NBN Blogger Network

 In northern Be’er Sheva resides a growing high-tech park, a southern hub for the flourishing Israeli industry. As a beacon of high-tech innovation, there are many employment opportunities in the myriad of companies based in the park. If you missed Nefesh B’Nefesh Go Beyond South’s most recent Tech Tour of the park, are curious about the make-up of the park, or just need a refresher, stick around to find out more.

Moving to Be’er Sheva was scary at first. As someone who enjoys a healthy lifestyle, I wondered, will it be too hot all the time to go running outdoors? Will I be able to afford a gym? Will there be nice health food stores? A shuk where I can get fresh produce? Will it be a place where the outdoors would inspire me and encourage me to continue my healthy habits such as running and exercising?

My husband calls it a farm. I beg to differ. Although, to be fair, we are currently growing carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, garlic, eggplant, onions, fennel, artichokes, grapes, raspberries and radishes (not to mention over 25 fruit trees), but I digress. We live in a region of the country called Ramat HaNegev - a part of the country that sees about 80 mm (3.15 inches) of rain per year. Gardening here is a little bit more of a challenge, but it is also a bit more rewarding.

For the past few years, my husband and I have decided to divide our kids’ summers between the small southern Yishuv in Israel that we live in and a 2-3 week visit to their grandmother in Beachwood, Ohio.

This story is about the first time I fell in love. I knew from a very young age that this love would be one I want to spend my life developing.I grew up in the center of the country, in a small Yishuv right between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Even though I loved growing up there and only visited the South occasionally on school trips or family vacations, I had this image in my mind of the South as a place with warm, friendly people.

Shavuot is one of those holidays that Israel does so well. Fine, you’re right, they are all kind of rocking here... but Shavuot is definitely a highlight. Clever dairy product ads start popping up, everyone getting their finest whites ready, and Israeli florists are gearing up to make sure homes are adorned in our country's most beautiful, natural decor.

I won’t speak for all olim. But for my family, the Negev is home. Like many North American immigrants to Israel, when I made aliyah in 2011, I moved to Katamon, Jerusalem. It was comfortable and easy. In fact, sometimes I forgot I lived in Israel.