Fun Daytrip - Visiting Kibbutzim near Gaza

Reading my title now, it does seem weird But I think I’ll leave it as it is. I just wasn’t sure how else to describe the location. “The South” doesn’t quite cut it, as technically, this is the center of Israel, and a bit to the north of the center, actually. For all practical needs, it is very much the south of Israel, being south to Tel Aviv. I figure “near Gaza” is accurate too, being as we were within the 3-10 miles range from Gaza.

Ok, for those who like to see it down on the map, we visited Kibbutz Ruhama and then Kibbutz Or Ha’Ner. Gaza is the area surrounded by the red line. Sderot, the town most hit by kassam rockets is there in the middle of the way between the two kibbutzim:

And just to see where it all sits within Israel:

You can click on these maps for larger versions.

Anyways, I actually meant to focus on the first part of the title. This was a fun daytrip for the whole family, and this was meant to be a picture sharing post.

We went with my parents-in-law and a group of their friends, all pensioners. I think the average age must have been well over 70. Add IsraeliDad, me, and our two boys into the mix. It was all good though - I believe in inter-generational activities, and it really added a lot, having with us people who could tell about the history of the region, in particular the war of 1948, from personal experience. It was also great being on a bus, with a guide, not having to drive or navigate - we felt like real tourists! Like all tourists, we also took lots of pictures, so here are a few:

A bus ride with Grandpa and Grandma is always fun:

Or, if you ask Dan, it’s exciting:

Large concrete monuments, in memory of some ancient war? Just as exciting:

In Kibbutz Ruhama, we visited the local blacksmith - an artist working with iron. He actually made sculptures out of the twisted metal of kassam rockets that landed in the area:

It may look like Ron’s pinching Dan’s ear in the next picture, but it’s actually their attempt as posing like the “Kassam sculpture” they’re standing next to, where you have a hand under his funny screaming face.

We visited the old well of the kibbutz. It had been dug about a hundred years ago, when the land was bought and a Jewish settlement erected. It’s quite deep but no longer in use, other than to impress visiting kids:

Dan was impressed with the wide open spaces near Kibbutz Ruhama - a good place to have a sandwich at (or rather pita bread with chocolate spread):

We drove on to Kibbutz Or Ha’Ner, where they have a beautiful “collection” of original Argentinian wall murals, prepared in a unique technique. I plan on dedicating a post just for that wall art with more pictures.

Being an “Argentinian Kibbutz” (meaning its members came from Argentina many years ago), it’s not surprising that this is what our lunch there consisted of:

Our local hosts even warned us that Argentinian “Assado” was the only real one. They said we have to be wary of Brazillian impostors. Apparently, the kibbutz next to them is “Brazillian”, which creates a lot of problems in regards to BBQ’s and the Soccer World Cup champioinship. Now imagine this said with the passion of a true South Amerrrrrican

Located only 3 miles from Gaza, means the kibbutz has its own concrete shelters where you’re supposed to find shelter during a bombing (kassam rockets or mortar shells). We found this one next to their bus station:

The signs tell you to enter if you hear the sirens go off, or a blast. The kids were thrilled, of course and insisted on getting inside and pretending we’re being shelled. The yellow line marks the safe area where you are not exposed to sharpnel:

Fortunately, the Kibbutzim are hardly ever hit, so it wasn’t really dangerous - just exciting.

More murals, along the road leading into the kibbutz:

And visiting the cowshed, Dan was pointing at that cow, saying he’d never seen such a fat belly before. These were the cow’s udders, of course:

Whew, lots of pictures - thanks for visiting, to those who stuck out till the end of this long post!