UNIT TWO: Rise and Walk Th E Land קו� ו התהל� באר

UNIT TWO: Rise and Walk th e Land קו ו התהל באר

Student Workbook

A curriculum for Israel Engagement

Written by Belrose Maram

In collaboration with Gila Ansell Brauner

Elisheva Kupferman, Chief Editor

Esti-Moskovitz-Kalman, Director of Education

UNIT 2 Student Workbook

Lesson 1: Geographic Uniqueness

Part 1. Maps Israel has both a unique as well as strategic location. To help understand this, we are going to explore 3 different maps.

A. Map of the Middle East/Mediterranean

Israel

©W123, http://www.knittingliberally.com • Israel is situated between 3 continents: Which continents are they? 1. ______2. ______3. ______? • What is the name of the sea to the West of Israel? ______

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• Israel's position:

Taking into account what you have learned, why do you think Israel's geographic position has been strategically important throughout history? ______? ______

B. Israel/Canaan during the C. Map of Israel Today Reign of King David

* The orange and the yellow areas belonged to David's Kingdom. *The light beige areas, combined with the West Bank and Gaza, make up Israel since 1967. From The Penguin Atlas of World History Volume One, 1974 http://www.mideastweb.org/palearly.htm

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Study and compare these two maps. The one on the left is a map of Israel during King's David period and the map on the right is Israel today.

• On the map of Israel Today, what are the northernmost and southernmost cities?

North: ______?

South: ______

Where are Israel's current borders? ______

______

• In which period did Israel have a larger area? (circle your answer) King David’s Period / The Modern Period

• In your opining does Israel's size and borders affect the connection the Jewish People has with it? If so, How? If not, explain. ______

______

• Israel’s Seas : Israel is situated between different seas. Read the information box below.

Israel's Seas and their Names Did You Know?

The English name: Mediterranean , means "middle" sea or sea "between the lands". In Hebrew, the language of modern Israel, it is ."the "Middle Sea : הי התיכו ,called Hayam Hatichon

the Sea of - י הכינרת Israel has two inland lakes/seas: the Kinneret Galilee - in the North-East, and the Dead Sea , known in Hebrew as the "Salt Sea") which is at the southern end) י המלח Yam Hamelach of the Jordan River, forming part of Israel's border with Jordan.

Eilat, Israel's southern port, sits at the apex of Israel's fourth sea: .the Red Sea - הי האדו Hayam Ha'adom

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Part 2. Israel at 60 and beyond

In this part of the lesson we are going to learn about Israel’s own internal geography, as well as how Israel has developed and evolved since its establishment.

Some photos of Israel:

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Read the following information boxes about Israel:

Israel is a land that is both as old as the 4000-year old stone inscriptions uncovered in the hills of the Galilee and as new as a rock concert in a Tel Aviv park. Within Israel’s borders are dusty ancient villages as well as new cities bustling with modern life. It’s just a short three-hour drive from the warm Dead Sea , the lowest point on Earth, to the snowy top of Mount Hermon . Just

about anywhere you go in Israel, you can find yourself close to remnants of ancient civilizations.

The total area of Israel today is 8,630 square miles, of which 8,367 sq. miles is

land. Israel is about 290 miles in length and about 85 miles across at the widest point. The country is bordered by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the southwest and the Mediterranean Sea to the west.

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In Israel, mountains and plains, fertile land and desert are often just a few-minutes car ride

apart. The width of the country, from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Dead Sea in the east, can be crossed by car in about 90 minutes; and the trip from Metulla , in the far north, to Eilat at the country's southern tip takes just about six hours.

This small country is comprised of four distinct geographical

regions: the Mediterranean Coastal Plain , the Central Mountain Range , the Jordan Rift Valley and the Arid Region (the Negev) further south.

Find the places that are bolded in the information boxes on the map you received earlier titled C. Map of Israel Today (page 2) and circle them on the map.

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Homework Assignment 1:

At home, research how long it takes to drive across, from North to South, as well as East to West:

• Your City: North-South:____hours ____minutes / East-West:____hours ____minutes • Your State North-South:____hours ____minutes / East-West:____hours ____minutes • The United States of America North-South:____hours ____minutes / East-West:____hours ____minutes

Compare these numbers to Israel’s numbers for a powerful insight into Israel’s small size! North-South: 6 hours / East-West: 1 hour 30 minutes

Based on the hours and minutes above, the size of Israel is closest to:

My City My State The U.S.A.

