Negev Aliya

  After years in Yerushalayim, we’re discovering life in Israel’s south, Merchav Am and the towns that surround it. Here’s a window into our new corner of the Negev. Exploring Our New Corner of Israel One of the most exciting parts of our first few months here has been exploring a completely new part of Israel. Jessie and I both spent time in Yerushalayim after high school and again when I was in Semicha. We knew the hills and cities of Gush Etzion, took tiyulim up to Tzfat, and, of course, had plenty of visits to Beit Shemesh & Modiin. But now… where are we exactly? (See the map!) Merchav Am sits almost perfectly between Yerushalayim and Eilat. Google Maps (with no traffic!) says Yerushalayim is about 1 hour 45 minutes north, and Eilat is 1 hour 30 minutes south. Even for many Israelis, this part of the country feels like the edge of the earth. Most people live in the center area between the coastal cities from Rehovot to Netanya. Yerushalayim, Beit Shemesh, and Modiin are wi...

  Hello All, While we’ve been in Israel for two months now, it’s finally time to begin sharing our journey with friends and family! Many have asked for pictures, descriptions, and updates. But in these first two months, it’s been hard to think about anything other than re-setting up our life here. These first few posts will be about this summer, and going forward I hope to post every few weeks or months. Why do this? Partly, it’s to update everyone. But also, we’re aware that our Aliyah journey has (and will continue to be) a little off the beaten Aliyah path. Because of that, we’d love to give everyone a window into what it’s like to make Aliyah to the Negev, to a small Israeli yishuv, 2.5 hours from Yerushalayim. Life here is new for us, and hopefully our journey will open a window for those of you who have never been to this area or known someone from a place like this. Why did we decide to make Aliyah? And why Merchav Am ? Jessie and I always wanted to make Aliyah. For me, it w...