"For some, the desert is a place of clear skies and deep breaths. Not so for our seven brave warriors of mild sickness, who were held back at beautiful Kibbutz Ketura for some much needed r&r. Staying with them was our incomparable blog master, Mr. Marchenko. Many thanks to him for his beautiful blogging thus far! His brief hiatus will end shortly.
After a lovely breakfast, we left Kibbutz Ketura and made our way to Yutvata for some famously delicious dairy. Our stomachs filled (perhaps inconveniently), we set out for the 24-Hour Desert Experience.
As the expanse of land became more majestically desolate, the presence of kibbutzim dwindled. 6 miles north of Eilat and flanked by visible Egypt and Jordan, we arrived at our campsite and found it expertly set up by Avia and Ofer, the unofficial nature brigade.
Ofer served as our teacher for the excursion. Standing above a section of the Syrio-African rift, we were taught to locate ourselves on the planet. At the tip of the crossroads between Africa and Asia, our place in the world became both clear and minuscule.
Armed with mind-boggling geography, we began the day's hike. Beforehand, it was described as a nice ambling path, looping through canyons and impressive mountain views. The scenery was indeed wonderful, but the incline of the wadi left many with sore legs. Still, the ongoing lessons in desert geology and botany was well worth it. at many points, the port city of Aqaba was visible over the hills, reminding us just how close we were to Israel's southernmost point.
Post-hike, we returned to the camp for some tent arranging, down time, and a good 'ol pot of camping soup. Some students took time to wander down the mountain paths, exploring the rocky plateaus and miniature canyons of the Negev as the sun set. We then gathered for dinner by the fire, prepared by the staff and students. Stomachs full and shoes dusty, the students participated in a stealthy game of capture the flag by moonlight, sneaking like ibex through inch-high brush and perilous stones.
The temperature dropped steadily as the moon rose higher. Bundled up around the fire, Ishai, our madrich, taught everyone how to identify constellations and spot Polaris. Following the crash course in astronomy, the true spirit of our grade emerged once again. As the flames turned to embers, we reflected on transitions and the courses of our lives. Just as we sat at the crossroads of tectonic plates, countries, and continents, so too do we stand at a crossroads of our respective life journeys.
Though the fire died and the winds picked up, we dozed off still contemplating. The gorgeous silence that permeated our surroundings will stay with us for quite awhile. Artistic credit for this blog entry goes to oseh ma'aseh breishit"
Aliza Small
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