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Homework Assignment 2: Israel from the Inside

On a separate paper, prepare a report using the following questions to guide you. Make sure to site any resources you use.

Instructions:

Choose a route across Israel, either half of Israel from North South, or across Israel at any point from East West.

• Write up your ideas as a mini-brochure, with maps. • Describe where your route begins and ends. • Explain why you are interested in this route. • Pick out some interesting features and places across this route: urban or rural areas, mountains, valleys, historical sites, rivers, etc.

• How would you travel across sections of this route? By Bus, bike, hiking, rafting…

• Where would you try to link up with young Israelis on this route?

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Lesson 2: Israel Settlements – The Kibbutz

After learning about Israel's unique geography, you will now learn about Israel's uniqueness in sharper focus. This lesson introduces you to the different types of settlements that were created in Israel's different geographical zones.

In Israel, there are two main types of communities: rural (mainly kibbutzim – collective farms, and moshavim – cooperative villages consisting of small separate farms), and urban (cities). In the first part of this lesson, we will focus on the creation of kibbutzim, and their important contribution to Israel’s history. We will focus on Israel's first kibbutz, Degania Alef. In the second part of the lesson, we will learn about the changes that have taken place in kibbutz culture and policy over the last 60-odd years.

After learning this information, you will complete the class assignment in the workbook.

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Read the following information about Degania, as well Kibbutz Society. 1. Degania A:

Kibbutz Degania was built in the Jordan Valley, on the south side of Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galillee), on land purchased for the Jewish National Fund. At the time, the Land of Israel was part of the Ottoman Empire. The pioneers found a desolate land, with difficult climatic conditions. With great perseverance, they succeeded in making a living from agriculture and fishing.

Degania Alef was the first kibbutz to be founded in Israel:

On October 28, 1910 (Tishrei 25, 5671), the first small group of Jewish settlers from Eastern Europe set up an independent, collective community, near Um Juni. The pioneers decided to build the kibbutz in this area because of its location, on potentially good arable land (with plenty of water available for irrigation), and close to the Kinneret, so a fishing industry could be developed.

Degania became a landmark in the history of kibbutz settlement. It was at Degania that the principles of self-sufficiency and collective life were first developed. Over the years, about 270 kibbutzim were established in Israel, some of whose members received their training at Degania.

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This is what the Pioneers wrote:

“On the 28th of October, 1910, ten men and two women arrived at Umm Juni. We came to establish an independent settlement of Hebrew laborers, on national land, a collective settlement with neither exploiter nor exploited – a commune.”

©Central Zionist Archives, www.zionistarchives.org.il Degania Today :

In 2007, Degania Alef announced that it would undergo privatization. Instead of all the members working on the kibbutz and receiving equal pay, after reorganization many of them would have to seek jobs outside the kibbutz. The members will all earn salaries, and own their own homes, though there will still be a social "safety net" to protect the weaker members of the group. Degania has become a totally different place, no longer a kibbutz in the original sense, but still a community with a very special history.

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2. Kibbutz Society

Early Kibbutz Ideology:

The first kibbutzim were established by Jewish pioneers in the early 20th century. They set up a unique social and economic framework, based on egalitarian and communal principles, and sheer hard labor. The members worked for the good of the group, rather than for themselves. Over the years, most kibbutzim prospered, based at first primarily on agriculture, with industrial and service enterprises added later. The kibbutzim became famous for their members' contribution to the establishment and building of the state. Kibbutzim provided a high proportion of civil and military leaders, in the pre-state period and during the early years after Israel became an independent state.

Kibbutzim Today:

In recent decades, the kibbutzim suffered from economic and social problems; in their efforts to survive financially, the original framework – in which each kibbutz provided a livelihood for all its members – was forced to change. The communal children's houses were closed, the taboo hiring non-members to work on the kibbutz was overcome (some kibbutzim, like Degania Alef, permitted hired labor from the start,) and an increasing number of members started working outside the kibbutz, at first handing over their whole salaries to the kibbutz .

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The Kibbutz over time:

Today, most kibbutzim have been privatized, or at least partially privatized, with members receiving salaries from their work on or off the kibbutz, and paying their own living expenses. They still enjoy subsidized facilities

provided by the community, such as care for the elderly and recreation facilities, as well as the unique feeling of being part of a close-knit community.

