Day 15: Tuesday 26th July 2016

In excitement for the day ahead, we woke up at 7:00 in the Bedouin tents at Chan Hashayarot. After a great breakfast, which we would need for our long day at the Ramon crater, we packed up our small overnight bags and headed to the coach where we were all grateful to be met by Wasim in his air conditioned coach.

After a drive of around thirty minutes, passing by the tranquil and expansive desert scenery, we arrived at the crater. We waited while the rappelling instructor prepared our equipment and a shaded tent for us to relax in and watch the view from while we waited to begin our short climb down the cliff face.

Although with a feeling of some trepidation, most of us eventually decided to abseil down the small section of cliff where Yara or Neriya were waiting for us.

Afterwards, we walked back up to the top of the cliff where three jeeps were waiting for us. We split into three groups, each with a madrich or madricha. After originally driving through a small part of the desert on tarmac, we started driving off-road. We were bounced about in the jeeps while at the same time attempting to admire the picturesque landscape. We stopped a couple of times along the way. The first time we saw some ibex close by, just after passing by a wild ass while still sitting in the jeeps. The second, we got out near a small stream with brilliant purple rocks from the bauxite quarry. Along the remainder of the journey we saw black and red and brown sand in the dunes and mountains of the Negev.

With the jeep tour finished, we went on a short journey in the coach to where we would have lunch.

In the afternoon, we split into two groups to do archery and artistry. At the archery we attempted to, and were surprisingly successful at popping balloons hung against a sheet. We also went to a football field to try our hands long distance archery. In the other part, we filled bottles with different coloured layers of sand and designed various patterns in them until they were completely filled. Then we moved on the carving and shaping sandstone to make various items and shapes which we could take back with us.

After a long drive to our next hostel, we were all shattered. After dinner and a long awaited shower, we had our sikkum sessions for the first time since before Shabbat before turning in for the night.

By Coby Graff