Abdah

Understand

Kibbutz Sde Boker was established in the first years of Israel, the late 1940s. Shortly thereafter, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion passed through there during a tour of the Negev and was very impressed by how the residents actually lived the Zionist ideals of working the land of Israel and settling even the harshest of its regions, the Negev. He announced that upon his retirement, he would move there and live the rest of his life in the kibbutz, which he mostly did until the last of his days. The old wooden house where he lived with his wife, Paula, has become a museum where guided tours are conducted. The nearby Ben-Gurion College was built while he was still alive (though not yet named after him) mainly as a study center of the Negev. In time, several academic and educational establishments were founded there, the most prominent ones being a campus of the Ben-Gurion University, a "field school" providing guidance and ecologic education for visitors, and a boarding school named the High School for Environmental Education; also the Israeli research institution of solar energy is there. The complex was built with accommodation only for workers and students, but in the 2000s the joint ruling body of these institutions decided to build additional housing units and allow anyone to rent or buy property there. Most buildings were built with an environment-friendly orientation. The kibbutz and the college were built on the northern ridge of the Zin Basin, an opening in the Zin Stream – a dry stream, one of the largest in Israel. The only other nearby settlements are the very small religious community Merkhav Am, and some agricultural and/or tourist-oriented farms.

Getting there

By car Highway 40 passes by the kibbutz, the college, and the sites of Avdat and Ein Avdat. From Beer Sheva, drive south for about 45 minutes, following the signs to Eilat via Mitzpe Ramon. After you pass Halukim junction, you'll see on your left the kibbutz (1 minute away from the junction), the college (4 minutes), Ein Avdat (10 minutes) and Avdat (13 minutes), where you'll also find a large gas station with a cafe. Alternately, coming from the south, the area is 2½ hours drive from Eilat: leave the city by Highway 12 (towards the Eilat Mountains) and follow the signs to Mitzpe Ramon; about 20 minutes after passing through Mitzpe, you'll reach Avdat. The small settlement Merkhav Am is on route 204 just east of Halukim junction (north of Sde Boker on highway 40, follow signs towards Yerucham).

By bus All following lines drive on Route 40, so they all stop in the Kibbutz and the College, as well as the sites of Avdat and Ein Avdat:

Operated by Metropoline Transportation (website only in Hebrew): The most common way: lines 60, 65 depart from Beer Sheva every 20–40 minutes between 6:30AM-9PM on weekdays, Friday until about 4PM, and Saturday evenings. Line 65 does not enter the kibbutz and the college but stops on their access junctions, leaving you a 5-minute walk. Line 55 from Dimona and Yerucham passes through Merkhav Am in addition to the aforementioned stations. From Mitzpe Ramon, use any of the above lines going in the opposite direction: 55, 60, 65. Operated by Egg'ed (English website): Line 395 going between Tel Aviv and Eilat, departs only a few times a week. Lines 392, 382 going between Beer Sheva and the Eilat area, depart only a few times a day.

By foot The Zin Basin just below Sde Boker contains many popular hiking destinations. It can be reached in several fun ways by a hiking trip of several days. In fact, the Israel National Trail goes through it, from where you can take a 3-hour detour through either the Kibbutz itself or the College. Coming f

Getting around

Getting around by foot in any one of the settlements and sites really isn't a big deal, as none of them is any larger than 1 km across. Getting between them is fairly easy thanks to the pretty frequent aforementioned buses, though remember that public transport in Israel doesn't operate during Sabbath time (Friday evening to Saturday evening). In a car, one can get between any of Sde Boker, the college, Avdat and Ein Avdat in no more than 15 minutes at worst. Taxis are also available, most easily in the small shopping center in the Ben Gurion College. You'll have to call and order one, as they don't normally just go around driving between these somewhat godforsaken places, and that they cost extra during Sabbath. Getting around the valley can be done by hiking, cycling or driving, though mostly by 4×4 as most dirt roads are inaccessible for normal cars. Consult the Do section below.

See

1 Ben-Gurion's Desert Home, Sde Boker (Following the signs from the Kibbutz entrance), ☏ +972 8 6560469, fax: +972 8 6560320, [email protected]. Su-Th 8:30AM-4PM, F 8:30AM-2PM, Sa 10AM-4PM. The house where the first prime minister of Israel, David Ben-Gurion, lived with his wife Paula, after leaving his office. It was preserved in almost the same shape as it was when Ben-Gurion lived there. Guided tours are available. Paid entrance. 2 Sde Boker Winery, Sde Boker, ☏ +972 50 7579212, [email protected]. The vineyard owned by the kibbutz was started as an agricultural experiment for growing vines using brackish water. This hasn't turned-out well, but the vineyard and winery still operate, now using fresh water. It is operated by Zvi Remak, originally from San Francisco and a B.Sc. of agronomy. He sells the products there and conducts tours of the winery; better to arrange in advance. (updated Oct 2017) 3 Tomb of David and Paula Ben-Gurion, Ben-Gurion College (On Highway 40, 5 minutes south of Sde Boker, turn towards the college. At the traffic circle before the gate, turn right, then left. Park vehicle and follow signs to tomb), ☏ +972 8 6555684, +972 8 6554418, fax: +972 8 6570536. 24 hours. A small, green, beautiful park, at the edge of which are the tombs of the first Israeli prime minister and his wife. The graves are located just near the ridge of the Zin valley, offering a great view, so this can definitely be considered both a place of heritage for the Israelis and a genuine tourist attraction. Various trees and plants are grown in the park, and a large number of ibexes wander at its edges. Do not feed them, as it is unhealthy for this endangered species. Free entrance.

Do

1 Avdat (pronounced Ovdat עֹבדת) (Highway 40, 15 minutes south of Sde Boker; not the same as Ein Avdat), ☏ +972 8 6551511, fax: +972 8 6550954. Su-Th Sa 8AM-4PM, F 8AM-5PM; during DST open for 1 additional hour. Avdat was a Nabataean city and central trade post in the first centuries CE and BCE. Today it's an Israeli national park and one of the four locations included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Incense Route in the Negev. The excavations and restoration work reveal a beautiful city of stone walls, columns, arches and decorations. Adult ₪29, student ₪23, child/senior ₪15; combined tickets with Ein Avdat are available. 2 Ein Avdat (Either reach the bottom entrance of the creek followin