The economic base of the kibbutz itself is still agriculture and light industry, but with an increasing emphasis on tourism. Most kibbutzim have built "zimmerim" (rustic chalets), catering mainly to family holidays.

Although the kibbutzim have made many changes in the way they live and work, many families are coming back to live in the Galilee. They want to fulfill part of the pioneers' dream –"to be close to the land," and to enjoy the quality of life (and especially the high level of education) found on the kibbutzim. They either become kibbutz members, or build private houses next to a kibbutz, where they can enjoy the community services provided for

by the kibbutz. Many kibbutzim and moshavim have been revitalized, with new families moving in.

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3. Class Assignment:

Instructions:

1. Read the information about Degania Alef and the development of the kibbutzim in Israel, above.

2. Why do you think the pioneers decided to build the kibbutz in this area? ______

3. What was the spirit of the pioneers in the 1920s? ? ______

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4. Read the poem "Perhaps," written by the famous Israeli poetess, Rachel [Bluwstein] below and answer the questions that follow:

וְאלַי / רחל AND PERHAPS, Rachel ( ִנֶרֶת ֶלִי) (My Kinneret) וְאלַי לֹא הָי הְַבָרִי מֵ עלָ And perhaps – these things never happened וְאלַי – And perhaps מֵעלָ לֹא הְִַמְִ י עִ ַחַר לַָ I never rose at dawn to go into nature לְעָבְד ְזֵעַת ָי . .And work the land with the sweat of my brow מֵעלָ ְיָמִי אֲרִֻי וְיקְדִי Or never – on the long, wearing days ֶ ל קָצִיר long, wearing) of harvest) ִמְרמֵ י עֲגָלָה עֲמסַת אֲלוֻמ ת From on top of a wagon piled high with sheaves of wheat לא נָתַתִ י קלִי ְִ יר . .Did I lift up my voice in song מֵ עלָ לא טָהַרְִ י ַתְכֵלֶת קְטָה Or never – did I purify myself in your calm, azure waters בְתֹ Of innocence Chorus ֶ ל ִנֶרֶת ֶ לִי ... ה ִנֶרֶת ֶלִי Of my Kinneret, oh, my Kinneret הֶהָיִיתְ א חָלַמְתִ י חֲ ל? ?Did you really exist, or did I only dream of you

a. What can we learn about the pioneers' spirit through this poem? ______?

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Read the following information about the Kinneret and answer the questions that follow:

Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), nestled between the hills of Galilee and the Golan Heights at 695 feet (212 m.) below sea level, is 5 miles (8 km.) wide and 13 miles (21 km.) long. It is Israel's largest lake and serves as the country's main water reservoir. Along Lake Kinneret's shores are some important historical and religious sites, as well as agricultural communities, fisheries and tourist facilities. © Israel Ministry of Tourism website: www.goisrael.com

b. What is the relationship between the pioneers and Lake Kinneret? (based on Rachel’s poem and the information about the Kinneret above) ______

Why do you think that many Israelis are coming back to the Galilee, trying to fulfill the pioneer’s dream? ______? ______

c. On a separate sheet of paper, write a letter to Rachel, explaining to her the changes that are occurring in the way the kibbutzim are organized today.

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4. Presentation and Discussion:

a. Present your letter to the class. b. Think about the advantages and disadvantages of the Kibbutz’s changes and try to decide which kind of kibbutz is better for the Israeli Society today, and explain your argument to the class.

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Lesson 3: Israel Settlements – The Cities

1. Israeli Cities

After learning about the rural settlements (specifically about kibbutzim), we will learn about Israel's uniqueness through its urban settlements: its cities. For this leg of the curriculum, we will be divided into 5 different groups. Each group will receive a distinct city or establishment that is located in a particular geographical zone in Israel. Each group will learn what makes their region unique and how the cities or establishments in this region have developed over time.

The five regions (and their respective cities) that we will be exploring are:

A. The Coastal Plain: Tel- Aviv B. The Central Mountain Range: Jerusalem C. The North: Haifa D. The Arid Region- Negev: Beer Sheva E. The Partnership City

As a group, read the information provided in this workbook about your region and city, and answer the questions that follow.

