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.

This Yom HaAtzmaut I am reflecting on how living in Israel has affected my life over the past six years. I left California, where I was born and raised, and moved to Israel to study at seminary right after college. In California, I lived a relatively sheltered life so I wanted to experience living in Israel before making the commitment to make aliyah.

The holiday of freedom is here! Pesach is our favorite holiday (ok, they are all kind of our favorite) to spend in Israel. The entire country gets ready for the chag together- you are greeted with cleaning supplies at the grocery store, everyone is preparing for a week of unadulterated time with family, outdoors, and eating good food.

I have had the privilege of (basically) getting three degrees at Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Be'er Sheva. Just after I made Aliyah, I started my master's in social work, which included two years of bachelor’s level work and an internship, all of which I completed in 2016.

The Arad English speaking group, ACES, has benefited by a mutual relationship with Nefesh B’Nefesh. Recently, ACES celebrated Tu B’Shvat by enjoying a Seder together. It was a fun and informative time to learn more about the holiday. The Seder itself, and each item of food, was clearly explained by our own Leor Blumenthal.

Zoey made Aliyah at age six to Chashmonaim. In her teen years, her family moved to Meitar, just outside of Be’er Sheva after relatives moved to Meitar and they realized they could sell their Du Mishpachti (semi-detached) house and buy a more spacious home for their family.

What would make a new Oleh living in Be’er Sheva want to start his own gaming platform? We sat down with Ziv Mor of Peace Through Gaming to tell us about his experience moving to southern Israel and starting his new gaming initiative.