Magazine
When Zukim, once an abandoned British army base, was first envisioned as the site of a new community in Israel’s Negev Desert, there wasn’t even a door to affix a mezuzah to at the groundbreaking ceremony. To solve the problem, a doorframe was placed in the sand to represent the future and a commitment to growth. Today, with support from Jewish National Fund-USA Women for Israel’s Sapphire Society, it’s the fastest-growing community in Israel’s Arava region.
For Ofir and Hadar Katz, who moved there in 2005, life has blossomed alongside the community’s growth. They live in a home made possible by Jewish National Fund-USA’s Housing Development Fund which provides interest-free loans to growing communities. Ofir, an agricultural agronomist by training, is now the proud owner of the local brewery. Hadas is a swimming instructor at the Jewish National Fund-USA sports complex in nearby Sapir.
Looking back, Ofir admits, “We never imagined everything would happen so quickly. We moved into our house when our eldest, Alon, was just nine months old, and now he’s 19.
“Back then, to get drinking water we had to bring jugs from another town. There was no infrastructure.”
Twenty-five years after its humble beginnings as a small cluster of caravans in the middle of the Arava desert, Zukim is now a vibrant, dynamic community of nearly 100 families, with even more eager to make it their home. This remarkable transformation signifies a successful model of a sustainable desert community that has attracted a diverse mix of professionals, entrepreneurs, and dreamers. All thanks to Jewish National Fund-USA and the Sapphire Society women.”
To learn more, contact Talia Tzour Avner at [email protected]
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