"The
State, the nation, the youth, the men of science now confront the
supreme test in the history of our progress toward independence and
the renewal of our sovereignty. Only through a united effort by the
State in planning and execution, by a people ready for a great
voluntary effort, by a youth bold in spirit and inspired by a
creative heroism, by scientists liberated from the bonds of
conventional thought and capable of probing deep into the special
problems of this country, shall we succeed in carrying out the great
and momentous task of developing the south and the Negev.
David Ben-Gurion
Since the 1950's, close to 20 kibbutzim and
moshavim (as well as an industrial center) have been established for
the purpose of farming the Negev. But it hasn't been easy.
Agriculture needs land (fertile if possible), water, sun, and a
number of other factors (drainage, minerals, suitable crops).
In the desert there is limited amounts of land
suitable for farming and there is constant erosion of that which is
available by wind and flooding. In order to create new farmland for
the settlers evacuated from Sinai as a result of the Peace Treaty
with Egypt, the Jewish National Fund has conducted large-scale land
reclamation in the northern Negev, by means of flood control and
massive landscaping. The lessons of this project may now be applied
to other regions of the Negev, just as the use of drip irrigation
and hot houses which was developed in the Negev (in order to
maximize the use of water) has spread throughout the country - and
even to Jordan!
Agriculture and industry also require large
amounts of water. Even more critical is the need for cheap energy,
in order to make mining the earth's riches cost effective. Three
directions are being followed today regarding energy:
The search for natural gas and petroleum
Research and development of solar power
The Mediterranean - Dead Sea Canal, first envisioned by Herzl.
Despite the hardships there has been development
in the Negev and the Arave valley. Yotvata, the oldest Arava
settlement, has a dairy that's become famous throughout Israel.
Immigrants from English speaking countries are well-represented in
the Arava: Kibbutz Ketura was founded by members of HaShachar-Young
Judea, and Kibbutz Yahel is affiliated with the American Reform
Movement. They face a great challenge, not only in their attempt to
make the desert bloom, but also in adjusting to desert life in
small, relatively isolated communities, and in a difficult natural
environment. It really is a heroic undertaking.
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the
desert shall rejoice and blossom;
Like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice
with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of
Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God....
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and
the ears
of the deaf unstopped;
Then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and the
tongue of the dumb sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and
streams in the desert;
The burning sand shall become springs of water; The
haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall
become reeds and rushes.
And a highway shall be there,
and it shall be called 'the holy Way"....
No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
They shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to
Zion with singing;
Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah 5:1-10
Thoughts to Ponder....
The desert seems to have always exerted a deep
influence on the feelings and senses of man. What is it that makes
us so meditative in the desert?
Is it the great expanse?
Is it the loneliness and quiet?
As far back as prehistoric times the desert was
apparently a holy area - as it was
for Moses and the people of Israel,
for the Sectarians at Qumran,
for the Byzantine monastics.
Is this because of the seeming purity of the
desert? Is there something inherently mystical or spiritual about
the desert?