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Region A: THE COASTAL PLAIN City: TEL AVIV, "The City than Never Stops"

The coastal plain runs parallel to the Mediterranean Sea and is composed of a sandy shoreline, bordered by stretches of fertile farmland extending up to 25 miles (40 km.) inland.

Quick Facts: !

Tel Aviv-Yafo Partnered with: Official website: http://www.tel-aviv.gov.il/English/home.asp Los Angeles

Founded 1909 Location 32.07°N 34.77°E On the Mediterranean coastline of central Israel, along and inwards from the sand dunes, chalk and sandstone cliffs. At the heart of Gush Dan metropolitan and industrial area (Dan Region) with a fertile agricultural hinterland, to a depth of Coat of Arms

25 km. Climate Mediterranean climate: hot summers with high Map of region coastal humidity, inversion at night - exacerbated by pollution; warm winters, rain. Type/ Primary urban center; focus of conurbation along Status coastal strip. Size 51.8 sq. km.; Gush Dan: < 90 x +/-20 sq. km. Population 404,400 (as of 2010): 17% of Israel's population. 2nd largest city in Israel. All Gush Dan: 3.15 million: <50% of Israel's population.

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Tel Aviv is the second most populous city in Israel, after Jerusalem, with a population of 404,400 (as of 2010). It is the main city of the largest and most

populous metropolitan area in Israel, Gush Dan (Dan Bloc), whose population numbers 3.15 million as of 2007.

The City of Tel Aviv was founded in 1909 by Jewish immigrants as an alternative to expensive housing in the neighboring historic port city of Jaffa. Israel's Independence was declared in Tel Aviv on May 5 th , 1948 and the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo was united in April 1949. It began a period of intense

expansion and development that has continued to this day. Tel Aviv celebrated its Centenary in 2009!

Tel Aviv is Israel's business capital , a globalized city, and is the anchor of the area popularly known as "Silicon Wadi", an area of Israel which contains a high concentration of successful high-tech industries, similar to Silicon Valley in California, in the United States.

Tel Aviv is also considered Israel's cultural capital due to its vibrant, modern, cosmopolitan character. Tel Aviv is home to most of Israel's press and performing Arts, was host to Israel’s first Symphony orchestra, the Israel Opera, Habimah National Theater, as well as museums, art galleries and dance companies.

Tel Aviv has something for everyone: beaches, busy Mediterranean café life, wild nightlife, shopping malls, bright, bustling main streets, skyscrapers, hotels, business and conference centers, parks, concerts, theaters, exhibition centers, museums, art galleries, sports centers, sports teams and more!

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Rehov Herzl

One of the most important streets built in Tel Aviv is Rehov Herzl. Named for Theodor Herzl, Rehov Herzl is a main commercial street in Tel Aviv. This historic street is known as "The First Hebrew Street" (although there were others before it). It was the first street that was designed with the purpose of developing a city in mind.

THEN: TODAY:

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The Tel Aviv Sea shore:

The Tel Aviv seashore is one of the city’s main attractions. Many Israelis and tourists visit the beautiful beaches, stay at the impressive hotels and enjoy the restaurants in the area.

THEN:THEN: TODAY: TODAY:

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Tel Aviv in Art:

Since the creation of the city, many artists have chosen it as a subject or setting of their art. One of them was Nahum Gutman. Gutman helped pioneer a distinctively Israeli style of painting, moving away from the European influences of his teachers. He was also a well-known writer and illustrator of children's books. In 1978, he received the Israel Prize for his contribution to Hebrew children's literature .

The following picture is titled "Samuel Hagar fights on the sand" , and depicts Gutman's impressions of Tel Aviv, (in particular the seashore) in the early 1920's. The one street in the center is Rehov Herzl.

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In Gutman's painting, the building that is situated at the end of the street is the "Herzlia Gymansium" - the first high school in Tel Aviv. If you walk down Rehov Herzl today, you’ll find a different building entirely where the Herzliya Gymnasium once stood: The Shalom Tower. The Shalom Tower was the tallest building in the Middle East until 1999.

Shalom Tower, 1965, © Malki Firer

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Class Assignment: Read the information above about Tel Aviv. 1. In the map on page 2, locate Tel Aviv. What is unique about Tel Aviv’s location? ______2. Why do you think Tel Aviv is called “the city than never stops”? ______

3. Look at the pictures of Rehov Herzl, then and today. What do you notice has changed? ______4. Look at the pictures of the Tel Aviv seashore, then and today. What do you notice has changed? ______

Independent Class Assignment:

1. Read about the artist Nahum Gutman. 2. Research images of Tel Aviv today. 3. On a separate paper, write a letter to Nahum Gutman, explaining in detail your impressions of how Tel Aviv looks today. Recommend to Gutman what he might change or add to his picture from the 1920s, either in words, or by drawing it yourself.

