Essence of the Negev
- Ben Hahn
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
This blog post was written by Ben Hahn, a 2025/26 Yahel Social Change Fellow in Haifa.
Throughout my travels in Israel, both with and without the Yahel Fellowship program, the Negev desert has always piqued my interest for many different reasons. On most occasions these excursions have included hikes within the crevassed landscape, a jump into Ein Akev, and a brief visit to Ben Gurion’s grave and/or house. The thought of people making a life out there always left me with a sense of awe. When I heard about our cohort’s plan for a four-day trip to the Negev, with our base close to Sde Boker, I thought to myself, “Oh I’ve already seen all of this before, but it should be fun to revisit”. It only occurred to me later, when I actually reviewed the itinerary, that many of the experiences would be brand new to me. I wondered what else there was to see, and what new adventures awaited me. The Yahel Social Change Fellowship would once again leave me stunned and in wonder of what was yet to be experienced.
Our first day led us to a family-owned goat cheese farm just south of the small town of Tlalim. In addition to sampling some of the best cheese I’ve ever tasted (and I’ve tried a lot of cheese, believe me), we also heard the owner’s story of how his parents decided to leave their lives in larger cities behind, to start a farm in the Negev. I couldn't help but relate his story, and the simple determination of his family, to the same sense of inspiration that David Ben-Gurion must have felt, when seeing people working hard and thriving on Kibbutzim in the Negev. There I was, dumbstruck and amazed, enjoying the marvelous product of nothing but raw determination and willpower. I thought about the logistical problems of growing just about anything in the landscape, the many hardships endured from the harsh climate, simply by living there. I couldn’t help from marveling at what his family was able to accomplish. I then realized that while not everyone living in the Negev owned a decent-sized farm, anyone that lived there knew what it meant to sacrifice to see the fruits of their labor.
Our second day consisted of an hike from Midreshet Ben-Gurion to Ein Akev and back. A classic experience and somewhat of a staple for anyone spending more than two weeks in Israel who wishes to tour most of the country. However, the true magic from this familiar activity naturally stems from the quality of your hiking shoes, and how good your tour guide is! While I had heard previous guides briefly mention Bedouin tribes and culture, yet mostly focus on Kibbutzim and Ben-Gurion’s dream. Our tour guide went into amazing detail about them. He really dived in, giving us some historical context, and explaining the complexities of their cultural and social issues and lifestyle. He revealed all. The good and the bad, the obvious and the mysterious, and everything in between. I thought I knew it all, yet I found myself wondering what other knowledge regarding the Bedouin community was out there.
The third day was when most of my questions would be answered. The group and I scurried onto our bus and set off for the town of Rahat. Rahat is the largest Bedouin city in the world, consisting of over eighty thousand. We first toured a technical school for Bedouin high schoolers who lived in Rahat and from further afar. Some kids had a short walk, while others had over an hour drive to school. We introduced ourselves, did some ice-breaker activities, and got a short tour of their engineering room from the robotics team. After hearing heavy Israeli accents for most of my time here, I was amazed at how good their English was and how bright and talented they all were. Each student was eager to ask questions about who I was and where I was from, while simultaneously telling me about themselves and the story of their families. I admittedly did not think I would have the engaging and exciting conversations that I did. But one thing I’ve learned during my time with Yahel is to expect the unexpected, and be prepared to be amazed. It sounds cliche, but seriously, I have learnt that it is hard to anticipate just how astonished I'll be most of the time.
Afterwards, we spoke with a well-known and respected Bedouin community leader, named Rafat. He showed us the town, the Mosque in which he prayed, and treated us to a delicious Bedouin-style lunch. Here, we listened to the story of the life and journey of one of the first Bedouin women of her tribe to leave the village, seek out an education, and come back to the Negev to pursue an entrepreneurial business in authentic cosmetics made from ancient recipes. Her story inspired and amazed me. Hearing how she was born in a small village, pursued an education in England, returned to her town to sell a product internationally was exhilarating to say the least. I don’t know where Yahel finds these incredible speakers with such unique stories, but it’s definitely a recurring theme.
Foolishly, I thought that I had seen it all when it comes to the Negev. But when it comes to Yahel, there is always more. There is always chance to learn about things that even most Israelis don’t get the opportunity to learn about keeps me yearning for more. This is the true essence of the Negev. To recognize its mysterious and powerful nature and people. To apply myself to the fullest and learn as much as I can, and to still be left with a sense of wanderlust. Despite visiting twice before, my view of the Negev has been completely redefined.
The only words that come to mind when thinking about this short but powerful trip, is “thank you”. To the Yahel staff, to the inspiring people of Rahat, and to the desert itself, for providing me with a journey I could never have anticipated. I arrived thinking I knew it all, and I left wondering what else was left to know. A common question I’ve found myself asking during my time with Yahel.
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