Most bar and bat mitzvah tours in Israel are so busy seeing the sites in Jerusalem and the center of the country, that the Negev is written off the itinerary -- considered " too far" or "too remote" for a short family visit to Israel. That is a shame, because the Negev offers so much, especially for the eco-tourist.
One place that I am looking forward to visiting on my next trip South is the the Glass Art Museum in Arad. It is always difficult to balance the needs of all the members any tour group, but the location -Arad is a city not far from the Dead Sea and Massada - and the unusual integration of ecology and art, offers something for almost everyone. The resident artist, Gideon Fridman, creates in recycled glass, and more than 30 glass artists from around Israel are presently showing their work in the museum. Check out their beautiful website at http://www.warmglassil.com/
Further south, just outside Eilat in the Arava Desert is Kibbutz Lotan http://www.kibbutzlotan.com/ This kibbutz, was founded by members from the Reform youth movement and is part of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, The Collective Stream of the Kibbutz Movement and the "Green Kibbutz" group. Lotan offers an amazing array of green programming for groups and individuals, green leisure activities and lodging. More about this on my next post....
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