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Region B: THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN RANGE City: JERUSALEM , “The Holy City”

Jerusalem is the capital and largest city of Israel in both population and area, with 780,200 (as of 2009) residents in an area of 49 square miles. Located in the Judean Mountains, between the Mediterranean Sea and the northern tip of the Dead Sea, Jerusalem is a mosaic of rocky hilltops and fertile valleys, dotted with groves of age-old, green olive trees .

Quick Facts: Jerusalem Partnered with: Official website: http://www.jerusalem.muni.il New York

Founded 2000 BCE; Jebus, ancient city Location 31º47'N; 35º13'E. 757 m. > sea level, spur plateau of Judean Mtns in Central Israel; 48km E of Med. Sea; 30 km W of R. Jordan; 54 km E&S from Tel Aviv. Climate Mediterranean variation: semi-arid, mountain - Coat of Arms hot dry summers; moderate- cool winters with <~ 500 mm. winter rain. Type/ Capital City Status Size ~49 square miles

Map of Region

Population 780,200 (as of 2009)

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Jerusalem ’s history goes back as far as the 4th millennium BCE, making it one of the oldest cities in the world. Jerusalem has been the holiest city in Judaism and the spiritual center of the Jewish people since the 10th century BCE. It was the home to both the 1 st and 2 nd Jewish Temples.

Israel's Independence in 1948 was followed by the declaration of Jerusalem as its seat of government in 1949. In the War of Independence, it was besieged and the Old City fell to Jordan, thus dividing the city between Israel (West: the new city) and Jordan (East: the Old City ). Israeli access to Jewish sites in the Old City was forbidden until the Six Day War (1967) , during which the city was reunified and access restored to Israel.

The walled area of Jerusalem, which constituted the entire city until the 1860s, is now called the Old City. The Old City has been traditionally divided into four quarters , the Armenian, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Quarters. Despite having an area of only 0.35 square miles, the Old City is home to several sites of key religious importance: the Temple Mount and its Western Wall for Jews, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher for Christians, and the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims.

Jerusalem is home to the Knesset (Israel’s Parliament) and the President’s Residence, as well as the Israel Museum, Yad Vashem, the Jewish National Library and archives, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, Hadassah Hospital, and the Jewish Agency for Israel. Jerusalem boasts major excavations and archaeological sites. It is a modern cultural center for Jews in Israel and a revitalized religious center for religions and people around the world.

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Jerusalem is a holy city for three religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity

Jerusalem's expanded tourist industry can bring in over a million tourists per year.

© Malki Firer Jerusalem has been the center of Jewish existence ever since the city was captured by King David some three thousand years ago. Even when the vast majority of Jews lived in exile, yearning for the return to Jerusalem remained a central feature of Jewish life. Through the entire history of Jerusalem, there was hardly a time when Jews did not live there, though at times they numbered no more than a handful.

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The Western wall:

The Western Wall known as the Kotel , is a Jewish religious site located in the Old City of Jerusalem . The wall itself dates from the Second Temple period, constructed around 19 BCE by Herod the Great. It is sometimes referred to as the Wailing Wall, a name referring to Jews who come to the site to mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple.

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Jerusalem Today

Modern Jerusalem has grown vastly around the Old City, with its civic and cultural hub extending westward toward Israel's urban center in Gush Dan. The Arab population of Jerusalem resides in clusters in the North, East and South. Today, Jerusalem remains a source of contention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem (captured in the 1967 Six-Day War) has been particularly controversial, as Palestinians view this part of the city as the capital of a potential future Palestinian state.

Jerusalem Day The Israeli Jerusalem Day is a national holiday, held on the 28th day of Iyar, marking the Israeli capture of East Jerusalem in 1967 and the subsequent reunification of the city. Until then, Jewish Israelis weren't allowed to enter the Eastern part of the city, including the Holy sites.

Since the return of the Jewish people to the land, and particularly since Jerusalem's reunification after the Six Day War in 1967, the city has become a center for Jewish institutions and organizations and has flourished culturally.

