them he to both. After thinking out of their way to help made friends with one who it all through we felt us get on our feet. This is moved away after one year we would have a harder something I think is very with his family“. time succeeding financially special here. Also, socially, in Kadesh Barne’a and people make an effort to Roy: “He did have other eventually decided on Idan. help and support, especially friends from his class that We were accepted through with the difficulties in the lived in Moshav Paran the absorption process beginning”. (50 minutes drive away) of the Jewish Agency, and had a hard time here sold our house and business How are you handling socially”. and moved to Moshav Idan”. the heat? Ofri: “That is a great Roy: “All the years I really Ofri: “The old folks always disadvantage of this area wanted to move to the say that on September 15 compared to other areas Arava and even though I there’s always a relief with of Israel. Either you make agreed to apply to Kadesh the heat. I disagree. A friends at school or in your

Arvot Newsmagazine | June 2011 17 neighborhood, in after After that I hope you are school activities and youth an organic grower… movements. Here, there are very few children of the Roy: “Yes I am. I’m also same age group, and either a board member on the you get along with them Moshav’s management or you don’t. In addition, committee and considered he was diagnosed as being one of the ‘green’ ones. As gifted and felt he wasn’t I said the settlement in the satisfied at the regional Arava is incredible but also school. After two years he has caused some damage asked to move back north to the environment. I’m and today he lives with my aware of it and invest a parents in Kibbutz Merhavia lot of effort and resources and doing very well there, to diminish the impact on coming home every other the environment as much weekend and holidays”. as possible. I’m also not a big believer in restoration What do you think about projects although I’m very Ben-Gurion’s speech “In involved in the Acacia the Negev the people tree restoration project and State of Israel will and planted many myself. be tested”? Nevertheless, it will take dozens of years for the trees Roy: “I was born on to fully grow and overcome Midreshet Sde-Boker. My Family photos courtesy of Ofri Galili. the ecological damage”. parents were among the first pioneers to establish the test has changed. Israel How do you feel the community, yet I think has to develop the Negev about the Council’s my generation, including and itself while protecting vision of doubling the me, is cynical. We weren’t its natural attributes. population? molded during the age of Israel, and the entire world establishing the state of for that fact, has gone Ofri: “I personally think it Israel. Not for a moment through several incredible won’t be possible unless it do I scorn Zionism which decades of development in is based on non agricultural I absorbed at home. But all aspects with a huge development”. even so, it’s not something I price of damage to the would speak about out loud environment, worldwide. Roy: “I agree. I think the as well. I came to the Arava Council has to develop in search of a better life, a I think the biggest test for industries, hi-tech, tourism change in life style and to the settlement of the Arava anything that won’t reconnect to nature. will be to reconnect to consume the region’s nature as opposed to resources. I believe that I think Ben Gurion’s speech robbing the land of its harmony with nature and is still relevant today as it treasures, its natural ecology has to dictate the was 60 years ago I just think resources and water. direction of development”.

18 Arvot Newsmagazine | June 2011 Bloom Family - Moshav Idan

the desert and got married Moshav Hatzeva’s Manager. Interview with at the lookout point above In 2009, our daughter Niva and Eyal Bloom, the Idan Reservoir in 2004. Yaheli was born, and we by Keren Rotem were accepted as members Niva: “I was in love with the on Moshav Idan in 2010”. Niva and Eyal Blum are also area ever since my military new residents of Moshav service during which I was a Keren: Eyal, was it Idan. Eyal was born on hiking guide in the south. It always clear to you, that Moshav Hatzeva in 1974 was somewhat of a natural you would find a wife and today is the General course to move here after and return to the Arava? Manager of the Arava we got married. Development Company and Eyal: “Finding a wife no, Niva was born and raised When we met we were returning to the Arava yes. in Ra’anana. Eyal’s parents both in the midst of our When I met Niva the first moved to Hatzeva in 1973 doctorates in the Weizmann thing I told her was ‘we will from Kibbutz Ein Gev and Institute located in Rehovot. live in the Arava, are you in had a rough start. His father Eyal in Plant Science and for it?’.” was sent to Sinai during the I began my doctorate in Yom Kippur war leaving his Molecular Biology. We Niva: “From all the stories mother pregnant with a moved to Hatzeva after Eyal and his friends and small infant to take care of completing our degrees parents share I understand the fields. Niva and Eyal met and our first son Be’eri was they all had an incredible during a concert show in born. Eyal was accepted as childhood here. Eyal’s entire

Arvot Newsmagazine | June 2011 19 to ‘step out’ of our isolated surroundings and meet other people in an academic environment. I also know there are quite a few other residents here, returning sons and daughters and their spouses, with degrees who hope for a job in research and sooner or later the area will have to be able to offer such positions to a growing demand.

