Mitzpeh ramon - Oct 31 - nov 1


Early start in the heat, up a hill and into the headwinds. A trifecta. Through yerucham and then with a turn to the west (and out of the wind) to Sde Boker and Ben Gurions grave. Beautiful spot in a stark harsh environment--always amazing to me that this is the land we're killing each other for. After lunch another monster climb in the heat, relentless as you see the whole thing and to our hotel by 3pm. Looking forward to day off by the pool in our shlakes for shabbat. 42 miles.  

Saturday went to several talks. The machtesh is not a crater (formed by meteorite or volcano), but a unique geological feature on earth mostly due to erosion. Mitzpe ramon at 800m (used to snow here) has different climate than surrounding desert, only established in 1960s. Very diverse community due to waves of immigration and artsy schools including a forest kindergarten. In the machtesh, we go to hyper-arid (5% rain vs evaporation) climate - nothing grows. Also heard talks about arava foundation, their efforts to jumpstart hope in gaza, and what their alumni are doing. Wastewater treatment in West Bank and gaza was and is not a thing. Arava kept meeting after oct 7th, as trust is even rarer than water here. Arava began working on humanitarian aid in gaza, which IDF controlled and hamas disrupts - not sure I get this, but maybe it's the only way forward for the 15 million people living between the river and the sea. Never made it to the pool.

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