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Class Assignment:

Read the information above about Jerusalem.

1. Find Jerusalem on the map of Israel on page 2. 2. What do you notice is unique about Jerusalem’s location on the map? ______3. Why do you think Jerusalem is called the Holy City ? ______4. How is Jerusalem a central part of Jewish life? ? In the past: ______Today: ______5. What is the significance of the Western Wall for the Jewish People? ______6. Why is it sometimes called the Wailing Wall? ______7. How is Jerusalem part of the political conflict? ______In your opinion, can Jerusalem be the capital of two different states? Explain your answer. ______How do you see a solution to this conflict? ______

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Independent Class Assignment:

Part 1: Amos and Orit were two young Jews who lived in Jerusalem before 1967 (when the city was still divided). They stand on a hilltop by the Israel- Jordan border in Abu Tor, on the southern end of Jerusalem and right across the valley from the walls of the Old City - and try to see the Kotel through a telescope.

Write Amos and Orit a letter which will reach them in the past:

• Explain to them the ways in which Jerusalem has changed since 1967. • Offer your ideas and suggestions for how to cope with one of Jerusalem's challenges. • Ask them some questions about life in Jerusalem in their time.

Part 2:

Send a friend a Virtual Postcard from Jerusalem, expressing your own connection to Jerusalem and why it is important to visit it. Keep a copy of what you send online for the exhibition. http://www.jerusalem.muni.il/jer_sys/sitemap/open.asp?src=/jernoar/postcar d/images/front.html&cont=http:/jer_sys/buttons/content.asp?BHtml_id=483

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Region C: THE NORTH City: HAIFA, “A Unique Mosaic”

Haifa is the major port in Israel and the main city in the north of the country. The city lies on the Mediterranean Sea at the northern end of Mount Carmel, about 50 miles (80 km) north of Tel Aviv, a population of about 265,500 residents (as of 2010).

Quick Facts: Haifa Partnered with: Official Site: http://www.haifa.muni.il/Haifa/en-us/ Boston Founded Bronze Age; 1761 - modern Haifa. Location Northern Israeli coastal city along seashore and slopes of Mt Carmel, western side of Carmel ridge. Climate Mediterranean type: hot summers, temperate winters, with high summer coastal humidity – cooler on the upper slopes of Mt Carmel; winter rain catchment due to Mt Carmel. Type/ Status Port city; Israel's 4 th city; industrial, regional urban center; largest city in Northern Israel, with large urban industrial Coat of Arms suburbs & agricultural hinterland. Size 63.666 sq.km. Population City: 264,000; Metro/District: 1,039,000

Map of the Region

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History of Haifa: The first settlement in the area was a small port town, founded in the 14th century B.C.E. (Late Bronze Age) and remaining for about a thousand years. Jewish burial caves from the Roman period have been found nearby. The Talmud mentions it as a fishing village, and it was later known as a shipbuilding port.

From the 1880s Russian Jews arrived in Haifa, and many opened shops and factories. During his visit to Israel in 1898-99, Theodor Herzl recognized that Haifa could potentially become the country's chief port.

After four centuries of Turkish rule, Haifa was captured in 1918 by the British. During the period of the British Mandate, roads and railroads were extended, and the harbor was completed in 1934 , allowing Haifa to overtake Jaffa as Israel’s chief port. The city further prospered with the completion in 1939 of the oil pipeline which ended in Haifa. The port made possible the development of many of Haifa’s main industries today, such as oil refineries, textiles, glass, bricks and cement. A tenth of the city's population is employed in the port area, where Zim (Israel's largest shipping company) also has its main office.

In 1989--90 over 20,000 Russian Jewish immigrants settled in Haifa.

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The Many Sides of Haifa: There is 'Haifa-the-metropolis' , boasting all the attributes of a contemporary urban center - including a lively cultural life, top class hotels, and an impressive concert hall where some of the world's greatest artists appear regularly. Haifa also boasts Israel's only subway, set up in 1959, and known as the "Carmelit." Places of interest include Haifa University, The Technion, the Naval Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art .

