Shavua tov from southern Israel! We began our day driving from Shefayim North of Tel Aviv to a moshav called Netiv Haasara on the border of the Gaza Strip. During our visit to Netiv Haasara we learned about the resilience of Israelis living so close to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. It was inspiring to see how they try to live life to its fullest in the face of so many security threats such a short distance from their homes.

Following a tour of the area and lunch, we started our journey into the Negev. First, we visited the tombs of David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel, and his wife Paula at Sde Boker. It was so interesting to learn about their life and legacy.

We then continued on to the town of Mitzpe Ramon, where we stopped for snacks and did a short tour of the town and the neighboring Ramon Crater. The crater was truly an incredible sight. The views were breathtaking. It allowed for lots of picture taking opportunities!

After a long day of sightseeing we headed back to our accommodations for the night. Kibbutz Yahel is located deep in the desert and is only about 45 minutes away from Eilat. We are excited to get a refreshing night sleep before we continue tomorrow with our Israeli exploration.