Aviv JNF Week

After missing out on Desert Experience it was a pleasant surprise to find ourselves in Nitzana, a small commune located in the Negev adjacent to the Egyptian border. JNF week kicked off with a visit to Sha’ar Ha’Negev, a school whose entire campus was recently rocket-proofed due to an abundance of attacks which had disrupted learning there in the past. We were shown around by a group of 11^th graders who explained to us the ins and outs of life in the area as well as treating us to an impromptu singing performance. Next up was what is known as the ‘salad tour’ in which we learnt of the agricultural intricacies of growing fruit and veg in Israel’s exceedingly dry desert. Following this we were introduced to our guide for the following 2 days, Liam whose youthful appearance caused many to question when his bar mitzvah was scheduled for… however he exceeded all expectation with his energy and legions of knowledge. Liam began by showing us around the ‘Anzac trail.’ Soon after, when we were all suitably exhausted we headed to Nitzana, our accommodation for the next 2 nights. The day was rounded out by an entertaining program run by Liam and Peleg (the other group’s guide) known as ‘Israeli Night,’ in which we were quizzed on our knowledge of Israeli culture such as food, celebrities, music and famous people.

Monday brought a nice change of pace as we headed off on a bike ride around Nitzana, noting its proximity to Egypt as well as the beautiful desert surroundings. Next we visited the Desert Agricultural Research and Development Centre, where we were suitably bored due to a combination of a 7 hour gap between meals as well as the unbearable heat and the less than inspiring topic of discussion. Following lunch Liam led a program which aimed to inspire us to make a change in the world via an identification of contemporary issues and the fact that we do nothing to impact positively on issues which we do care about. Subsequently we were shown to Nitzana’s interesting scientific section which houses quite a few cool scientific exhibits such as a cooling mechanism for the area and more. That night we spent out in the desert, cooking our own dinner and enjoying the company of each other and the sand dunes which surrounded us.

A somewhat interesting trek through the Yatir Forest where we learnt of the goings-on during the times of the 2^nd temple such as the disposal of bodies and the making of wine was followed by a far too belated lunch at Kibbutz Kermamim.  There we learnt about Kibbutz committees (again) as well as the kibbutz’s evolution through privatization and issues of religious and secular members of the communities. Our next stop was an archaeological dig in the area where Bar Kokhba and his men hid in tunnels from the Romans thousands of years ago. We were able to uncover small pieces of pottery but nothing more. We were also able to crawl through the caves whilst learning of their origins and uses. Following this we finally made it to our accommodation for Tuesday and Wednesday, Nes Harim, where we had previously resided for the ZFA’s Anzac Day ceremony.

Wednesday saw us head into the Old City of Jerusalem where our tour guide Eytan detailed the battle exploits of the Jews in this area in the 1948 Independence War. I can confidently say without doubt that Eytan was one of the best guides we had ever had due largely to his charisma, humour and ability to engage with the distractions and thoughts of the teenage mind. However there was something else on the boys’ minds as we were granted leave for a few hours to watch one of the most important football rivalries in Australian sport, the state of origin. It was an amazing site to see roughly 30 Australian gap yearers gathered in a Jerusalem Bar cheering NSW on to a momentous win! Following a few hours of free time in Jerusalem where much shopping was engaged in, we headed back to Nes Harim.

A 2 hour hike began Thursday which was followed by lunch at Latrun another important place of battle in the Independence War of 1948. Next we visited Neve Shalom Israel’s only truly multicultural village where Jews, Muslims and Christians live side by side in peace. Our final activity of the week was a visit to the Herzl Museum where we watched a short video and learned about the life and achievements of Theodore Herzl, the father of modern Zionism. Soon after we were released for free weekend.

Another awesome week down, 30 days to look forward to!

Jake