Very shortly bulldozers will be carving through the crusty surface of the Negev, 20 km north east of Beersheba. As if under the watchful eye of Israel’s first premier smiling from his celestial perch, the beginnings of a new town will emerge. In close proximity to the new Tel Aviv / Beersheba fast track and Israel’s super highway ‘Kvish 6’, the planned 2,700 unit town of Carmit will transform vacant desert into green suburbia. “Some 40% of the first stage of 800 homes is earmarked for the English speaking community,” says Ofir Fisher, Director of the Or Movement of the Negev that is promoting the development. Ofir is the son of the world-renowned cantor, Dudi Fisher, who has been performing globally, fundraising for the Negev as well as drawing international attention to Israel’s neglected 60% land mass.

It was only a question of time until the energized efforts to develop the Negev - not as a refuge for ‘others’, but as an inspiring landscape affording opportunities for all - would attract the attention of Esra.

On TheMap

With increased building activity, improvement in transport infrastructure, innovative business opportunities and excellent academic institutions, the Negev is on the map - not as a route indicator for Eilat-bound motorists, but as a fascinating region to live, work, study or tour. Home to a paltry 8% of the country’s population, its alluring charms are set to attract a new generation of pioneers, armed, more likely, with their BlackBerrys than withshovels.

The Negev is in the forefront of redefining Zionism and with a substantial English speaking community in the south that will likely increase quite dramatically, Esra is on board.

The Genesis

Some months back, Esra was approached by a group of English speakers, most of them former Southern Africans living all across Israel, who had formed a group or movement called HaDromim B’Derech to promote the Negev. After lengthy discussions the group was absorbed as a committee of Esra - retaining its name - to popularize and facilitate a wide range of programs and activities bringing the English community in Israel and abroad closer to the Negev. In the process, Esra will enlarge its volunteer base in the Negev, establishing new branches as well as introducing many of its innovative educational and cultural programs in the south.

“We see this as an exciting enlargement of our work, both in nature and in scope” says Debby Lieberman, chairperson of Esra. “It will open a wide new geographic area where we have not been particularly active in the past as well as introducing many new volunteers of all ages. It’s new, exciting and we’re gearing to move ahead with this.”

Youth at the Forefront

At the core of the program is to change the mindset or perception of the Negev. Crucial here is to introduce the challenges of the Negev to Jewish youth in the diaspora. Following meetings at Ben Gurion University of the Negev, we are in the process of introducing a project where the Associates of BGU - who customarily raise money for the university to build extra facilities or fund departments – include the raising of money in their countries specifically to offer scholarships to Jewish youth in their communities to study at BGU. This will add (beyond the raising of funds), a human dimension in connecting the future of the Negev with diaspora Jewish youth.

“The dividend from this project will be apparent in the years ahead,” says Annette Milliner, who is heading this particular program, “when we see more students from Los Angeles, Sydney, Johannesburg and London studying in the Negev. Who knows, they may well meet their future partners in life and settle in the Negev.”

The motto here is - ‘to build with people, not only bricks’.

Movement Ahead

Another focus with diaspora youth is to encourage the leadership of youth movements abroad to include the Negev in their Israel long and short-term programs. We have already this year secured the members of the Habonim Dror movement from South Africa here on their ‘Shnat’ (year program) to experience their kibbutz segment on kibbutz Yotvata in the Negev. This is a refreshing departure from the past, where they traditionally spent their six weeks at a kibbutz in the center of the country or in the Galilee. Discussions are ongoing with other youth movements, notably Bnei Akiva that have indicated a strong interest.

And Our Seniors

If the youth move south, why not the seniors?

What parents do not want to be close to their children and grandchildren? A separate sub-committee has been established to look at options for retirement in the Negev. Preliminary investigations have revealed very encouraging signs. Dr. Gordon Mandelzweig, a former South African, moved with his wife Dorothy from Rishon LeZion to the retirement home Ganei Omer in Omer, near Beersheba. “Best move we made. The cultural activities both here and in Beersheba are so much more than what we had up north. What’s more, this place is far more affordable and with our close proximity and association with BGU, we are finding it so much more intellectually stimulating.”

The Future

To achieve its goals, the HaDromim B’Derech committee of Esra will be working with immigrant organizations, the Jewish Agency, P2K, Or Movement of the Negev, universities and colleges, municipalities, youth movements, the JNF, the business community and other organizations.

Whatever one’s politics or level of religiosity, the Negev is for everyone. The Negev allows us to redefine our Zionism by that which unites us rather than divides us.

If anyone is interested in learning more about this project, please contact David Kaplan 09-7672404, email: hildav@netvision.net.il or Annette Milliner 09-7661838, email: milliner@013.net

David Kaplan is the founder of HaDromim B’Derech, Esra’s new committee to promote the Negev.