There is 'Haifa-the-beautiful-residential-city', as the upper slopes of the mountain host beautiful suburbs with spacious villas, abundant greenery, and panoramic views. Haifa is home to residents from the three largest religions, as well as those from other minority faiths. In this way, Haifa is a symbol of outstanding co-existence and tolerance

And there is 'Haifa-of-the-workers', the Haifa of heavy industry, which is perhaps the Haifa which tourists tend to avoid. Yet this industry is the heart of Haifa.

The non-Jewish Bahai sect has built a gold-domed sanctuary as its world center in Haifa, and has cultivated there one of the finest and largest gardens in the country.

The Bahai Gardens in Haifa

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Class Assignment:

Read the information above about Haifa and answer the following questions:

1. Find Haifa on the map map of Israel on page 2. What do you notice is unique about Haifa’s location on the map? ______2. Why do you think Haifa is called a Unique Mosaic ? ______3. Which of the many “sides” of Haifa speaks to you most - and why? ______4. Name some of the contrasts you found within Haifa and explain why they are unique to Haifa. ? ______5. Which aspects of Haifa seem most challenging to you - and why? Bring two specific examples. ______6. In what ways does Haifa resemble or differ from a city in your country? ______

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Independent Class Assignment:

1. Read the information above about Haifa.

2. On a separate sheet of paper, write a letter to a family friend of yours who planning a trip to Israel. They are tourists, and are not sure what sites their trip should include. They are willing to come up north to visit Haifa, but are thinking about just going to the beach (and maybe the Bahai Gardens) and then leaving. Tell them about the other things that Haifa has to offer. Suggest to them what you think a complete trip to Haifa should include, so that after they leave, they will have gotten to know the “real Haifa”.

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Region D: THE ARID REGION, THE NEGEV City: BEER SHEVA, “Living Ben Gurion’s Dream”

The Negev, comprising about half of Israel's land area, is sparsely Populated Further south, the Negev becomes an arid zone, abounding with canyons and

valleys. Be’er Sheva is the capital city of the Neg ev, with a population of 194,800. It has both ancient and modern-day significance. The Old City, the university, the Turkish railway station, and the Bedouin market represent only a part of the colorful features offered by the city of Be’er Shev a .

Quick Facts: Be’er Sheva Partnered with: Montreal Founded 4th Millennium BCE; 1900 Location 31º14'N; 34º47'E; Valley in southern central Israel, at northern edge of Negev Desert . ~115 km SE of Tel Aviv; 120 km SW of Jerusalem (by main highway); 243 km N of Eilat. Climate Desert oasis. Hot dry summers with valley (humid) night- time climate inversion; Arid, moderate winters with cold nights. 22 cm average (low) rainfall - flash floods and run-off Official Emblem rainwater from the Hebron Mtns. Type/ Urban center; Capital of Negev region; Rose of Negev; Chess Status capital Size > 117.5 sq. km Population 194,800, as of 2010 Beersheva Metro: 531,000 (as of 2009)

Map of the Region

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Biblical Be’er Sheva :

Be’er Sheva sits on a major crossroads whose geographical significance was felt by Abraham who arrived there about 3,700 years ago.

Geography: Be’er Sheva is located at the intersection of two important ancient international road junctions: The "Road of the Sea" (Via Maris) which extended along the shoreline to the west, and the King’s Highway (the valley route) to the east. Consequently, the city is mentioned throughout biblical times as a wayside station, as a resting spot, as a border point, and as a ritual center. Name: Be’er Sheva’s name finds its source from two biblical events that took place there: Abraham dug a well [in Hebrew: Be’er] to find water for his flock and struck a covenant, or oath [in Hebrew: Shava] of peace there with Avimelech, the king of Gerar. “Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there the two of them took an oath (Genesis 21, Verse 21). Abraham’s descendants continued to live there.

Tel Be’er Sheva, 5 kilometers east of the city, is usually identified with biblical Be’er Sheva.

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Beer Sheva Today

th Modern-day Be’er Sheva was founded at the start of the 20 century by the Ottomans, and was the only city that the Turks built in the Land of Israel. Remains of buildings from this period and from the time of the British Mandate can be seen today in the Old City, located in the south of Be’er Sheva. Such buildings include the residence and office of the city’s former governor (built in 1906) which today houses the Negev Museum of Art. In addition, the city’s first mosque, built in 1906 still stands. Other features from this period Be’er Sheva, 19 17 include the Turkish railway, the water tower that supplied the trains’ steam engines, the Saraya (Government House), which today serves as the city’s police station, a public garden, and more, all testifying to Be’er Sheva’s history under Turkish and British rule.

