From there we headed to a Bedouin community called Kfar Hanokdim to spend the night in the desert. We had a camel ride in the desert area where Abraham and Lot would have been and then a talk by the chief Bedouin about their life and livelihood there. Mind you, our accommodations were very upscale. We slept in beds in our own little cottage and had an elegant dinner. After dinner there was a camp fire set for us. I met some young people who were with a group called Birth Right. The Israeli government makes it possible for young non-practicing Jews ( ages 20 to 26) to spend time in Israel to learn about their culture and their history and their ethnic background and their religion for several weeks. There were young people staying at this Bedouin camp, sleeping under tents and having enormous fun, from the U.K. and the U.S. Wouldn't it be amazing to have young people from all of the Abrahamic faiths excited about who they are and yearning to learn more? It was another good day to wonder about how hard life in the desert was and still is for Abraham's children.
After a wonderful morning presentation of Abraham's binding of Isaac, Abraham and Sarah in Egypt, the banishment of Hagar through the lens of ancient and modern artists, we followed Abraham to Tel Beer-Sheva, identified with the Biblical region of Negeb of Judah ( see Genesis 20 and 21). There we walked the ancient ruins dating back to the 4th millennium B.C.E. It was one of the important administrative centers for the Kingdom of Judah and a place where Abraham would have spent time. From there we headed to a Bedouin community called Kfar Hanokdim to spend the night in the desert. We had a camel ride in the desert area where Abraham and Lot would have been and then a talk by the chief Bedouin about their life and livelihood there. Mind you, our accommodations were very upscale. We slept in beds in our own little cottage and had an elegant dinner. After dinner there was a camp fire set for us. I met some young people who were with a group called Birth Right. The Israeli government makes it possible for young non-practicing Jews ( ages 20 to 26) to spend time in Israel to learn about their culture and their history and their ethnic background and their religion for several weeks. There were young people staying at this Bedouin camp, sleeping under tents and having enormous fun, from the U.K. and the U.S. Wouldn't it be amazing to have young people from all of the Abrahamic faiths excited about who they are and yearning to learn more? It was another good day to wonder about how hard life in the desert was and still is for Abraham's children. Well at Tel Beer-Sheva where Abraham and Abimelech made a covenant with each other One of our camels up close after our ride in the desert Our group receiving Bedouin hospitality and a talk about Bedouin life
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