“Mazal Tov” ploughed into the dry Idan reservoir by the couple’s friends on In the past everyone in their wedding day the region was a farmer, the husbands, wives and class, except for maybe two farm. The community’s children in every spare or three, all returned to live support is amazing. What’s moment during the seasons. here with their families. still very hard is the It is vital for the area to They’re all involved in distance from my family create alternative work agriculture, some helping and the long drives to Beer- places in research in the on their parents farm, some Sheva twice a week for Arava both in agricultural starting their own farm in work”. R&D and the scientific one”. Hatzeva and a few, like us, were accepted to Moshav What do you think What is your research Idan to establish our own about the Council’s about? farm”. vision of doubling the population? Niva: “I’m completing Is there any difference my post-doctorate, in between the two Niva: “I’m very much for it. Ben-Gurion University in Moshavim? I think the more people the Beer-Sheva, about the region will have, the more involvement of the immune Niva: “I’m very satisfied employment possibilities system in degenerative here. As I said before, I and jobs will develop, more diseases such as Parkinson really like the area and resources for services, more and Alzheimer. I established even more so I’m loving it friends for my children, a Zebra Fish laboratory for in Idan. In Hatzeva every better schools, more of medical research in the one knows Eyal since birth everything. scientific R&D in Yair while on Idan we started I am very lucky being able Station”. out equal as a young to work as a researcher couple. I also appreciate at the Dead Sea Arava Eyal: “First of all I think the mutual social support, Science Center. Although it that the most beautiful when moving in to the new is strenuous driving twice thing that happened in the house, after child birth and a week to Beer-Sheva it’s Arava is its biggest problem while establishing the new also very significant for me today, which is agriculture.

20 Arvot Newsmagazine | June 2011 The entire area is stuck in the agricultural concept and engages solely in it. Everything centers around agricultural expansion and growing peppers. I think we have to start thinking about what’s going to be our next move.

Agriculture, in the Arava and around the world, is going through globalization. Big industrial farms will swallow the small family ones. The area has to find other employment alternatives in the Arava. Other than agriculture and some Family photos courtesy of Niva Bloom. tourism we have nothing else to offer. The Council has to attract industries to the area. The Central Arava has a 400 dunam industrial area which is deserted. Nowhere else in Israel is there any space left for industrial areas, certainly not left abandoned.

We also have a magnificent agricultural R&D and a scientific R&D that has to be developed and leveraged. When discussing the Council’s vision of doubling the population it has to refer to non- agricultural population. Agriculture is limited in resources: water, land, working hands especially foreign workers. The vision for doubling the population includes an agricultural master plan, which will be A Moment of History eventually completed and a Niva: “There is no doubt non-agricultural community that it is harder living here Snakes!! expansion of 120 housing because of the difficulties Everyone is afraid of snakes, plots for each Moshav (600 and the distance. On the but H. (his full name is families all together) as other hand it is easier withheld by the editorial well as developing Sapir making a meaningful mark from 140 families to 1,500. where there is a need and board) has a particular deep All these families will have shortage”. seated fear of them. to have work places and be self sustained”. Eyal: “One amazing thing The Desert Horned Viper about this area compared or as we used to wrongly What do you think to other areas over Israel: call it - the Field’s Horned about Ben-Gurion’s Most of the people who Viper, is a rare venomous speech? grew up here wish to return snake. It feeds on rodents, and raise their families who are quite rare in the Eyal: “I don’t agree with here. I think no other area Arava region. During the it, I don’t think the future in Israel has it in the scale first years of settlement of the state of Israel will we have. Never the less, I in the Arava, the mouse be tested in the Negev. I think sometimes it is easier population increased near think it has no meaning establishing something our homes and fields, which today”. than continuing it. In the in turn attracted snakes. past, while establishing new communities the whole In the early mornings, we country used to pitch in and would often spot a viper in help. Today, we are taken for the sandy fields. This snake granted by the government lurks, waiting for its prey, and have to be very with its body hidden in the creative in leveraging the sand and only its eyes and area towards development. nostrils peeping out. In many I think the Arava’s second cases, we would follow its generation has a crucial unusual tracks in the sand. role in the development of This snake advances by the area. I’m quite curious springing forward, leaving to see what will turn out in an S shaped mark on the one or two decades.” ground. Niva: “I wish for my children a free choice from The Biological Institute a wide range of possibilities located near Tel Aviv and equal opportunities in University offered a 100 relation to other children in Pound reward (a huge sum the center of Israel, where then) for each captured to live, what to study and Desert Viper. The Institute what to do when they’ll be used the snakes to research older. Anyway, I hope they’ll and produce anti-venom be happy and healthy”. serum. With promise of

22 Arvot Newsmagazine | June 2011 Amnon Navon’s column

One hot afternoon, with everyone at home taking their noon siesta and no one around, Shmulik and I sneaked into H.’s backyard. We replaced his snake and plastic container with a similar empty one but with a hole punctured in its side. We then took an iron spring and molded it to an “S “ shape. We used the spring to create “Viper prints” in the sand around his tractor. Our mission accomplished, we quickly left the scene. A smile worthy of a hunderd pounds a nice reward and the This is how he learned the When H. woke up from important goal at hand, technique. One day H. came his afternoon nap and saw (we were, after all, the upon a Desert Viper when I the punctured container, target audience for the was not around. He bravely no snake, but snake prints antidote) we provided the snared the snake and placed all around the tractor, he Institute with as many it into a plastic container, jumped and ran away. It snakes as possible. using my technique. With took him two weeks before all due respect and care, he dared to approach his We designed hand-made he brought the container tractor again. snake-hunting devices, home and hung it from the such as a sealed container roof of his garage above his H. does not mess with from a one meter long pipe tractor. snakes anymore. He’s quite attached with a double afraid of them and rightfully string to create a lasso. Later H. beaming so. When we detected a snake with pride told we held it to the ground by Shmulik, my a stick, and then pulled it brother in law, through the lasso head first. and I about his After the lasso is tightened, experience. We the snake is safely placed in could not the sealed container. bear the thought that However whenever my H. was so neighbor H. would detect a s u c c e s s f u l snake, he would quickly call hunting snakes me and watch my actions and infringing from a safe distance. on our income.