A DAY IN THE NEGEV

          Our day started off in the Tea House on Kibbutz Lotan which was the first solar powered building made of earth and straw.  This kibbutz was founded s the 2^nd Reform Kibbutz after Yahel in the early 1980’s.  There is a strong mission of environmentalism that is lived by the members and taught to those who come to visit or study.  Over the years they have developed different modes of recycling, composting and natural organic farming. We saw a drinking fountain that has four uses of the water that comes from the spout.  One can drink, whatever spills over goes to a bird fountain which then leads to water small tomato plants and finally a larger tree.  The electric meter found on the doorpost of the houses reminds people to limit their use of energy and so they call it an electric mezzuzah.

          The composting of toilet waste into usable loamy soil was explained as was other forms of composting.  In their extensive organic vegetable garden they grow a variety of items together demonstrating how they bring stability to the growth.  From this they teach how variety and diversity in society also is a positive force.   The plants, many varieties of birds and insects interact in a creative manner.

          The kibbutz is also known for the extensive number of bird species that are seen in their migrations in the spring and fall.  Tourists visit specifically to observe the many species.  Many students can come for different environmental courses and a small village of ecologically constructed living quarters serves as their dwelling places during their stay. 

          It was explained that the verse in the Torah that we usually translate that the human was to till and tend the land, l’ovdah ulshomra, could be translated as to serve and to protect the land.  This terminology brings a strong Torah based underpinning to all that they do.  Lotan has created a wonderful setting for people who believe in these important values and has created new ways to protect our gift of the earth.

          Our second stop of the day was Kibbutz Ketura, just down the road from Lotan.  This kibbutz was founded in 1973 by members of Young Judea.  It views itself as traditional religious, egalitarian and pluralistic kibbutz in the mode of Conservative Judaism.  Their big income industries are 3,000 date palm trees, production of algae grown in glass tubes which because of their high antioxidant properties become useful in cosemetics and food supplements, 500 dairy cows and 18,500 solar panels.  The Arava Institute for environmental research is located on the kibbutz.  We were given a detailed explanation of the Arava Institute by Dr. Tariq abu Hamed,

 who was born in East Jerusalem and is a Palestinian Arab.  He studied in Turkey, the Weizman Institute in Rehovot and the University of Minnesota. The Institute’s student population is 1/3 Israeli Jews, 1/3 Arabs (from Israel, the Palestinian territory and Jordan) and 1/3 Internationals. They live and study together working on long term sustainable environmental concerns, waste management and renewable energy.  We saw work on improving the productivity of solar panels, research for hydrogen operated vehicles and self-cleaning solar panels in the dusty desert.  They are connected to masters programs at Ben Gurion University and York University in Canada. The work is impressive and while not its primary goal a step towards building cooperative endeavors which can head towards peace.

          On Ketura there is a date palm tree that has grown from a seed found at Masada and is over 2000 years old. It is an amazing reality and a symbol that Judaism should not be frozen in the past but must think of new adaptations.

          We ate lunch at Yotvata, famous for its dairy products, especially chocolate milk, no longer sold in plastic bags.  We then headed north to the Ramon Crater.  This is a magnificent geological sight and we spent time simply walking around in this overwhelming desert environment.

          From there we drove to a village not too far from Beer Sheba called Ashalim.   Housed in this village is one of 14 groupings of students who are part of a program called Ayalim.  These students are modern 21^st century Zionists.  They build their own housing as well as other buildings.  They get full scholarships to universities and colleges.  They work 500 hours a year of community service, helping both urban and non-urban communities, especially children and under privileged.  Many of the graduates have gone on to create new communities in the Negev working to fulfill the vision of David Ben Gurion, the first prime Minister of Israel.  There have been over 6,000 graduates of the program and they affect 25,000 children each year.  They now get governmental support as well as donations from benefactors.  These are idealists who are building a better future for Israel while helping to settle an area of land that presently is 70% of the land with only 8% of the population.   They are non-political although in some ways they seem to be a counter movement to settlers in the territories.  They offer an inspiring picture of what can be done.

          Our meal was prepared by a group known as Women Who Cook.  This is a group developed in the development town of Ofakim and provides employment for women using the basic talents they have used for their own families in the past.  The style of cooking was Moroccan and the food was delicious.

          On to Jerusalem!