The Jewish city of Be’er Sheva was established in 1949. It became a key immigrant population center in the ‘50s, and was greatly enhanced by the founding of the Soroka Hospital and Ben Gurion University of the Negev. A major transport hub for Southern Israel, it improved its industrial, cultural and Downtown Be’er Sheva, 2009 economic potential with the major influx of immigrants in the © David Shankbone, http://blog.shankbone.org/ ‘70s and doubling its size in the early ‘90s. Today, Be’er Sheva has museums, a Music Conservatory, Sinfonietta and

Theater, a zoo, historical sites, and the famous Bedouin market.

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Ben-Gurion's Dream:

David Ben-Gurion had a vision of cultivating the arid Negev desert and building up its surrounding towns such as Yeruham and Dimona. He believed that eventually the Negev would be home to many Jews who would move to Israel after having made aliyah, and he felt that the kibbutz Sde-Boker, his home, was an example for what should follow.

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Established in 1969, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has a current enrollment of 17,400 students and is one of Israel's fastest growing universities. One of the university's goals is to promote the development of the Negev region, inspired by the vision of David Ben-Gurion, who believed that the country's future lay in the relatively undeveloped south. Originally named University of the Negev, the name was changed to Ben-Gurion University of the Negev after Ben-Gurion's death in 1973.

Ben-Gurion University is a world leader in arid zone research and offers its expertise to many developing countries. In keeping with its mandate, it plays a key role in promoting industry, agricult ure and education in the Negev.

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Class Assignment:

Read the Information above about Be’er Sheva, then answer the following questions: . 1. Find Be’er Sheva on themap of Israel on page 2. What do you notice is unique about Be’er Sheva’s location? ______

______

2. Explain Be’er Sheva’s connection to the Biblical Period: ? ______

______

3. Briefly explain what David Ben Gurion's dream was: ______

______

Read the following paragraph taken from an Israeli newspaper advertisement and answer the questions that follow:

“Living the Dream” : Keeping the Vision Alive- Ben Gurion Day, July, 2007 “A proactive recruitment program at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has brought many of Israel’s most promising scholars and scientists to the region, creating a positive population growth of young families that has turned Be’er Sheva into a thriving metropolis. The Negev, long considered well off-the-beaten track of modern Israel, has slowly turned its reputation around. Today, hundreds of families are seeking out the quality of life and Zionist challenges found in this frontier region”.

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4. In your opinion, has Ben Gurion’s dream been fulfilled? Explain. ______

______

5. What do you think was the real purpose of this advertisement? ?

______

Independent Class Assignment:

1. On a separate piece of paper, write a letter to Ben Gurion explaining how Be'er Sheva, the Capital of the Negev, has changed over the last 60-odd years (Use the information and the pictures above to detail your letter).

2. Prove to Ben Gurion that his vision is still alive, bringing facts from the information that you have read above to support your claim.

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Contest Assignment (for all 5 region/city groups):

Imagine that you are a new immigrant to Israel and you have chosen to live in a the city your group researched in class. Once you get to your new city, you feel alone and really want some other young people from America to join you in your new Israeli city.

You decide to write and "advertisement" to publish it your community in America’s Jewish newspaper, promoting life in your new city, in the hopes that people will be won over and come join you there.

Here is an example of an actual ad that was printed in the newspaper in 2007, promoting people moving to Be’er Sheva:

“Living the Dream” : Keeping the Vision Alive - Ben Gurion Day, July, 2007

“A proactive recruitment program at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has brought many of Israel’s most promising scholars and scientists to the region, creating a positive population growth of young families that has turned Be’er

Sheva into a thriving metropolis. The Negev, long considered well off-the- beaten track of modern Israel, has slowly turned its reputation around. Today, hundreds of families are seeking out the quality of life and Zionist challenges found in this frontier region”.

1. Think about the arguments you can use to convince a young American like yourself to choose this city as their new home.

2. Select a title/headline for your ad that expresses your argument in a catchy way. ?

3. Think about the facts that you can include in the ad to strengthen your argument.

4. Be creative! Bring examples and pictures to enhance the ad.

5. At the end of the ad, write a summary paragraph expressing why it is worth it to live in your new city in Israel.

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Submit the ad in print. Note :This is an Israel Contest Assignment.