Dear Aardvark Israel Family,
Last week, we left the busy streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem behind and headed south to Kibbutz Ketura in the Arava Desert for one of the highlights of our semester!
Three days in the heart of the desert, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, creative workshops, hikes, fascinating encounters, shared experiences, and of course, some time by the pool.
But beyond all the activities, it was an opportunity to discover another side of Israel: kibbutz life, the community behind it, and the values that bring it all together.
Day One: Discovering Kibbutz Life
We kicked off the seminar with a tour of Kibbutz Ketura, surrounded by the stunning desert landscapes of the Arava, so different from the urban scenery our students are used to.
We then explored the unique kibbutz way of life and the values at its heart: cooperation, mutual responsibility, and collective decision making. During the Kibbutz Values in Practice activity, students split into groups and experienced what it means to make decisions based on the kibbutz model.
After a morning full of learning, it was time to enjoy the social side of kibbutz life, with free time, a dip in the pool, and activities led by our amazing madrichim. We wrapped up the first day with a BBQ dinner and a pool party!
Day Two: Workshops, Reflection, & Kasui Dunes
We started the morning with the option of a hike through the beautiful Arava landscape, alongside other activities such as cycling and desert watercolor painting.
Later, students had the chance to choose from a variety of workshops and experiences, including an Off Grid Village tour, a panel with young kibbutz members, mandala painting, juggling, and palm frond weaving.
In the afternoon, we headed to one of the highlights of the seminar: the Kasui Dunes.
Surrounded by massive sand dunes, we took a few moments for silence, writing, and personal reflection. The Desert Solo experience gave students a chance to slow down, step away from their daily routines, and reflect on everything they’ve experienced since arriving in Israel.
“Sitting alone in the desert dunes, surrounded by complete silence, I had the chance to reflect on my journey and realize just how far I’ve come on this program.” Sam, Re’im Community
And after the quiet? It was time for some fun! We slid down the dunes, enjoyed the incredible desert scenery, and watched a beautiful sunset.
Back at the kibbutz, we attended a talk by Debbie Goldsmith, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Aardvark Israel, dedicated to the memory of Keith Berman, one of the organization’s co-founders. Debbie then led the students in traditional Israeli folk dancing (Rikudei Am).
We ended the day around a bonfire, with guitars, music, s’mores, and the kind of atmosphere only a night in the desert can offer.
Day Three: Final Adventures and Taking Ketura Home
On our final day, we made the most of our remaining hours at the kibbutz with a range of activities, including off-road cycling around the kibbutz and through the date palm groves, yoga, desert watercolor painting, a photography workshop, and a hike up Menora Mountain.
After a generous Israeli breakfast, we learned about the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies and its important work promoting environmental sustainability across the Middle East.
As the seminar came to an end, we gathered for a final reflection session to think about what we would take from our Ketura experience back to our lives in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Following one last lunch in the kibbutz dining hall, we said goodbye to Ketura and headed back to our cities.
Three days, countless experiences, and so many shared moments reminded us that the Aardvark Israel journey is about much more than the places we visit. It’s also about the people we meet, the friendships we build, and the new things we discover along the way.
“The Ketura Seminar was the perfect opportunity to connect with people from both my own community and other communities, and to immerse myself in kibbutz life again.” Milla, Barak Community
