Settling On Sand

With the harsh reality of life in Sederot fresh in our minds, we headed further south-east towards the desert. Conveniently our bus’ air conditioning crashed and burned just in time for the 110 degree heat of the Negev. Thankfully, during our visit to the regional waste treatment center, a replacement bus arrived to transport us to the final locale for the day.

When we arrived in Givot Bar (below right), a sleepy, one-road neighborhood bordered by sand dunes, I was a bit skeptical that the stop would be very thrilling. We were greeted by Roni Flamer, a reserved yet passionate 33 year old who I assumed was just a tour guide for the area. Roni started by telling us that were standing in one of the newest settlements into the Negev Desert. He began to explain the vision for the initiative – develop communities for 600,000 Israelis to move into the (pic-planted forest in the distance, new development in foreground) Negev by 2020.

Israel Fact #24: As understood through all of the controversy concerning the expansion of apartment buildings in Jerusalem, Israel experiences a major land shortage. The Negev Desert, located in the southern region of the country, makes up 60% of Israel’s territory; however, the majority of this area is uninhabited….because it’s the desert.

In typical Israeli fashion, that fact hasn’t deterred an inspired group of young Jewish visionaries. Only after I was already fully impressed by the initiative, did Roni (below, right) show all his cards. He said, “when I was 17 years old, 3 of my friends and I were sitting around talking about what we wanted to do with our lives. We wanted to do something with meaning. So we decided to start this movement.” Really, Roni??! 17??

Dang, when I was 17, I was just trying to decide where to go do college and how to stop a lacrosse ball from going into the net behind me. Meanwhile, Israeli kids are figuring out how to change the face of their country.

A bit more on the Or Movement: Or means ‘life.’ One of the most pervasive themes of my trip in Israel has been the discovery of how deeply the Jewish people love life. In fact no less than 4 different speakers have declared this passion to our group. Whether it’s a struggle for peace and safety for their children, a determination to re-plant and cultivate the whole country with flowers, orchards, vineyards, and expansive crop fields, or a vibrancy of art, music, religion, and never-ending debate, these people live fully. No of course that is a generalization, which is always dangerous- there are just as many problems with Israeli society as there are in America, I guess I’ve just found Israel to be very similar….except that a group of 17 year olds started developing the desert 16 years ago.

Back to Or… the organization has facilitated the planting of forests, building of infrastructure (roads, sewage lines, wells, electricity, etc.), and planning & development of communities- synagogues, kindergartens, public parks, etc. To date 4000 families have already moved to the Negev, with 11,700 currently in the process. Seriously- if you’re looking for somewhere to move in the world, this place would be incredible. (and they are starting a community for families who speak English as a first languate). Huge emphasis on community, family, young couples with a pioneering spirit, and with an underlying understanding that the movement is fortifying the strength of a nation which in most other regions finds itself pitted with enemies who claim its Land as their own….oh yea, and not to mention that these new communities are adjacent to the city of Be’er Sheva, the place where Abraham started the nation of Israel 3700 years ago. NBD.